
 
 <


 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 SIMON LORD LOVAT.
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 SIMON LORD LOVAT; 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, IN THE FRENCH 
 LANGUAGE ; 
 
 AND NOW FIRST TRANSLATED, FROM THE 
 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR GEORGE NICOL, BOOKSELLER 
 TO HIS MAJESTY, PALL-MALL.
 
 Stack 
 Annex 
 
 5" 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THERE are no materials of history 
 more valuable, and indeed few de- 
 partments of historical composition 
 more interesting and instructive than 
 those details of important facts, which 
 have been committed to writing by 
 the persons principally concerned 
 in conducting them. 
 
 Of this nature are the following 
 sheets, originally written in French, 
 by Lord Lovat, who was certain- 
 ly no common personage. As his 
 Lordship wrote them with a view 
 to their being made public in due 
 time, and the reasons which retarded 
 the publication of these Memoirs no 
 
 20O0790
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 longer existing, the public are now 
 put in possession of them, faithfully 
 translated ; without any further li- 
 berty being taken with the original 
 work, than dividing it into sections, 
 and adding the marginal dates and 
 notes, by the Translator ; who has to 
 remark, that the genius of the Author 
 may be clearly traced in the pane- 
 gyric on the Intendant Rogeault, 
 and the story of the Abbe Pouget, to- 
 wards the conclusion of the work.
 
 THE 
 GENUINE AND REMARKABLE 
 
 I S T O R Y 
 
 O R 
 
 MANIFESTO 
 
 SIMON LORD ERASER, OR 
 FREZEL OF LOVAT, 
 
 One of the mod ancient Peers of Scotland, and 
 Head of the Clan of the ERASERS, fo celebrated 
 in the North, and in the Highlands of Scotland. 
 
 IN T W O PARTS. 
 
 The FIRST, treating of the cruel Injuftice of the Family 
 of Athol, and the other Enemies of that Nobleman. 
 
 The SECOND, relating the unexampled Perfecution em- 
 ployed againft him by the Court of St. Germains, for 
 the Space of twelve Years, after he had abandoned his 
 Eftates and his Clan as a Preytp his Enemies, to go in- 
 to France, to tender his Services to that unfortunate 
 Court. 
 
 B
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A S lord Lovat engages to advance no- 
 * -^ thing in this manifefto which (hall 
 not be indifputably true, and which he 
 will not be ready to prove before any prince 
 or court of judicature in E'urope, he mofr. 
 humbly intreats all candid perfons to read 
 his work in an unprejudiced manner, in 
 order that they may do juflice to his cha- 
 racter, as well as to the treachery and ill 
 faith of his perfecutors. Since however 
 the firft part relates only to his quarrel with 
 the family of At hoi, and may appear tedi- 
 ous to the reader, lord Lovat begs of him, 
 if he be fond of intrigues of ftate, to be- 
 llow a perufal upon the fecond part, which 
 explains the tran factions of Great Britain 
 and France, in relation to the court of St. 
 Germains. In the mean time there will 
 not fail to occur, even in the firft part, 
 fome interefting paflages relative to ftate 
 affairs. 
 
 B 2
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 PART THE FIRST. 
 
 Nona aetas agitur, pejoraque fecula ferri 
 Temporibus ; quorum fceleri non invenit ipfa 
 Nomen, & a nullo pofuit Natura metallo. 
 
 Adfpicimus populos, quorum non fufficit ira 
 Occidifie aliquem, fed pe&ora, brachia, vultum 
 Crediderint genus effe cibi. 
 
 JUVENAL, Sat* 13. 15. 
 
 SIMON lord Lovat was defcended from PART 
 anceftors, both by the father and mo- ^ *'^ 
 ther's fide, who had always been cele- 1676. 
 brated for fidelity to their fovereigns: he was 
 himfelf of a warm and active confutation. 
 His father was the twenty-fecond perfon 
 who had enjoyed the title of Lovat in line- 
 al defcent : they were uniform in their ad* 
 herence to their country and their kings. 
 His mother was dame Sybilla Macleod, 
 B 3 daughter
 
 6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART daughter of the chief of the clan of the 
 Macleods, fo famous for its inviolable loy- 
 alty to its princes *. Thefe difpofitions, as 
 well general as' individual, induced Simon 
 lord Lovat to difplay a violent attachment 
 to the ruined caufe of the late king James of 
 pious memory from his earlieft youth. 
 
 He bore at that time the title of laird of 
 Beaufort, by which he was diflinguimed 
 during the life of his coufm-german Hugh 
 lord Lovat. By the death of Hugh lord 
 Lovat without iffue male, Thomas, father 
 of Simon, and uncle of Hugh, had an in- 
 conteftible claim to the honours and eftates 
 of Hugh lord Lovat his nephew, and Hugh 
 lord Lovat his ^father, of whom Thomas 
 was the younger fon-f- by dame Ifabella We- 
 mys, daughter of the earl of Wemys, ancient 
 peer of Scotland. Thomas therefore took 
 
 * The children of Thomas Frafer and Sybilla his 
 wife were Alexander, Simon the hero of the prefent me- 
 moirs, and John, all of whom are mentioned in this hif- 
 tory, and one daughter. 
 
 f According to Douglas's Peerage Hugh the father of 
 Thomas of Beaufort was great grandfather to the Huah 
 here mentioned. Of confequcnce Thomas of Beaufort was 
 brother to his grandfather and Simon lord Lovat at the 
 iaine diftance from the original flock as his father. 
 
 pofTefiion
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 7 
 
 poiieffion without oppofition of the honours PART 
 and eftates of his father and his nephew, 
 and enjoyed them till his death. 
 
 Simon his fon was, at the time of his fa- 
 ther's acceffion to the title, by a mod ex- 
 traordinary ftroke of providence a captain in 
 the regiment of the earl of Tullibardin, now 
 lord AthoL 
 
 This nobleman, who was then known by 
 the title of lord Murray, had received the 
 com million of colonel to raife a regiment of 
 infantry for the fervice of William the third, 
 the reigning king of England. He pre- 
 fently found however, that he was incapa- 
 ble of enlifting fo much as a (ingle compa- 
 ny for his new regiment, which he had pro- 
 mifed king William to complete in a fhort 
 time. This arcie from the alienation of 
 the Stewarts and the Robin fon s of Athol, 
 who were always much attached to the in- 
 terefts of king James, and who, regarding 
 lord Murray as their tyrant, were never wil- 
 ling to admit his claims of vafTalage and obe- 
 dience. On the contrary they carefully 
 fought all occafions to defert and affront 
 him. Lord Murray fometimes had his re- 
 B 4 venge*
 
 * MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 venge. He put the laird of Balleahan, 
 chief of the Stewarts of Athol, together 
 1694. with his brother Alexander Stewart, a man 
 of high courage, in priibn at Edinburgh, for 
 having, in oppofitiontohis orders, joined the 
 expedition of lord vifcount Dundee : there 
 Simon Wd Lovat faw them in want of bread, 
 and affifted them with his purfe. 
 
 Lord Murray, being thus embarraffed in 
 the affair of his regiment, conceived the 
 idea of gaining over the confidence of Hugh 
 lord Lovat, who had married his fitter, and 
 perfuading him to accept a company in his 
 regiment, confident, that, by means of his 
 clan of theFrafers,hewouldcontribute much 
 to render his regiment complete. Con- 
 vinced however that lord Lovat was much 
 attached to king James, and the farther! in 
 the world from an idea of entering into 
 the fervice of William, he engaged in the 
 execution of his project the laird of Glen- 
 gary, chief of a branch of the clan of Macdo- 
 nalds, and an inveterate enemy of the Frafers, 
 though at that time married to the lifter of 
 Hugh lord Lovat, and nearly related by the 
 Macdonalds to the laird of Beaufort.. 
 
 The
 
 OFLORDLOVAT 9. 
 
 The laird of Glengary, the hireling fy- P A R f 
 cophant of lord Murray, by whofe means i^^v-^ 
 he received a peniion from king William, 9 ** 
 at the very time that he appeared zealoufly 
 engaged in the fervice of king James, hav- 
 ing received his inftructions, came to Beau- 
 fort, the feat where lord Lovat then refided. 
 He perfuaded him that king James would 
 infallibly arrive in Scotland in a fhort time, 
 and that lord Murray had accepted the regi- 
 ment merely for the fervice of the king. 
 He therefore conjured lord Lovat to accept 
 a company in the regiment, declaring to 
 him, that it was impoffible to render a more 
 important fervice to king James, to whom 
 he was fo much attached. 
 
 Lord Lovat, who was known for a man 
 of a feeble underftanding, gave into the 
 fnare, and accepted the infamous commif- 
 fion, that lord Murray tendered him; though 
 in the beginning of the reign of king Wil- 
 liam he had refufed the offers of that prince 
 to give him a regiment either of horfe or 
 foot, or to make him lord fherifF, or grand 
 jufticiary of his province during life. Thefe 
 offers had been conveyed to him by general 
 Mackay his relation, who well knew, that 
 
 lord
 
 io MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART lord Lovat, at the head of his clan of the 
 L -' _f Frafers, is the laird, of all the north the 
 1694. mod capable of promoting or disturbing the 
 commencement of a government, not yet 
 well eftablifhed, and this as well by the ad- 
 vantage of his iituation, as by the known 
 valour of his clan. 
 
 -The laird of Glengary however, by the 
 fubtlety of his wit, and the inftnuation of 
 his manners, induced lord Lovat to accept 
 this infamous company, after having re- 
 fufed fuch valuable offers. By this means 
 Glengary rendered the moll important fer- 
 vice to lord Murray his patron, who, not 
 daring to attack the Frafers in an open and 
 decifive manner, endeavoured to tarniili 
 their reputation by ruining that of tljeir 
 chief. Perhaps too he flattered himfelf, 
 that, in cafe king James fhould be reftored, 
 he would obtain the confiscation of the 
 lands of lord Lovat, which he has ufurped 
 for fo many years, under the pretence of in- 
 demnification for a debt that was never con- 
 tracted. For Glengary, it will fcarcely be 
 wondered at that he iliould endeavour to 
 ruin the Frafers, as it is notorious to the 
 whole Scottish nation, that he fet out with 
 ruining his own clan in a manner the mod: 
 
 iinjuft
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. n 
 
 unjuft and deteftable, and that he is proper- PAR 
 ]y regarded by his neareft relations, lefs as 
 their laird and chief, than as their oppreflbr l6 94- 
 and tyrant. 
 
 Lord Lovat was foon convinced that eve- 
 ry gentleman of his clan was in the higheft 
 degree fcandalifed at the affront he had put 
 upon them in accepting this infamous com- 
 miffion. He therefore wrote to his courm 
 Simon of Beaufort, who was at that time at 
 the royal univerfity of Aberdeen, intreating 
 him to quit his ftudies, though he had juft 
 taken his degree of mafter of arts, and was 
 entering upon the Science of civil law. Lord 
 Lovat declared in the moft Solemn manner 
 that he would ever regard him as his fon 
 and the reprefentative of his houfe, and that 
 with theSe views he had juSt accepted acom- 
 miffion in the regiment of his brother in- 
 
 o 
 
 law, lord Murray, that he might beftow it 
 upon him, and thus bring him forward moft 
 advantageouily in the world. 
 
 Simon was animated with the moft vigo- 
 gorous zeal for the interefts of king James ; 
 he had already discovered this diipofition 
 under the command of general Thomas Bu- 
 chan*, and he had been three times thrown * 1690. 
 
 into
 
 12 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART into prifon for his exertions in the royal 
 ^._JL_, caufe before he attained the age of fixteen 
 1694. years. He accordingly wrote a letter to 
 his coufin full of the bittereft invedtives, 
 telling him that he had for ever loft his ho- 
 nour and his loyalty, and that poffibly he 
 would one day lofe his eftates, in confe- 
 quence of the infamous ftep he had taken : 
 that for himfelf, he was fo far from con- 
 fenting to accept a commiffion in the regi- 
 ment of that traitor, lord Murray, that he 
 would immediately go home to his clan, 
 and prevent any one man from enlifting 
 
 into it. 
 
 % 
 
 Simon of Beaufort was as good as his 
 word, and, being regarded by the whole 
 clan as*the heir apparent of his family, and 
 their chief after the death of his coulin, 
 he was able to exert fo fuccefsful an influ- 
 ence, that lord Lovat could not raife three 
 men for his new company. His lordfhip 
 accordingly began to be extremely amamed 
 of his engagement ; he fwore to the laird 
 of Beaufort, that it was Glengary that had 
 perfuaded him to do it for the fervice of 
 king James : in confequence of this con- 
 feffion Simon thought himfelf obliged to 
 talk in a very round manner to Glengary. 
 
 The
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 13 
 
 The old marquis of Athol was the firft PART 
 man in Scotland that had declared again!! \^^^j 
 king James ; but, having been diflatisfied l6 94- 
 with the recornpences beftowed upon him by 
 king William, he changed fides again, and 
 difplayed upon all occafions a violent zeal 
 for the interefts of the unfortunate prince. 
 This nobleman profefled the higheft efteem 
 for the laird of Beaufort for his late conduct. 
 There had for fome time fubfifled a com- 
 plete eftrangement between him and lord 
 Murray, his eldeft fon, to whom his father 
 would not fo much as fpeak ; calling him 
 a traitor to his foverei^n, for having ?c- 
 
 o * o 
 
 cepted a regiment from king William. The 
 old marquis therefore remonftrated with 
 lord Lovat, his fon-in-law, in a very marp 
 flyle, praifing at the fame time the loyalty 
 of Simon of Beaufort, and engaging him 
 to pafs the winter in the city of Perth 
 with his fon lord Mungo Murray in the 
 iludy of the mathematics, 
 
 Huntingtour, the feat of lord Murray, 1695, 
 was about three miles from Perth, and, as 
 he faw himfelf dill very much embarralTed 
 in the bufmefs of completing his regiment, 
 he conceived the idea of inviting lord
 
 14 
 
 PART Mungo and Simon of Beaufort to come and 
 fpend a few days at his houfe. They ac- 
 cepted the invitation, and were very politely 
 received. After fome time had elapfed in 
 general converfation, lord Murray thought 
 proper to blame the laird of Beaufort for 
 having refufed fo advantageous a commif- 
 iion, from which he might have derived a 
 coniiderable income, at the fame time fol- 
 lowing his ftudies wherever he pleafed, and 
 leaving to his lieutenant the management 
 of his company. Simon thanked him very 
 much, but added, that he could never ac- 
 cept any commiffion contrary to the inte- 
 reft of king James, to. whom he was fo 
 much attached, and that he was extremely 
 forry that his couiin lord Lovat had ac- 
 cepted it contrary to the dictates of his 
 honour and his confcience. 
 
 Lord Murray, obferving the inviolable 
 loyalty of the laird of Beaufort to king 
 James, and knowing at the fame time of 
 what confequence it would be to gain 
 him over in the bufinefs of recruiting his 
 regiment, intimated that he was defirous of 
 fpeaking to him in his clofet. There he 
 (wore to the laird, that his defign in ac- 
 cepting
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 15 
 
 ccpting the regiment from king William, PART 
 
 was that he might have a regiment well . __ J_^_, 
 trained and accoutered to join king James l6 S5- 
 in a defcent he had promifed to make in 
 the enfuir.g fummer. Lord Pvlurray added, 
 that he dared not difcover his deGc:n to the 
 
 o 
 
 old marquis, his father, as he was appre- 
 heniive that his fecret would not be fafe 
 in his hands j hut he fwore that king 
 James had not a more loyal fubject in all 
 Scotland, and that, fmce the laird of Beau- 
 fort was fo zealous for his caufe, he could 
 not render him a more valuable fervice 
 than by accepting a company in the regi- 
 ment of Murray, at the fame time conjur- 
 ing him in all events to preferve his fecret. 
 
 Simon, after fo many protections of 
 loyalty, gave into the fnare that was fpread 
 for him, and returned to his clan to raife 
 recruits. The old marquis of Athol, who 
 did not know upon what foot the laird of 
 Beaufort had entered into engagements with 
 his fon, reproached him in the bitterefl 
 manner, for having fuftered himfelf to be 
 inveigled into difloyalty by the infinuating 
 difcourfes of lord Murray. Simon had no 
 fooner engaged in this regiment, than he 
 
 led
 
 16 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART led to it a complete company, almoft en- 
 ^-^^j tirely made up of the young gentlemen of 
 l6 95- his clan. Murray however broke his word 
 with him in the affair of the company, and 
 obliged him to fit down for fome time with 
 a commiffion of lieutenant of grenadiers. 
 In a word, Simon did not obtain a com- 
 pany in the regiment till after having 
 brought to it three hundred recruits, and 
 was then obliged to make a compenfation 
 in money to the captain who made room 
 for him. He did not fail to be extremely 
 difgufted at having fufFered himfelf to be 
 over- reached by lord Murray, whofe trea- 
 chery he conceived to be of a very infa- 
 mous nature. 
 
 1696. The year following, his lordmip being 
 appointed principal fecretaryof ftatefor Scot- 
 tifli affairs he devoted himfelf in fo high a 
 degree to the interefts of king William, that 
 he was continually torturing his invention 
 for means to difplay the ardour of his zeal 
 for his new mailer. As he knew that his 
 regiment was filled with perfons well af- 
 feded to the fervice of king James, he in 
 the firft place gave it the appointment of 
 guard to the royal palace of Edinburgh, 
 
 5
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 17 
 
 He then afTembled his officers, reprefented PART 
 to them that they were regarded by the corn- e - ,,- * 
 mon men in the light of Jacobites, and added, l6 9 6 * 
 that, to demonftrate how little foundation 
 there was for this idea, he was obliged to 
 tender them the oath of abjuration againfl 
 king James, and the^ pretended prince of 
 Wales. Many of the officers replied, that 
 this oath had never been tendered to the; 
 officers of the Scottifh army, and there- 
 fore intreated, that their regiment might 
 not be the firfl that mould be called upon 
 to take it. Lord Murray alleged, that 
 he could not be difpenfed with from giving 
 this mark of his zeal for king William* 
 and that therefore it was neceffary to fub- 
 mit or to quit the regiment. According- 
 ly, officers, highly attached to king James, 
 were forced to fign the oath of abjuration, 
 in order to preferve to themfelves the means 
 of fubfiftence. 
 
 As lord Murray recollected upon what 
 principle the laird of Beaufort had entered 
 into his regiment, and well knew that he was 
 firm and intrepid in the intereils of king 
 James, he fent for him to his clofet, and 
 befought him to fign the oath of abjura- 
 
 G tion.
 
 i8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART tion. Simon told him, that he did not 
 u v > well underftand this demand, after all the 
 1696. promifes he had made in behalf of king 
 James. The colonel upon this acknow- 
 ledged, that he had been at that time very 
 much inclined to king James's party ; but 
 that fince, he had been much enlightened 
 upon the fubjecl:, and that it was his regard 
 to the welfare of the proteftant religion 
 that induced him to be faithful to king 
 William. Simon replied without any cir- 
 cumlocution, that what induced him to be 
 faithful to king William was the appoint- 
 ment of fecretary of ftate : adding, that, 
 if he preiTed him a moment longer 
 upon this fubjecl:, he would declare to all 
 the world that lord Murray had engaged 
 him in his regiment for the fervice of 
 James. 
 
 Thus, it was that this nobleman, now 
 lord Athol, and who is at this hour the 
 favourite hero and .the grand pillar of the 
 court of St. Germains, was the flrft and 
 the only man who obliged the officers of 
 the Scottifh army to take the oath of abju- 
 ration againft king James. 
 
 The
 
 OF LO-RD LOVAT. 19 
 
 The following incident however will PART 
 make it fufficiently evident, that the zeal 
 of the colonel for king William did not 
 alter the inclinations of fome of the officers 
 of his regiment. At the time that an in- 
 vafion was fo much apprehended in the 
 years 1696 and 1697, the caftle of Edin- 
 burgh being in a very defencelefs ftate and 
 almoft without a garrifon, the earl of Leven, 
 at that time a zealous adherent of king 
 
 o 
 
 William, and governor of the place, ob- 
 tained an order for a company of the re- 
 giment of lord Murray, which was ftation- 
 ed as a guard to the royal palace of Edin- 
 burgh, to do duty at the caftle^ in conjunc- 
 tion with the half of the garrifon, which 
 fcarcely exceeded an hundred men. 
 
 The earl Marifhal of Scotland had been 
 committed prifoner to the caftle, together 
 with lord Drummond, his brother-in-law, 
 fon of the earl of Perth, and many other 
 lords, for their attachment to king James. 
 Lord Marifhal was the intimate friend of 
 the laird of Beaufort, at that time a cap- 
 tain in the regiment of lord Murray, and 
 who mounted guard at the caftle in his 
 C 2 turn.
 
 20 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 ART turn. This nobleman therefore propofed 
 j _ y '_ to Simon, that, as foon as the king fhould 
 1696. arrive in Scotland, or they mould even 
 receive advice of his departure from France 
 upon an expedition either againfl England 
 or Scotland, he fhould contrive to mount 
 guard at the caflle, in conjunction with ano- 
 ther captain of the fame regiment, diftin- 
 guifhed for his attachment to king James, 
 but whom I do not here name, becaufe he 
 is ftill in the fervice of the Englifh go- 
 vernment : that, when they fhould be upon 
 the parade in order to relieve the guard, 
 and confequently when both their compa- 
 nies were prefent, they Ihould make them- 
 felves maflers by a coup de main of the un- 
 armed garrifon, and (hut the gates : that 
 they fhould then declare for king James, 
 appoint earl Marifhal governor, and ^com- 
 mit the earl of Leven prifoner in his turn. 
 
 The other captain and the laird of Beau- 
 fort engaged upon oath, together with lord 
 MariLhal and other lords, who, as they are 
 yet living, mail alfo be namelefs, to pre- 
 ierve an inviolable fidelity to this defign. 
 The fcheme indeed was infallible, had not 
 
 the
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 21 
 
 the navy of France been fo irretrievably PART 
 ruined by the decifive defeat of la Hogue*. 
 The court of St. Germains, which was in- 
 formed of this project by lord Marifhal, 
 made warm acknowledgements for his lhare 
 in it to the laird of Beaufort, though (he 
 has fince recompenied all thefe fervices by 
 an unexampled persecution. 
 
 The friends of lord Lovat exclaimed bitterly 
 againft lord Murray, that he did not refign 
 his regiment in favour of his brother-in- 
 law; there having been no example of a 
 fecretary of ftate, retaining his appointment 
 of colonel to a regiment after being raifed 
 to that office, Lord Murray at length pro- 
 mifed his regiment to lord Lovat ; and, 
 being defirous to difplay to king William 
 his power among the highlanders of Scot- 
 land, whofe importance William well knew, 
 by presenting to him one of their greatefl 
 lords, he fent three exprefTes one after the 
 other, to intreat lord Lovat to fet out im- 
 mediately for London to take upon him 
 the command of the regiment. His lord- 
 fhip accordingly took pod, and as he had 
 an extreme affection for the laird of Beau- 
 fort, his coufin, he took him with him to 
 C London,
 
 22 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART London. Lord Murray received them 
 very politely ; and, without faying a word 
 of the regiment, carried lord Lovat to Ken- 
 fington, and prefented him to king Wil- 
 liam, faying, that he was his brother-in- 
 law, one of the mod ancient peers of Scotr- 
 Jand, and head of one of the braveft 
 clans in the highlands, that therefore he 
 could venture to afiure his majefty of their 
 fidelity. King William accofled lord Lovat 
 In a very gracious manner, telling him, 
 that he knew the antiquity of his houfe 
 and the importance of his clan, and that he 
 might depend upon his providing for him. 
 
 Lord Murray, who was obliged to fet 
 put for Scotland in two days, and who was 
 not willing to leave to lord Lovat an op- 
 portunity of fpeaking to the king, whif- 
 pered him, that it was proper for him to 
 fall upon one, knee and take leave of his 
 majefty. Lord Lovat, who, as we have 
 already feen, was of a contracted under-* 
 ilanding, and who had never been at court 
 before, did as he was directed. 
 
 When however he had left the prefence 
 chamber, and parted with lord Murray, his 
 
 couiin,
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 23 
 
 coufin, Simon of Beaufort, told him, thut PART 
 
 that nobleman had caufed him to take leave \ , ^ 
 
 of the king, .in order to deprive him of- 
 all opportunity of obtaining a frefh au- 
 dience, and foliciting a regiment. Simon 
 mean time obliged him the next day to 
 demand of lord Murray for what rea- 
 fon he had caufed him to come to Lon- 
 don at fo enormous an expence. Lord 
 Murray replied, that it was his defign to 
 have reiigned to him the command of his 
 regiment, but that the king had obliged 
 him to keep it in his own hands till the 
 fears of an invafion fhould be blown over, 
 when he certainly would furrender his 
 command to lord Lovat. 
 
 Lord Lovat was much difpleafed with 
 this anfwer ; and, having fpent the evening 
 with his coufins, lord Tarbat*, and colonel 
 Alexander Mackenzie, fon to the earl of 
 Seaforth, and at this time an officer in the 
 guards, they fliowed him very plainly that 
 lord Murray made a jeft of him, and had 
 brought him to London, in order to make 
 his court to king William at lord Lovat's 
 expence ; at the fame time advifing him to 
 frreak with him. 
 
 * Afterwards earl of Cromarty. 
 
 C Lord
 
 24 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Lord Lovat, being by this time convinced 
 how much he had been deceived, and how ill 
 1696. he had been treated by the family of Athol, 
 took their advice, fent back his commifiions 
 of captain, and of lieutenant-colonel to lord 
 Murray, his colonel -, expreffing at the 
 fame time in very ftrong language his re- 
 fentment of lord Murray's treachery, and 
 protcfling that he would never fee him 
 more, nor any individual of his family, 
 except his filler, whom as being his wife 
 he was obliged to retain. 
 
 Lord Murray was better pleafed to retain 
 a falary of four thoufand pounds in his own 
 hands by keeping his regiment, than to 
 preferve the friendship of lord Lovat, as 
 there was no further advantage to be de- 
 rived from him. He alfo turned to ac- 
 count the refignation of lord Lovat, though 
 it was made in favour of the laird of Beau- 
 fort, his coufin, as he gave the company 
 to lord James Murray, apologizing to Simon, 
 that lord James had a wife and a family, 
 without having bread to eat. It is proper 
 to remark in this place, that lord James, 
 who accepted this company, was the moft 
 violent partifan the exiled family had in Scot- 
 land,
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 25 
 
 land, and that he could not bear to hear fo PART 
 much as the name of king William, down 
 to the very moment that he received the 
 appointment of captain in his fervice. 
 
 Lord Lovat was fo deeply imprefied with 
 the treachery of the family of Athol, as 
 well refpecting him, as refpe<fting the kings 
 William and James, that, intreating his 
 coufin Simon to return with him to his 
 own feat of Lovat, he fwore that he would 
 never fee the marquis of Athol, nor any of 
 the young lords, his children, whom he 
 had hitherto fupported from year to year, 
 they not having fo much as a maintenance, 
 in their own family, 
 
 ImprefTed at the fdme time with the ten- 
 der affection of the laird of Beaufort, and 
 the refolution he manifefted never to aban- 
 don him, lord Lovat declared, that he re- 
 garded him as his own fon. And as lord 
 Athol had urged him to execute fome papers 
 at his marriage, which might perhaps be 
 prejudicial to the claims of Simon as his 
 male heir, he obliged the young laird to 
 fend for an attorney, and made an univer- 
 ^aj bequeft to him of all his eftates in cafe 
 
 he
 
 26 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART he died without ifTue male, leaving the or- 
 
 i^~^j dinary dowries to his daughters, and an- 
 
 1696. nulling and abjuring whatever he might at 
 
 any time have done, in oppofition to the 
 
 ancient claims of his houfe in favour of the 
 
 male heirs. Simon exprefTed the moft 
 
 grateful fenfe of the affectionate conduct 
 
 of lord Lovat, and protected that he would 
 
 ever confider him as his father. 
 
 Lord Lovat fell lick at London, his 
 chagrin and difappointment having induc- 
 ed him to frequent too much the taverns of 
 the metropolis, where he contracted his 
 diftemper. But his health at length being 
 redored, he fet out upon his return for 
 Scotland with his coufin, the laird of Beau- 
 fort, who quitted him neither day nor 
 night during the whole period of his mis- 
 fortune. 
 
 When he arrived at Edinburgh, the fa- 
 mily of Athol, having underftood that he 
 was refolved to go immediately to Lovat, 
 without paffing by Athol, or fo much as fee- 
 ing any of the family, perfuaded his wife to 
 come to Dunkeld, a feat of lord Athol, from 
 whence me wrote to her hufband an affec*- 
 
 tionatQ
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 27 
 
 tionate letter, telling him that fhe waited PART 
 his arrival at the houfe of the marquis, L--.^ j 
 her father. l6 9 6 ' 
 
 Lord Lovat was refolute not to go thi- 
 ther to meet her ; but the laird of Beau- 
 fort, who had much influence over him, 
 fearing that lord Murray, who had juft been 
 created by king William, earl of Tullibar- 
 din, and appointed high commiflioner to 
 the Scottifli parliament, fliould attribute to 
 him the actions of lord Lovat, and employ 
 his influence as his commanding officer to 
 ruin him, advifed his coufm, to go to 
 Dunkeld to conduct his wife to Lovat, but 
 not to confent to make any flay with lord 
 Athol. Lord Lovat yielded to the per- 
 fuafions of Simon, fhedding many tears 
 upon parting with him, and crying, " We 
 *' mall never fee each other more; this 
 " favage family of Athol will certainly 
 kill me." 
 
 In reality he had been only two days at 
 Dunkeld, when he fell fick, and the A- 
 thols, not willing to be troubled with the 
 care of an invalid, or for fome other rea- 
 fons, fent him to an inn in the city of 
 
 Perth,
 
 28 
 
 PART Perth, hard by the houfe of doctor James 
 
 \__ v l^, Murray, a phyfician, the relation and the 
 
 1696. creature of the marquis of Athol, upon 
 
 whom the care of lord Lovat's perfon was 
 
 devolved. 
 
 The moment the laird of Beaufort heard 
 the news that lord Lovat had been con- 
 ducted very ill to the town of Perth, he fet 
 out without delay to his afliilance. But be- 
 fore his arrival, in confequence of the vio- 
 lent remedies that had been adminiftered 
 to him, he loft the ufe of his reafon, and lay 
 in his bed, in a manner incapable of motion, 
 abandoned by his wife and the whole fami- 
 ly of Athol, who waited for his difTolution 
 in great tranquility at the houfe of doctor 
 Murray, their relation. 
 
 Lord Lovat however recollected his cou- 
 fin, and embracing him, faid ; " Did not I 
 " tell you, my dear Simon, that thefe devils 
 " would certainly kill me ? See in what a 
 " condition I am !" Simon could not 
 refrain from tears at this melancholy fpec- 
 tacle. He threw himfelf upon the bed 
 befide lord Lovat, and did not quit him for 
 a fingle moment, till he died the next morn-
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 29 
 
 inp in his arms. Meanwhile not an indi- PART 
 
 I 
 vidual of the family of Athol entered his 
 
 apartment, after having once feen him in 
 the defperate condition in which he had 
 been found by the laird of Beaufort. 
 
 Simon reproached in a very undifguifed 
 manner the whole Athol family with the 
 death of his couiinj and, after very high words 
 on both fides, he fet out to join his regi- 
 ment, then attending their colonel, the earl 
 of Tullibardin, formerly lord Murray, who 
 reprefented the perfon of king William in 
 the parliament of the prefent year. 
 
 Thomas of Beaufort, father of Simon, 
 and uncle of the deceafed Hugh, now took 
 poffeilion of the honours and property of 
 his nephew, who had died without male 
 children. The rights of the houfe of 
 Lovat, and indeed of almoft all the heads of 
 clans, had been for time immemorial al- 
 ways in favour of the male heirs in exclufion 
 of the female. The claim of Thomas, now 
 lord Lovat, being therefore confidered as in- 
 conteflible, not a man in all the north of 
 Scotland dreamed, that the marquis of Athol 
 would endeavour to diilurb his poflcfliort. 
 
 In
 
 30 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART In confequence of this event Simon quitted 
 t_- '- _j the title of laird of Beaufort, and took that 
 1696. o f matter of Lovat. 
 
 The apparent fecunty however of Tho- 
 mas lord Lovaf was quickly feen not to be 
 entirely well founded. The earl of Tulli- 
 bardin had at that time five fons without 
 having fortunes to beflow upon them. He 
 faw himfelf feoretary of ftate, viceroy of 
 Scotland for king William, and of confe- 
 quence matter of the privy council and of 
 the Scottifh army. In this fituation he 
 
 J 
 
 conceived a deiign of cauiing the eldetts 
 daughter of Hugh lord Lovat, to be declar- 
 ed heirefs to the ettates of her father,- and 
 to be-ttow her upon one of his fons in mar- 
 riage - y perfuaded that his fitter, the dow- 
 ager lady Lovat, would be pleafed with the 
 idea of thus aggrandifing her paternal 
 Jioufe. 
 
 Simon, matter of Lovat, being informed 
 of this defign, previoufly to his communi-* 
 eating it to lord Lovat, his father, con- 
 fulted the mod able lawyers in the king- 
 dom upon the fubjeft. The unanimous 
 opinion of thefs lawyers was, that lord 
 
 Tullibardin
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 31 
 
 Tullibardin had no more power to make PART 
 his niece heirefs of Lovat, than to put her v . v^-i 
 in pofTeffion of the kingdom of Scotland ; l6 S 6 - 
 that the right of Thomas of Beaufort to 
 the honours and property of Lovat was in- 
 controvertible; and that the king himfelf 
 could not deprive him of them, without in- 
 curring the guilt of high treafon. 
 
 The mafter of Lovat, delighted with the 
 iiTue of this confultation, difpatched an ex- 
 prefs to his father, befeeching him not to 
 make himfelf uneafy about the reports raif- 
 cd by the family of Athol ; that his rights 
 were inconteftible, and that he had nothing 
 to do but to defend them. Lord Lovat re- 
 plied, that he knew this as well as all the 
 lawyers in the kingdom, and that nothing 
 gave him any pain upon the fubjedt, but 
 the continuance of the mafter in the -regi- 
 ment of a tyrant, who was capable of con- 
 triving his ailafli nation. 
 
 Lord Lovat was not in the wrong, to fear 
 as he did, the pernicious deiigns of the earl of 
 Tullibardin. This nobleman, having learn- 
 ed, that the mafter had confulted the ableft 
 lawyers in the kingdom, and had transmitted 
 
 their
 
 s i MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE! 
 
 PAR T their favourable opinions to lord Lovat, his 
 father, fent/or him one evening, when it 
 was his turn to mount guard for the defence 
 of the perfon of the viceroy, his colonel. 
 As the mafter of Lovat entered the apart- 
 ment of lord Tullibardin, he faw the two 
 centinels, who were placed in the anti- 
 chamber according to cuftom, and he found 
 with the lord commiflioner an attorney, 
 and a barrifter. His lordfhip received the 
 mafter in a very gracious manner, tell- 
 ing him, that he muft have been already 
 convinced that lord Tullibardin entertained 
 an extreme friendship for him, and that he 
 had now formed a project for making his 
 fortune. Simon thanked him for his good 
 intentions, 
 
 " But," cried my lord commiiTioner, " I 
 " am told you have affumed the title of 
 " mafter of Lovat, and that you have fent 
 " opinions of counfel to your father, re- 
 " commending to him to take pofTeflion 
 " of the property of my late brother- 
 " in-law." Simon replied, that his father 
 had taken pofleffiort of the honours and 
 eftates of his nephew immediately upon 
 his death, and long before it was in his 
 i power
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 33 
 
 bower to have fent him firch a confutation PART 
 
 * T 
 
 as my lord comiiiiflioner mentioned. ,_ _^_ _j 
 
 1696. 
 
 Lord Tullibardin anfwered, that he had 
 alfo had a confultation upon this affair; that 
 he was confcious nobody could hinder Tho- 
 mas of Beaufort from taking the title of 
 lord Lovat, he had a right to it ; but that 
 for the property of the deceafed, it belonged 
 to his eldeft daughter and heirefs ; adding, 
 that, if Simon would confent to renounce 
 his pretenfions to the property and honours 
 of Lovat^ he would give him a regiment, 
 and an income that mould make him eafy 
 for life. Simon rejoined, that he had either a 
 juft right to the fucceffion of Lovat; or he 
 had not; if he had no right, it was to little 
 purpofe to renounce his claim ; but if he 
 had a right, he would not renounce it for 
 the revenues of Scotland. 
 
 To this the lord commifSoner anfwered, 
 that he had fent for the lawyer and attorney 
 then prefent to draw up his renunciation; 
 that if he would execute it he would make his 
 fortune, but if he refufed he would not fail 
 to ruin him. Simon replied, that it was 
 idle to have fent for an attorney and a barri- 
 D fter
 
 3* MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART ft er in this bufinefs, that he had confulted 
 
 \_ ^-_f the firfl lawyers in the kingdom, that his 
 
 1696. c l a i m W as legitimate and inconteftible, and 
 
 that all the power and all the riches of 
 
 Scotland mould never prevail upon him to 
 
 furrender it. 
 
 This firmnefs and fpirit threw the lord 
 commiflioner into a violent paflion. He 
 exclaimed with a furious tone; " I have 
 " always known you for an obflinate, in- 
 *' folent rafcal. I do not know what mould 
 " hinder me from cutting off your ears, 
 " or from throwing you into a dungeon, 
 " and bringing you to the gallows, as your 
 " treafons againft the government fo richly 
 '* deferve. r> Simon, having never before 
 been accuftomed to fuch language, im- 
 mediately fluck his hat upon his head, 
 and laying his hand upon the hilt of his* 
 fword, was upon the point of drawing it, 
 when he obferved that lord Tullibardin, 
 had no fword. Upon this he addrefled him 
 in the following manner, " I do not know 
 " what hinders me, knave and coward as 
 " you are, from running my fword through 
 " your body. You are well known for a 
 " poltroon -, and, if you had one grain of 
 
 courage,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 35 
 
 ** courage, you would never have chofen PART 
 
 " your ground in the midft of your guards, - ^-^ 
 
 te to infult a gentleman of a better houfe, l6 9- 
 
 " and of a more honourable birth, than 
 
 ** your own ; but I {hall one day have my 
 
 " revenge. As for the paltry company 
 
 *' that I command in your regiment, and 
 
 " which I bought dearer than ever any 
 
 " company was bought before, it is the 
 
 " greatefl difgrace to which I was ever 
 
 " fubjecl: to be for a moment un- 
 
 " der your command, and now, if you 
 
 " pleafe, you may give it to your foot- 
 
 " man." 
 
 Having thus given vent to his refent- 
 ment, Simon left the apartment with his 
 hat upon his head, and his hand upon the 
 hilt of his fword, for fear of being affafli- 
 nated. But the lord commiffioner had not 
 the courage to order the two centinels who 
 were in the antichamber to arreft him ; 
 being probably apprehenfive of the refent- 
 ment of the guard of infantry, which Si- 
 mon commanded in the court of the palace, 
 and which was almofl entirely compofed of 
 of his own clan. 
 
 D 2 As
 
 PART When the mafter of Lovat got into the 
 ^ L_f court, he defired his lieutenant to take care 
 1696. O f the guard, and went himfelf to feek ge- 
 neral fir Thomas Livingfton, commander 
 in chief of the Scottish army, and who was 
 afterwards, created by king William lord 
 vifcount Teviot. The general had a great 
 regard for the mafter of Lovat, and none at all 
 for lordTullibardin the high commiffioner. 
 When therefore Simon complained to him 
 of the infult he had received from Tullibar- 
 din, his colonel, in the midft of his guards, 
 he was extremely provoked, and faid to the 
 mafter ; " Your colonel, my dear Simon, 
 " is in luck to be high commiffioner* 
 " and to reprefent, however unworthily, 
 " the perfon of the king, for, if he were 
 *' not, I would throw him this very even- 
 " ing into the prifon with which he has fo 
 r * bafely threatened you. But do not fear 
 *' him j he dares not do you any harm. I 
 " take you under my protection, and I will 
 *' remove you from his regiment into a 
 " much better fituation, before a week b 
 " elapfed." 
 
 Next day general Livingfton and the 
 mafter of Lovat publifhed the infamous 
 conduct of the lord comoaiilioaer to the 
 
 whole
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 37. 
 
 whole army. He had never been popu- p A T R T 
 lar in Scotland ; and this adion rendered 
 him completely odious. It was the only 
 fubjeCt of converfation at Edinburgh for 
 feveral days, and the little children cried 
 fhame upon him as his carriage pafied along 
 the flreets. 
 
 In this manner the public completely re- 
 venged the matter of Lovat for an affront, 
 which he could not vindicate with his 
 fword, as he had to do with his own colo- 
 nel, with the viceroy of a kingdom, and 
 with a man who was befide a poltroon by 
 profeflion. It was not long after, that he 
 refufed in a very difgraceful manner the 
 challenge of Mr. Campbel of Finac, who 
 had diftinguifhed himfelf in the enterprife 
 of Darien, telling him that his confcience 
 would not permit him to fight a duel ; 
 though Mr. Campbel had openly infulted 
 him in his own apartment in the royal pa- 
 lace of Edinburgh, and upon the very fpot 
 where the above fcene had pafied with the 
 matter of Lovat, 
 
 Simon was not willing, after this, to per- 
 form any function in the regiment, and fir 
 D 3 Thomas
 
 3 S MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART Thomas Livingfton had the goodnefs to re- 
 move him from the regiment of lord Tul- 
 libardin, and to give him tfre company of 
 grenadiers of the regiment of Macgil. This 
 company was fuperior to any other grena- 
 diers in Scotland, being almoft wholly 
 compofed of young gentlemen, uniformly 
 tall and well maped. The rnafter of Lovat 
 enjoyed this new appointment, and Thomas 
 lord Lovat his father kept quiet pofTeffion 
 of the honours and eftates of his anceftors 
 for one entire year, when they were difturb- 
 ed by the infatiable cupidity and the ava- 
 ricious machinations of the old marquis of 
 Athol. 
 
 This nobleman had rendered himfelf 
 univerfally odious by the tyranny he exer* 
 cifed upon his vaflals in the province of 
 Athol, and (till more by his inexcufable 
 and infamous conduct towards the illuflri- 
 ous houfe of Argyle, a houfe which had 
 been founjuftly opprefled in the preceding 
 reigns. This rafcally marquis had been a 
 perfonal enemy to the late earl of Argyle, 
 who was beheaded under James the fe- 
 cond; the braveft and the moft refpedtable, 
 liobleman in Scotland. The earl of Argyle. 
 
 had
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 39 
 
 -had given a blow to the marquis of Athol PART 
 publicly before the whole court, which ,_ ^^ 
 was then at Edinburgh, and the marquis 
 did not dare to revenge himfelf, but by the 
 bafeft and moft barbarous tyranny. 
 
 Lord Athol had the command of the 
 troops, which were fent to reduce the earl 
 of Argyle* 5 a hero, moft unjuftly perfe- *i6S$. 
 cuted by a cabal of courtiers, after having 
 given the moft unqueftionable proofs of his 
 loyalty to king Charles the fecond, and hav- 
 ing even followed him in his exile. This 
 favage marquis, feeing himfelf at the head 
 of a powerful army, and mafter of the coun- 
 ty of Argyle, not only pillaged the whole 
 country and every houfe in it, but alfo 
 caufed all the beautiful plantations of the 
 caftle of Inverary, the principal feat of the 
 earls of Argyle, to be defaced and torn up 
 by the roots. Nor did his malice ftop here. 
 He caufed fourfcore brave gentlemen of the 
 houfe of Argyle to be afTafiinated with the 
 moft unexampled barbarity. He had at 
 this moment in his pocket the pardon of 
 king James for all the Campbels who were 
 willing to fubmit to his clemency, and he 
 had confented to a capitulation with thefe 
 P 4 very
 
 40 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART very gentlemen, by which he had obtained 
 pofleffion of the caftle, where they had held 
 out againft the efforts of his whole army. 
 In defiance however, both of the royal par- 
 don and of his own capitulation, he caufed 
 them all to be hanged, 
 
 Simon, who was at that time a boy, was 
 informed of thefe particulars by the late 
 ]ord Lovat, his father, who, being truftee 
 cf the Lovat eftate, had been obliged by 
 an order from the king to lead his clan 
 againft the earl of Argyle, though he was 
 tenderly attached to this nobleman, and was 
 ready to have facrificed his life for him in 
 any other quarrel, than againfl his lawful 
 fovereign. 
 
 Mr. John Frafer, brother to Simon, and 
 who was commonly known in France by 
 the appellation of the chevalier de Lovat, 
 allured him during his refidence in that 
 country, that, in travelling to Edinburgh, 
 he was only a mile and a half from the 
 caftle of Dunkeld, at the time of the death 
 of the marquis of Athol*; and that his 
 hoft, who fat up in his turn, together with 
 a guard of thirty men, in the marquis's 
 
 apartment^
 
 OF LORD LOVAT, 41 
 
 apartment, had informed him, that for a PART 
 month before his death, lord Athol was in 
 the moil deplorable condition, blafphem- 
 ing God, and crying, that he was already 
 in hell, and furrounded with devils for 
 having oppreffed the Stewarts of Athol and 
 the Frafers, and for having (hed the inno- 
 cent blood of the Campbels. The clergy- 
 men of the neighbourhood, all of whom 
 came in their turn, to endeavour to com- 
 pofe him, were terrified from approach- 
 ing his bed, he crying out, that he had 
 nothing to do with them; and that he 
 was already encompafied with devils. And 
 in this infernal kind of madnefs the mar- 
 quis died, the very night that the chevalier 
 de Lovat was within three miles of his 
 houfe: an exemplary judgment of God, 
 which ought to make thofe tremble who op- 
 prefs thejuft, and deftroy the innocent; for 
 fooner or later their punifhment is certain, 
 and, if they are fpared in this world, it is 
 only to aggravate their torments in the 
 world to come. 
 
 After this digreffion, which relates to a 
 fact that ought not to be concealed from 
 , I return to the project of that
 
 4* MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART greyheaded tyrant, the marquis of Athol, 
 . '_ . and of the earl of Tullibardin his eldefl 
 fon, the true heir to his avarice and his 
 other amiable qualities, to pofiefs them- 
 felves of the eftates of Lovat, and to enrich 
 their family, which was hitherto rich only 
 in hungry lords, without property, and 
 without appointments. 
 
 To carry this project into execution, thejr 
 confulted with an infamous and unnatural 
 rafcal of the clan of the Frafers, who was at 
 that time a barrifter, without either repu- 
 tation or employment, in the city of Edin- 
 burgh, and who, for a little money, fold 
 himielf to the family of Athol, to betray 
 his clan, and to ruin his chieftain. Mr. 
 Michael Frafer, his brother, and a very 
 learned minifter in the neighbourhood 
 of Invernefs, who has always continued 
 extremely faithful and zealous for his laird, 
 exerted himfelf to perfuade this apoflate 
 wretch to abandon his defign. But he was 
 unfuccefsful in his attempt, and concluded 
 with curfing the day that gave birth to fuch 
 a monfter as his brother Robert, who for 
 vile lucre fubmitted to be the inftrument of 
 lord Athol, to ruin lord Lovat, and to ex- 
 terminate
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 43 
 
 terminate the name of Frafer, which he PART 
 
 unworthily bore. ^ ,r 
 
 1697. 
 
 Robert Frafer reprefented to the mar- 
 quis of Athol, that he had no apparent 
 ric-ht to the eftates of Lovat, and had little 
 profpecl: of fuccefs, if he endeavoured to 
 poflefs himfelf of them by force ; fince 
 the whole clan was unanimous to live and 
 die with Thomas lord Lovat, and refolved 
 to fuffer all extremities, rather than permit 
 a ftranger to enter into pofleffion of their 
 province. He therefore obferved, that the 
 only conduct it became him to adopt, was 
 to declare the eldeft daughter of the de- 
 ceafed Hugh lord Lovat, heirefs to his 
 property, and to offer her in marriage to 
 the eldeft fon of lord Salton, whofe name 
 was Frafer, and who was the reprefentative 
 of an inconfiderable branch of the Frafers, 
 which had fettled in the lowlands of the 
 county of Aberdeen. He added, that in 
 that cafe he would undertake to infinuate to 
 the clan of the Frafers, that lord Salton 
 was very rich, and a Frafer as well as 
 themfelves -, and that, if his fon united his 
 property with that of the pretended heir- 
 the clan of Frafers would become 
 
 rmich
 
 44 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART much more flourifliing and refpectable, than 
 under Thomas lord Lovat, who was nei- 
 ther fo rich, nor fo capable of freeing the 
 dan from the many unjuft claims, that 
 were made upon them, and profecuted in 
 law for fictitious debts. Robert Frafer 
 concluded, that, when the clan mould by 
 this plot, and by fome bribes that might 
 be fecretly diftributed, be divided among 
 themfelves, and when, of which there was 
 no doubt, lord Lovat and lord Salton fhould 
 have cut each others throats, the family of 
 Athol might profit by their diforder ; and 
 the marquis might introduce the young 
 lords, his children, into pofieffion of the 
 province, either under pretext of the 
 dowry of their fitter, or by the pretended 
 right of the young heirefs their niece, who 
 would then be in their power to marry as 
 they pleafed, 
 
 The lords Athol and Tullibardin were 
 delighted with a project, which accorded 
 fo well with their own hearts. They 
 began with beftowing rewards upon the 
 traitor, Robert Frafer, and upon a little 
 knave of a Frafer, the fon of Dunballah, 
 whom Robert aiibciated with him, in order 
 
 to
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 45 
 
 to inveigle the clan, and to lead lord Sal- P AF 
 
 ton into their fnare. 
 
 16-7, 
 
 They repaired accordingly to his feat in 
 the county of Aberdeen, and reprefented 
 to him, that it would be worthy of a man 
 of his virtue and greatnefs of foul, to raife 
 the name and the clan of Frafer to a flou- 
 rifhing condition, and to beftow his fon in 
 marriage upon the heirefs of Lovat, by 
 which means, as he was very rich, he might 
 place the clan in a more honourable and 
 refpe&able condition than ever. 
 
 Lord Salton had often heard that the 
 cftate of Lovat was the bed fituated 
 and in the fineft country in Scotland ; 
 and, as he was naturally the mod avari- 
 cious of men, he gave willingly into their 
 plan. At the fame time he was a man of 
 good fenfe and a great deal of prudence; 
 and, as he was very remotely related to the 
 clan of the Frafers, being incapable even 
 of fpeaking their Erfe language, he declar- 
 ed that he would never confent to the 
 project, but upon condition of his being 
 invited by the clan, and provided there 
 (hpuld not be found any near relation of 
 i the
 
 46 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART the late lord Lovat, who mould be proper 
 
 ( or willing to marry the pretended heirefs. 
 1697. 
 
 The two traitors Robert and Thomas 
 Frafer, who had already fold their laird 
 and their clan, now undertook to procure 
 for lord Saitoh an addrefs, or unanimous 
 letter in the name of the whole clan, to 
 intreat him to come among them and con- 
 fummate this marriage; though thefe knaves 
 had no more credit in the clan than a cou- 
 ple of footmen. They quitted however lord 
 Salton in order to carry on their fcheme. 
 
 They were fufficiently pleafed that they 
 had fo far fucceeded as to draw him into 
 their fnare. In the mean time they wrote 
 to lord Athol, that they were proceeding 
 .to Invernefs, and that, even mould they 
 not dare to mention their project to 
 the clan, they would however procure 
 a fictitious letter to induce lord Salton 
 to fet out for Lovat. They added, that 
 lord Athol ought by all means to fend one 
 of his children to receive him, and to 
 buoy him up in the hope which they had 
 infpired, of having the pretended heirefs 
 for his eldeft fon. Lord Athol accordingly 
 
 difpatched
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 47 
 
 difpatched lord Mungo Murray, with in- PART 
 
 ftructions to his daughter, the dowager lady c^-0 * 
 
 Lovat, refpeding the manner in which fhe l6 97- 
 fhould receive lord Salton. 
 
 Robert Frafer and his coadjutors, hav- 
 ing arrived at Invernefs near Lovat, con- 
 fcious that they did not dare to open their 
 project to the principal gentlemen of the 
 clan, who were extremely attached to Tho- 
 mas lord Lovat and, who had no concep- 
 tion of the poflibility of his title being 
 difputed, bribed two or three beggarly re- 
 lations of their own to fign fuch a letter as 
 they defired. This done, they immediate- 
 ly difpatched it exprefs to lord Salton, af- 
 furing him that the three fignatures an- 
 nexed, were thofe of the principal gentle^ 
 men of the clan ; and that they had fub- 
 fcribed it in the name of all the Frafers, to 
 invite him into their country. 
 
 Lord Salton gave implicitly into their ar- 
 tifice: and fuch was the origin of all the 
 misfortunes of Thomas lord Lovat, and 
 Simon lord Lovat, his ion, and of the al- 
 moft total ruin of the clan of the Frafers, 
 {b celebrated for ages in the Scottifh hif- 
 l v tory.
 
 48 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 tory. Robert, the prime author of thefe 
 misfortunes, died under the vifible judge* 
 ment of God ; and his fellow knave, Tho- 
 mas Frafer, may yet be overtaken with the 
 juft punifhment of his crimes. 
 
 Thefe two emiffaries of lord Athol how- 
 ever, divulged their defign to fome of their 
 relations, who were faithfully attached to 
 lordLovat; he was accordingly advertifed 
 of the particulars, and immediately difpatch- 
 ed an exprefs to his fon, who was then at 
 Edinburgh, intreating him to quit the 
 army, and come and refide with him, to 
 defend his rights againfl thofe who were 
 difpofed to invade them. Simon, unable 
 to refift the inclinations of his father, 
 quitted the fervice with regret, and imme- 
 diately fet out, to place himfelf, together 1 
 with his father, at the head of the affairs 
 of his clan. 
 
 As foon as he arrived, and received an 
 account of the treachery of Robert and 
 Thomas Frafer, and three or four beggarly 
 people of the name who had invited lord 
 Salton, to come and interrupt the tranqui-
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 49 
 
 lity of his father and his clan, the matter PART 
 'of Lovat difpatched three men to arreft L ^-_> 
 Robert and his infolent coadjutors, in order l6 97* 
 to their being -punilhed according to their 
 deferts. It may be remarked by the way, 
 that the heads of the Scottifh clans ex- 
 ercife a power nearly defpotic over their 
 vafTals. The confpirators however efcap- 
 ed, and haftened to put themfelves under 
 the protection of lord Salton. 
 
 When lord Lovat and his fon were ac- 
 quainted with their efcape, they caufed a 
 general letter to be written to lord Salton 
 on the part of the whole clan, to intreat 
 him to remain at home, and not to inter- 
 fere with their repofe, their chieftain, or 
 his interests. They added, that they were 
 unanimoufly determined to live and die 
 with their laird, and that they were forry to 
 be obliged to tell lord Salton, though he 
 were a Frafer, that, if he dared to enter 
 their country in hoftility to Thomas lord 
 Lovat, their chief, his head mould anfwer 
 the infringement, and he mould never re- 
 turn alive into his own country. Every 
 gentleman of the clan, the three beggars 
 E excepted,
 
 50 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 PART excepted, who had aiTociated themfelves 
 with the barrifter and his coufin, figned this 
 letter. 
 
 An exprefs was accordingly difpatched, 
 who met lord Sal ton already advanced 
 half way on his journey. He proceeded 
 however to Invernefs, where he learned 
 from undoubted authority, that Thomas 
 lord Lovat and Simon the matter were in 
 peaceable pofleffion of thehonours and eftates 
 of their anceftors, and that the clan were 
 refolute to defend them to the laft ; con- 
 fequently, if he advanced any farther in 
 the profecution of his fcheme, he would 
 not fail to run an imminent riik of his 
 life, fince the highland clans did not con- 
 iider themfelves as bound by the letter 
 of the law, like the inhabitants of the low 
 country, but to a man would regard it as* 
 their honour and their boaft, to cut the 
 throat, or to blow out the brains of any 
 one, be he who he would, who fhoulct 
 dare to difturb the repofe of their laird. 
 
 
 Lord Salton, who had little knowledge 
 of the manners of thefe regions, had by this 
 2 time
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 51 
 
 time feverely repented the having left his PART 
 own country* He wrote upon the fpot a very 
 humble and polite letter to lord Lovat and 
 his Ton ; protefting before God that he had ' 
 not left his own eftate in order to difturb 
 their tranquilityj but that he was come, like 
 a good Frafer, to endeavour to terminate in. 
 an amicable manner the differences he had 
 been told had arifen between lord Lovat 
 and the family of Athol ; and that for this 
 purpofe he would now proceed to the refi- 
 dence of the lady dowager Lovat, which 
 was at^Beaufort, nine miles from Invernefs. 
 
 Lord Lovat and his fon took this letter 
 in good part, and anfwered lord Salton, that, 
 if he were come upon fo good an errand, he 
 was welcome to Lovat, and they would 
 haften to do him the honours of the coun- 
 try ; but that, if he came to intrude into 
 their concerns againft their confent, he 
 jfhould dearly repent it. 
 
 Still, however* lord Lovat and his fon, 
 and the principal people of the clan were 
 apprehenfive, that the lady dowager Lovat 
 and her brother, the fon and daughter of 
 Jord Athol, together with the three or four 
 E 2 traitor
 
 52 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART traitor Frafers who were with them, would 
 \_ - r - _f perfuade lord Salton to perfift in their 
 6 97- project. Lord Lovat was at this time 
 at his large eftate of Stratheric, which 
 ftretches along the weftern banks of the 
 Nefs ' y the eftates of lord Lovat compre- 
 hending the almoft entire circumference of 
 v this lake, which is the largeft and mod 
 beautiful in Scotland. The mafter of Lovat 
 therefore intreated his father to crofs 
 
 the lake bv the ihorteft cut, in order to 
 
 j 
 
 meet lord Salton at his feat of Lovat, the 
 houfes of Beaufort and Lovat being only 
 three miles from each other. In the mean 
 time Simon determined to proceed to the 
 fame point by the way of Invernefs, in 
 order that he might meet lord Salton, if 
 his lordmip ihould be deiirous of fetting 
 out on his return before their arrival. 
 
 The mafter of Lovat no fooner arrived at 
 Jnvernefs, a town whofe inhabitants are 
 almoft all of his clan, and as true to his 
 interefts as thofe who live at the very gates 
 of Lovat, than he learned, that lord Sal- 
 ton had once more given himfelf up to 
 the direction of Robert Frafer and his aflb- 
 ciates, that they had jointly concerted 
 
 their
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 53 
 
 their affairs at the houfe of the dowager lady PART 
 Lovat, and that he meaned to return the - ^ x ^j 
 next day into his own country, without l6 97- 
 waiting to fee either lord Lovat or his fon, 
 notwithftanding his having given them his 
 word, that it was for their interefts that 
 he had come into the province. Simon, 
 who was at that time very young, and eager 
 in his temper, was extremely irritated at 
 this behaviour. He lent a letter with all 
 diligence by a gentleman of his train, in 
 which he called upon lord Salton, to ad- 
 here to his word, palled to his father and 
 himfelf, and to meet him the next day at 
 two in the afternoon three miles from 
 Beaufort, either like a friend, or with fword 
 and piftol, as he pleafed. 
 
 Lord Salton received this letter at fix 
 o'clock in the evening, and immediately 
 called together his cabal, by whom it was 
 refolved, that it would be proper to fend 
 word to the matter of Lovat, that lord 
 Salton would meet him at the time and 
 place appointed, as his good friend and fer- 
 vant. In the mean time they determined, 
 that, as the rendezvous was given only for 
 
 E 3 two
 
 54 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART two o'clock in the afternoon, they ought 
 to fet out at break of day, and pafs the 
 bridge of Invernefs before eight in the 
 morning. It was not doubted, that thus 
 they would efcape the mafter of Lovat, 
 who would have no fufpicion of fo precipi- 
 tate a retreat. 
 
 Lord Salton accordingly returned a po- 
 lite anfwer, arTuring the mafter of Lovat 
 that he mould be happy to meet him, in 
 order to give him the proofs of that friend- 
 fhip and refpect he entertained for him. 
 The gentlemen however who attended the 
 mafter, had a miilruft of all that was con- 
 certed at Beaufort. They recommended 
 to him to proceed for Lovat early in the 
 morning, before it ihould be poffible for 
 lord Salton to efcape. 
 
 The mafter accordingly proceeded, and 
 pafled the bridge of Invernefs very early, 
 attended by fix gentlemen and two fervants, 
 on horfeback, and completely armed. The 
 inhabitants, obferving their alert and fpi- 
 rited appearance, lifted up their hands to 
 heaven, and prayed God to profper their 
 enterprife. 
 
 They
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 55 
 
 They had not proceeded more than four or PART 
 five miles beyond Invernefs, when they ob- 
 ferved a large troop of runners ifTuing out of l6 97- 
 the wood of Bonfhrive, which is croifed 
 by the high road. It is a cuftom in the 
 north of Scotland, for almoit every gentle- 
 man to have a fervant in livery, who runs 
 before his horfe, and who is always at his 
 fHrrup when he wifhes to mount or to 
 alight; and, however fwift any horfe may 
 be, a good runner is always able to match 
 him. 
 
 The gentlemen who attended upon the 
 mailer of Lovat, feeing this large troop 
 of runners, were immediately fatisfied of 
 the duplicity of lord Salton, and aflured 
 him that it was his lordfhip, lord Mungo 
 Murray, fon of lord Athol, and the reft 
 of the cabal who were advancing. The 
 matter reprefented to his attendants, that 
 fuch an affront was too atrocious, for him 
 not to exacl: fatisfaction for it, or to perifh 
 in the attempt -> and he demanded of them 
 whether they were willing to run the fame 
 hazard which he was determined to do. 
 The gentlemen of his party were offend- 
 E 4 ed
 
 56 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 FART ed at the queftion, and allured their chief 
 ^J^j that his own heart was not more faith- 
 1697- ful to his purpofe, than they were to ex- 
 pofe their lives and fortunes for his honour 
 and intereft. He replied, that, iince lord 
 Salton and lord Mungo Murray were, if 
 they might judge from the appearance of 
 the troop of runners, four times flronger 
 than himfelf, he would call out lord Sal- 
 ton in duel, and lord Mungo as his fe- 
 cond, and he intreated his attendants not 
 to fire, till the combat mould be finished 
 between him and lord Salton. Having thus 
 concerted their proceedings, they marched 
 on to the rencounter, the runners having 
 aflured them that the company that was 
 advancing, was that of the lords whom 
 they fought. 
 
 Lord Salton and lord Mungo Murray, 
 with their train of attendants, ilTued from, 
 the wood, at the moment the mailer 
 of Lovat was about to enter it. Upon 
 fight of them he drew a piftol from his 
 belt, and a very brave gentleman of his 
 party, by name William of Erchette, who 
 was behind the mafter, obferving this ac- 
 tion, without uttering a word, levelled a 
 
 carabine
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 57 
 
 carabine which he had upon his horfe, at p A R 
 lord Salton, crying out, " Stop, traitor, v v 
 " you mall pay with your hide your irrup- 
 " tion into this country in hoftility to our 
 " laird." At thefe words they all flopped 
 fhort. 
 
 The matter of Lovat inftantly fpurred 
 his horfe into a flight gallop, making to- 
 wards lord Mungo, who was foremott in a 
 narrow path leading out of the wood. As 
 he approached him, the matter of Lovat 
 cried, his piftol in his hand, " Fire, trai- 
 " tor, or I will blow out your brains." 
 Lord Mungo, mounted upon a very fine 
 horfe, the property of the late lord Lovat, 
 his brother-in-law, inftead of firing his 
 piftol, dropped his bridle from his hand, 
 and exclaimed aloud, " My dear Simon, 
 " and is this the termination of our long and 
 " tender friendmip ! Grant me my life." 
 The mafter replied 3 " You are a bafe cow- 
 " ard, and deferve no quarter, but I give 
 " you your life :" and, faying this, he 
 diiarmed him in a moment of his piftols and 
 his fword. No fooner was this done, than, 
 turning round, the mafter of Lovat per- 
 ceived one of his attendants in the very ad: 
 
 of
 
 58 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART of difcharging the contents of his carabine 
 y^-v' at the diftance of only three inches, into 
 l6 97- the body of lord Salton. Simon imme- 
 diately threw himfelf before his atten- 
 dant, and called to him with all his might 
 not to fire. Thus his generofity faved in 
 one day the lives of two noblemen, who the 
 very night before had confpired his deftruc- 
 tion, and who had formally broken to him 
 their words of honour. 
 
 Since however the two lords had more 
 than forty horfemen behind them in the 
 road, the mafter of Lovat gave orders to all 
 the gentlemen of his party, to prefent their 
 carabines to the breafts of lord Salton, lord 
 Mungo Murray, and the perfons who were 
 already come up, and to fire upon the firfl 
 perfon who moved hand or foot, while he 
 alighted from his horfe, and difarmed the 
 remainder of the troop as they arrived. In 
 this manner the mafter of Lovat took 
 from the enemy more than forty pair of 
 piftols, together with a number of fwords, 
 without the fmalleft refinance from any 
 individual, except the valet de chambre of 
 lord Salton* who was a lowland Frafer* 
 
 an,d. 
 
 i
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 59 
 
 and who would not give up his arms, till PART 
 the matter it ruck him a blow upon the 
 head with the flat fide of his fword. 
 
 In the mean time the nine perfons of 
 whom the mailer's troop was compofed, 
 were inefficient to guard above forty per-* 
 fons with their hories, to the houfe where 
 the matter of Lovat refolved to hold them 
 in durance. He therefore difpatched one 
 of his company to mutter the infantry of 
 the province, which is conftantly well 
 armed and equipped, and animated with the 
 moft incredible zeal in the fervice of their 
 chief. They afTembled in crowds j and 
 lord Lovat himfelf foon arrived, toge- 
 ther with almoft every perfon who lived 
 for fome miles round : fo that in lefs than 
 fix hours lord Lovat and his fon muttered 
 between fix and feven hundred brave Fra- 
 fers, completely armed, under the walls of 
 Fanellan, which was the feat to which the 
 matter caufed the two lords and all their 
 attendants to be conduced. 
 
 Upon their arrival the matter of Lovat 
 intreated his father to retire to one of his 
 other ettates at a confiderable dittance from 
 
 Fanellan,
 
 6o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART Fanellan, as well to avoid the fatigue in- 
 
 I . . 
 
 v__J^, cident to fo active a fcene, lord Lovat 
 
 l6 97- being then fixty-eight years of age, as be- 
 caufe the matter was unwilling, that the 
 capture of thefe noblemen fhould be im- 
 puted to his father, or that he fhould be 
 involved in any of the difagreeable con- 
 fequences, that might follow fo fpirited an 
 action. 
 
 As two of the perfons, moft actively con- 
 cerned in the project of lord Salton, were 
 flill with the dowager lady Lovat at the 
 feat of Beaufort, the mafter now difpatched 
 a gentleman of his clan with thirty fol- 
 lowers, to bring them prifoners to Fanel- 
 lan; at the fame time directing him to place 
 a guard upon all the avenues of Beau- 
 fort-houfe, to prevent the dowager from 
 fending to her father, in opposition to lord 
 Lovat and his fon. Beaufort-houfe was 
 in reality the property of lord Lovat, not 
 only as a part of the Lovat eftate, but 
 as being his appanage as younger fon of 
 Hugh lord Lovat, his father. Accord- 
 ingly he had always been filled during 
 the life of his nephew the laird of Beaufort, 
 and had lived in the houfe till he became 
 
 a widower,
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 6t 
 
 a widower, having afterwards beflowed it PART 
 out of pure bounty upon his nephew, on ^ ^ 
 account of the ruinous condition of the 1697. 
 caflle of Lovat. Whether however the per- 
 fons, that the mafter had fent to appre- 
 hend the confpirators, committed any in- 
 fults upon the dorneftics of the houfe, or 
 upon their prifoners, the dowager lady 
 Lovat exclaimed warmly that me was in- 
 fulted and made a prifoner, as fhe faid, in 
 her own houfe. 
 
 Accordingly fhe made her complaint to 
 the marquis of Athol, her father, and to her 
 brother, the earl of Tullibardin, at that 
 time one of the fecretaries of ftate for Scot- 
 land". During the whole tranfaction, the 
 mafter of Lovat had remained at a dif- 
 tance from the dowager, at the houfe 
 where his prifoners were confined ; and 
 thofe perfons who were fent to Beaufort, 
 were guilty of no fort of diirefpecl: to her 
 perfon. In the mean time, out of this 
 natural and temperate procedure, unaccom- 
 panied with either attempt or defign againft 
 the perfon of the dowager, lord Athol and 
 his fon created that chimerical monfter of 
 A rape ami violation, with which they 
 
 blackened
 
 62 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 blackened the character of the mafter and 
 his friends. It was impoflible indeed to do 
 other than praife the .action, by which he 
 had made himfelf matter of the perlbn of 
 the lords, who had come with a defjgn of 
 expelling him from his inheritance. 
 
 Meanwhile the whole country knew; 
 that the mailer of Lovat, at the age of 
 about twenty years, well educated, at the 
 head of an ancient houfe, and of a brave 
 and refpectable clan, might have afpired 
 to any match in the kingdom. Indeed he" 
 ranked among his anceftors on the female 
 fide three daughters of the royal houfe of 
 Stuart, together with the daughters of the 
 mod ancient peers and the firft nobility of 
 Scotland. He had no reafon therefore to 
 commit the frnalleft violence upon a wi* 
 dow, who was old enough to be his mo- 
 ther> dwarfim in her perfon and deformed 
 in her (hape, and with no other fortune 
 than a jointure of two hundred and fifty 
 pounds a year, which itfelf was dependent 
 upon his good pleafure as mafter of Lovat. 
 Add to this, that the whole north of Scot- 
 land was confcious that this pretended rape 
 was a mere calumny, a ridiculous chim- 
 
 sertu
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 6j 
 
 sera, invented by the marquis of Athol for PART 
 the ruin of the matter of Lovat. It is alfo ^__ -\~_i 
 notorious that the dowager herfelf, fince the l6 97- 
 profecution was commenced againft the 
 matter for a crime, that he never fo much 
 as imagined, and that it would ttrike him 
 with horror to commit, even with a female 
 of the meaneft condition, has declared to 
 more than a hundred perfons, that her fa- 
 ther and her brother were extremely to 
 blame to accufe the matter of this crime* 
 that he had never failed of paying her every 
 proper refpedl: 5 and that (he loved and 
 efteemed him, having been brought up with, 
 him in the fame houfe, the late lord Lovat, 
 his coufin, having always regarded him as 
 his child. 
 
 Notwithftanding however the evident 
 abfurdity of this imputation, lord Tullibar- 
 din, then fecretary of ttate to king Wil- 
 liam, perfuaded his mafter that Simon of 
 Beaufort had committed a rape, accompa- 
 nied with the mod atrocious and aggra- 
 vated circumftances, upon the perfon of his 
 fitter, the widow of the late lord Lovat. 
 
 Something was ftill wanting : Thomas 
 lord Lovat could not be comprehended in 
 
 the
 
 64 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART t ne chimerical crime of his fon, nor could 
 \ -v-^ a detachment of the royal army be obtained 
 7> againft the clan of the Frafers, to punifh the 
 crime of an individual. Lord Tullibardin 
 therefore perfuaded king William, that both 
 father and fon had been the firft to join the 
 infurrection of vifcount Dundee, that they 
 had been the laft to fubmit to the pre- 
 fent government, and that they had in fact 
 always continued his majefty's inveterate 
 enemies. They expected, he faid, to fee 
 king James in Scotland in the enfuing fum- 
 mer, and had already once more taken arms 
 for his fervice, and collected two thoufand 
 men under their ftandard. He defcribed 
 their eftate as confiding of immenfe forefts, 
 inacceffible iflands, and impregnable caftles. 
 They had furnimed thefe iflands and caftles 
 with ammunition and provifions ; they had 
 thrown up intrenchrnents in their forefts, 
 in order to render a country ftill more inac- 
 ceffible, which was already fufficiently fo by 
 nature ; if therefore, his majefty did not 
 iflue immediate orders to the whole Scottish 
 army, to march againft thefe rebels and 
 villains, the flame now lighted up, might 
 foon become too great for all the exertions 
 of the three kingdoms to extinguim. 
 
 2 It
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 65 
 
 It was natural for king William to give PART 
 credit to the reprefentations of his fecretary L _ v l._| 
 of ftate. He therefore yielded implicitly l6 ?7 
 to the fentiments of Tullibardin, which 
 were in fact the mere refult of private 
 picque againft Simon, and an intereftedcon- 
 teft for the Lovat eftate ; and iflued orders 
 to the Scottifh troops to march againfh the 
 clan of the Frafers, and to the Scottim pri- 
 vy council to exert themfelves on their part 
 for their entire reduction. It was thus that 
 king William, to fatisfy the fordid and trea- 
 cherous difpofition of his minifter, employ- 
 ed his authority to exterminate a houfe, 
 whofe anceftors in every period of the Scot- 
 tifh hiftory have gained die moft diftin- 
 guiflied laurels in the defence of their king 
 and country. 
 
 In the famous battle of Rofline*, ages "1302; 
 before the illuftrious houfe of Stewart af- 
 cended the Scottim throne, [Buchanan lib. 
 viii. page 255.] Simon Frafer and John 
 Cuming were the two commanders in chief, 
 who gained the moft memorable victory ever 
 obtained by the Scots over the Englim. 
 
 Simon Frafer, fon of the former, and 
 Alexander his brother, were cut in pieces 
 
 F at
 
 66 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART at the battle of Perth*, [Buchanan lib. ix. 
 
 i. - r '- __f pages 284, 5.] through the treafon of An- 
 *ij33. drew Murray of Tullibardtn againft his 
 king and country, who placed flakes of 
 wood in the mofl fordable part of the river, 
 as a direction to the Englifh, in order to 
 their falling by night upon the army of 
 Scotland. The part of the camp neareft 
 to the river was occupied by the Frafers, 
 and the Keiths the anceftors of the earl 
 Marifhal of Scotland, who were all cut in 
 pieces, and the Keiths have never recovered 
 the flaughter of that night. The following 
 year Andrew Murray of Tullibardin was 
 taken and hanged by James and Simon Fra- 
 ler, and Robert Keith. 
 
 The Frafers at length recovered from this 
 misfortune, as in a more recent inftance 
 they were delivered by a particular inter- 
 pofition of providence, from a ftill greater 
 *i544. difafter at the battle of Loch Lochie*. In 
 this battle lord Lovat, his four brothers, 
 his three fons, and all the gentlemen of his 
 clan were cut in pieces by the different 
 clans of the Macdonalds, who were at that 
 time four times their number. This at- 
 tack was inftigated by George Gordon earl 
 
 of
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 67 
 
 of Huntley, who bore the Frafers an ex- PART 
 treme hatred on account of their attachment 
 to the family of Argyle, with whom he was 
 engaged in continual feuds. The attach- 
 ment of the Frafers to the Campbels is as old 
 as the very exiftence of their names; and ac- 
 cordingly the quarrel of a Campbel was al- 
 ways confidered through the whole country 
 as the quarrel of a Frafen But God reftor- 
 ed by a kind of miracle the clan of the 
 Frafers, who were all killed upon the fpot, 
 with the exception of three perfons defpe- 
 rately wounded. The pafTage is curious 
 enough to deferve to be cited in the very 
 words of Buchanan. 
 
 <e About this time/' fays he, " by the 
 " inftigation, as it is thought, of the earl of 
 " Huntley* a battle was fought, in which 
 " alrnoft the whole clan of the Frafers was 
 " exterminated. There was an old quarrel 
 " between the Frafers and the Macdonalds, 
 " which had been rendered illuftrious by 
 " the many bloody engagements to which 
 " it had given birth. Huntley in the 
 " mean time was deeply irritated, that the 
 " Frafers alone, among fo many neighbour- 
 " ing clans, fhould reject his protection, 
 F 2 He
 
 68 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART " He had juft collected the neighbouring 
 " iflanders, and made an incuriion upon 
 " the eftates of the earl of Argyle ; and, 
 '* while every other clan had exerted its 
 '* whole force in his favour, there was 
 " fcarcely an individual in the whole clan 
 " of Frafer, that had not ranged himfelf 
 " under the enemy's ftandard. For this 
 " time however ^the feud was compofed 
 " without an engagement, and the forces 
 " of each party, having difbanded them- 
 *' felves, returned to their respective clans. 
 " The Macdonalds meantime, instructed 
 " by the earl of Huntley, collected their 
 " whole force; and, having taken their 
 " enemy by furprife, engaged in a moft 
 " obftinate battle : the unfortunate clan, 
 " overpowered by the greateft inequality of 
 " numbers, were killed to a man. Thus 
 " a family, the moft numerous, and who 
 " had often deferved well of the Scottifli 
 " weal, had wholly periflied ; unlefs, as 
 " it feems juft to believe, the divine pro- 
 " vidence had not interfered in their fa- 
 " vour. Of the heads of the clan eighty 
 " perfons had left their wives at home preg- 
 '* nant, and each of them in her turn was 
 " delivered of a male child, who all at- 
 5 " tained
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 69 
 
 tained fafe to man's eftate." [Buchanan 
 lib. xv. page 532.] 
 
 Thefe particulars are fufficiently known, 
 as being contained in the only authentic 
 hiftory of Scotland for thofe times. And 
 indeed the life of Simon lord Lovat, which 
 forms the fubjeft of the prefent hiftory, has 
 been itfelf little lefs than a continual mi- 
 racle ; fince he has repeatedly efcaped by the 
 favour of providence, all that the malice, of 
 men and devils could invent, to ruin him, 
 to undermine his reputation, to rob him of 
 his property, and to deprive him of his life. 
 
 I now return to lord Tullibardin, who 6 97 
 furprifed king William, in the manner that 
 has been related, into the irTuing of an or- 
 der, the mod vindictive that ever originated 
 with any king of Scotland; and of the na- 
 ture of which king William was affuredly 
 not fufficiently informed. Lord Tullibar- 
 din, at that time fecretary of flate, and 
 high commiffioner to the Scottim par- 
 liament, had the whole privy council, which 
 was indeed almoft totally compofed of his 
 own creatures, at his difpofition. No one 
 is now to be told, that the fecretaries of 
 F 3 ftate
 
 70 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART frate for Scotland, ever fince her kings af-. 
 V __^___ J ceuded the English throne, have had a very 
 1697. great, and indeed an abfolute power in the 
 Scottilh privy council, 
 
 Nor was this ever more confpicuoufly 
 difplayed than upon the prefent occafion. 
 Upon the groundlefs calumnies of the mar- 
 quis of Athol, a committee of privy council, 
 chofen by lord Tullibardin, without ex- 
 amining a fingle vvitnefs, a procedure con- 
 trary to all laws, and all precedent; and 
 without ifTuing a citation to lord Lovat 
 or his fon, an indulgence which has 
 never been refufed to the mod atrocious 
 outlaws, publimed a printed fentence againit 
 Thomas lord Lovat, and Simon his fon, 
 and againft all the Frafers, men, women, 
 and children, their adherents. This fen- 
 tence included an order to all the troops 
 in the kingdom, to overrun their province, 
 to take them dead or alive, to burn, kill, 
 ravage and deilroy the whole clan without 
 exception : if they, or any of them took 
 fanctuary in churches, to burn them in 
 the faid churches j at the fame time an- 
 nexing a general amnefty, in cafe the troops 
 employed in this execution, in burning 
 
 them.
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 71 
 
 them, mould burn any perfon not bear- PART 
 ing the name of Frafer, In a word, all ^-^~^j 
 hiftory, facred and profane, cannot pro- l697 * 
 duce an order, pregnant with fuch unex- 
 ampled cruelty, as this fentence, which 
 is carefully preferved in the houfe of Lovat, 
 to the eternal confufion and infamv of thofe 
 
 
 who ligned it, and to awaken the gratitude 
 of the Frafers to the lateft generation, to 
 that God who delivered them from this in- 
 fernal execution. 
 
 While this was tranfacting, the matter of 
 Lovat, little fufpecling the machinations 
 which the lords Athol and Tullibardin 
 were preparing again ft him, was employed 
 in difpoling of his noble prifoners. For 
 fome time he detained them in cuflody, and 
 threatened to hang them, for having in- 
 truded into his inheritance, and fought to 
 deprive him of his lawful and hereditary 
 rights. At length however, by the inter- 
 ceffion of certain barons of the low country, 
 who came to folicit the liberty of lord Sal- 
 ton, lord Mungo Murray, and their at- 
 tendants, he difmiiTed them -, having firft 
 obliged lord Salton to promife, that he 
 would fend him, as foon as he mould be 
 F 4 out
 
 7i MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 P A R *T out of the province of Lovat, a formal obli- 
 gallon in the fum of eight thoufand pounds, 
 with four barons of the low country as his 
 fureties, that he would never more inter- 
 fere with the affairs of. the Lovat eftate, and 
 that neither he nor the marquis of Athol 
 would ever profecute either lord Lovat, or 
 his fon, or their clan in general, for the 
 difgrace they had experienced in being made 
 prifoners, or for any of the tranfa&ions of 
 this affair. Thus was the matter of Lo^ 
 vat exercifing his generofity towards a part 
 of the Athol family, at the very time that 
 they were confpiring his deftruclion and the 
 extermination of his clan, 
 
 It was not long before the matter was ad- 
 vertifed by his friends of the formidable de- 
 cree of the privy council -, that in confe^ 
 quence all the regular troops in Scotland 
 were marching againft him by the low coun- 
 tries, and that lord Athol was aflembling an 
 army of Highlanders to march round the 
 mountains and attack him in flank. So for- 
 midable a, preparation would have terrified 
 any man, who had not been a little acquaint- 
 ed with the manner of carrying on a war in 
 thehighlands a aqdvvho was not tolerably cer-? 
 
 tain
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 73 
 
 tain that his province was almoft inaccelfible, PART 
 
 and that with five hundred men he could ef- u O-^i 
 factually ftop the progrefs of five thoufand in l6 97- 
 a foreft, fortified by nature with rocks and 
 an almoft uninterrupted defile. 
 
 Previoufly however to the arrival of his 
 enemies, the mailer intreated his father 
 with tears, to retire into the country of his 
 brother-in-law, the head of the brave clan 
 of the Maclecds, a family extremely rich 
 and powerful in the illands of Scotland. 
 Lord Lovat confented to the propofal $ 
 and the Macleods came to meet him, and 
 received him with the fame affection, as 
 they would have done their own chief, the 
 brother-in-law of his lordfhip. 
 
 The mafter of Lovat felt himfelf ex- 
 tremely happy in having placed his father 
 in fafety. He now afiembled his whole clan, 
 in order to learn their refolution j and all of 
 them, with a zeal which furpafies credibility, 
 and which ought for ever to engage the in- 
 violable attachment of every Scottifh chief 
 to his clan, protefted to the mafter, that 
 they would never defert him; and that they 
 would leave their wives, their children, 
 
 their
 
 74 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART their houfes, their property, and all that 
 v L^ they held mod dear, to live and die with 
 j6 9. 7 - him. The matter on his iide made equal 
 protections of tendernefs and friendihip. 
 This being fettled, he reconnoitred the 
 ground which would be proper for his de- 
 fence , and having taken pofleffion of it 
 with a felect number of his clan, he dif- 
 mifled the reit to protect their houfes in the 
 belt manner they could. 
 
 The feveral regiments of cavalry, infan- 
 try and dragoons, which were Rationed in 
 the kingdom of Scotland, now arrived at In- 
 vernefs, in order to execute the infernal fen- 
 tence, which had been pronounced againft 
 the Frafers. In the mean time lord Athol 
 detached the three young lords, his chil- 
 dren, at the head of an army of highlan- 
 ders, compofed of every man whom he 
 could collect, either by menaces or rewards, 
 from the Stewarts, the Robinfons, the Far- 
 quharibns, and even theMacdonalds, though 
 they were the neighbours and the relations 
 of the matter. 
 
 Upon the day appointed for watting the 
 whole province of Lovat with fire and 
 fword, the regular troops entered into the 
 
 5
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 75 
 
 flat country. They faw nothing here Jjut PART 
 women and children in tears ; and the of- <_-^-*j 
 ficers, animated with a more chriftian fpirit l 97 * 
 than the privy council, declared, they would 
 fooner refign their commiffions, than exe- 
 cute fo barbarous a bulincfs, as the murder 
 of defencelefs women and children, who 
 could be objects only of companion, not of 
 vengeance. 
 
 They therefore difpofed themfelves to 
 advance to the ground where the matter 
 and his adherents were intrenched. But 
 here they were afTured that if they pafTed 
 the river, the fords of which were ex- 
 tremely narrow, not one of them would 
 efcape. Upon this thefe brave and honefl 
 fellows, who had no inclination to lofe 
 their lives in order to conquer provinces 
 for lord Athol,, returned home, after having 
 burned and pillaged a few houfes, for fear 
 of a reprimand from the fecretary of ftate. 
 
 They were no fooner departed, than the 
 highland army, commanded by the lord 
 Murrays, appeared upon the mountains, in 
 order to furround the matter on that fide, 
 They dared not however approach his place 
 
 of
 
 ;6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART of defence ; and he ftruck them with fo 
 L L _f complete a panic the firft night they came 
 1697. within reach of him, that they fled with 
 great precipitation acrofs the fields, and 
 retired next day, taking care however to 
 burn every houie, and pillage every woman 
 and child, that came in their way. Such 
 was the conclusion of the firft and grand 
 expedition of the family of Athol againft 
 the mafter of Lovat and the clan of the 
 Frafers. 
 
 Lord Tullibardin, the fecretary of ftate, 
 who had been the author of all thefe cru- 
 elties, was highly enraged at fo dimonour- 
 able an event. He obtained from king Wil- 
 liam an order to break feveral regiments 
 which had been employed upon the expe- 
 dition, and among others lord Forbes's 
 regiment of horfe. 
 
 The Frafers after this enterprife had 
 fome refpite from the encounter of large 
 armies. But they were daily harrafled with 
 flying parties from Invernefs and Inverlo- 
 chy, otherwife Fort William. Thefe were 
 in fmall numbers, and the mafter had always 
 timely notice of their approach ; fo that 
 
 he
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 77 
 
 he gave himfelf little trouble about them. PART 
 He might, if he had pleafed, have cut ,__^X*j 
 them in pieces wherever they appeared. l 97- 
 But, as the regular troops had always dif- 
 played a clemency for his country, and a 
 regard for his perfon, he treated them with 
 as much mildnefs as was confident with 
 the fafety of his clan. 
 
 He was however continually in danger of 
 perifhing by the public attempts that were 
 made to take him, three or four times in a 
 week ; and his danger was ftill greater from 
 the villains, that lord Athol had .fhame- 
 fully bribed to aflaffinate him. Many of 
 his own and of other clans confefTed that 
 infamous crime, and particularly captain. 
 James Maclean. In this fituation the maf- 
 ter of Lovat thought proper to make a 
 journey into the ifland of Sky, the province 
 of the laird of Macleod, with the principal 
 gentlemen of his clan, in order to pay his 
 duty to his father, and to take leave of him, 
 provided he mould be unexpectedly cut off 
 in any of the perils he encountered. He gave 
 himfelf however little anxiety about the 
 efforts of lord Athol ; and upon his return 
 to Lovat, being defirous not to harrafs his 
 
 clan,
 
 7 8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART clan, he difmirTed his whole train, except 
 ^- y -_f about fifty gentlemen for the guard of his 
 ' 6 97- perfon. 
 
 1698. Lord Athol, who had always his fpiesplant- 
 ed about the mafter of Lovat, was adver- 
 tifed by three or four traitors of the Frafers* 
 that the mafter was now in great fecurity 
 at one of his eftates, called Straheric, the 
 part of his inheritance neareft to the pro- 
 vince of Athol, and that a fmall troop of 
 refolute men might eafily take him. The 
 marquis accordingly felected from his vaffals 
 five hundred of his braveft men, and placed 
 at their head the two heroes of his family, 
 lord James and lord Mungo Murray. 
 
 Lord Athol directed them to march only 
 by night, to prevent a difcovery ; and bid 
 them never fee his face again, if they did 
 not bring along with them the mafter of 
 Lovat, dead or alive. They accordingly 
 proceeded in great diligence, extremely 
 well armed, and having for their guide two 
 Frafers, who engaged to lead them by the 
 moft private and unfrequented paths. In 
 fadt they arrived upon his eftate, without 
 the mafter's having received the fmalleft 
 
 previous
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 79 
 
 previous intimation. He was at this time PART 
 gone to Invernefs, to vifit incognito fome 
 of his friends j and had with him only 
 three or four fervants, when he received an 
 exprefs from Straheric, that this eftate was 
 filled with the troops of lord Athol, and his 
 children at their head. 
 
 The mafter feared, not only that his 
 houfe and eftate of Straheric might be ruin- 
 ed, but that his faithful relations in that 
 country might be unable to efcapefrom the 
 hands of thefe barbarians. Inftead therefore 
 of withdrawing into his other territories, 
 
 o 
 
 which he might eaiily have done by the bridge 
 of Invernefs, he difpatched his four fervants 
 full fpeed, to advertife his relations of 
 their danger, and to intreat them to join 
 him upon the top of a little mountain, 
 which he had felecled as a proper place of 
 rendezvous. He himfelf proceeded thi- 
 ther, with only a fingle runner, through the 
 woods and unfrequented paths, refolved to 
 perim with his clan, or to fave them from 
 the hands of their remorfelefs enemies. 
 
 When he arrived upon the appointed 
 mountain, ht had the fatisfaclicil to range 
 
 an.
 
 8o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART an hundred gentlemen, and an hundred 
 v __'__, brave peafanis under his flandard in the 
 1698. fpace of two hours. But the accounts he 
 received, magnified extremely the number 
 of the enemy, reprefenting them as a regular 
 army of two thoufand, or at lead fifteen 
 hundred men ; and the moft prudent were 
 for retiring and abandoning the open coun- 
 try to their ravages. The mafter however 
 fwore, that he would never take fo painful 
 a ftep, without having firft a nearer view 
 of them -, and that, if he could not ven- 
 ture to face them in the open field, he 
 would at leaft hang upon their flanks, in 
 order to hinder as much as poffible the 
 ruin of the country, and cut in pieces the 
 ftragglers from the main body. The gen- 
 tlemen of his clan, who had no fears but 
 for his perfon, finding him fo refolute, 
 followed his flandard with pleafure. 
 
 He arrived about fun-fet within a mort 
 three miles of his enemies. There he re- 
 ceived exact information reflecting their 
 numbers, by one of the guides of his own 
 clan, whom lord James Murray had the im- 
 pudence to fend, to command the gentle- 
 men
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 81 
 
 men of the country to come, before ten PART 
 o'clock the next morning* to make their 
 fubmiffion, to deliver or abandon to him 
 the mafter of Lovat ; and in cafe of dif- 
 obedience he fwore he would burn their 
 houfes, and not leave them fo much as a 
 cock to proclaim the dawn of the day. 
 
 The bearer of this mefTage, whom the 
 Athol army had compelled to become their 
 guide, and who had formerly been a judge 
 of the province, and a particular friend of 
 the matter of Lovat* added, that the young 
 lords had with them the beft troops of 
 the province of Atholj of the Stewarts, 
 and the Robin ions ; that they were com- 
 pletely armed ; and that they expected to 
 be joined next day by the king's troops : 
 therefore, if it were poffible to attack 
 them, it muft be done before this junction 
 was effected. 
 
 Four days previous to this tranfaction 
 Simon had afl'umed the title of lord Lovat, 
 having learned the melancholy news, that 
 his father was dead, in confequence of a 
 violent march, which he had made to avoid 
 
 G th
 
 82 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART the enemy, who were reported to be fet- 
 i_^X^ ting out for the iiles in order to furprife 
 1698. hi m . Simon was moft fincerely afflidted 
 by the death of a parent, whom he loved 
 with the utmoft tenderness, and who had 
 been fo firm and refolute in the fupport of 
 his lawful claims at fo advanced an age 3 
 for he died at the age of fixty-eight years. 
 He therefore fwore, that, having the authors 
 of his father's death, and of all his perfonal 
 misfortunes before his eyes, he would now 
 revenge himfelf in their blood, or perim in 
 the attempt. 
 
 He found thofe who were with him, 
 ready to devote themfelves to revenge the 
 wrongs of their chief, and the devaftation 
 of their country. He therefore fent back 
 the fame perfon to lord James Murray, with 
 notice that Simon lord Lovat, before ten 
 o'clock the next morning, would infallibly 
 have the honour of waiting upon him fword 
 in hand, at the head of all the gentlemen he 
 , had appointed to meet him ; and, though 
 he had not half his complement of men, 
 being intercepted from all communication 
 with his eftates of Air, Loirnamanac, and 
 
 Straglafle,
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 83 
 
 StraglafTe, by the lake of Nefs which di- p A R T 
 vides them, that he had yet the utmoft con- 
 fidence in the favour of God, and the 
 juftice of his caufe. Lord James Murray 
 was not a little furprifed at the mcffage of 
 Simon. He immediately called together 
 his officers, drew up his troops, and took 
 poft upon a very advantageous ground, 
 having a fteep rock behind him, and his 
 front covered with the buildings of a vil- 
 lage. There, thinking themferves in en- 
 tire fecurity, and fatisfied of the fmall 
 numbers that the enemy could draw toge- 
 ther in that country, they lighted a num- 
 ber of fires, and began to prepare their 
 fupper. 
 
 Simon had at that time about two hun- 
 dred and fifty men under his command, 
 half of them ill armed, the regular troops 
 having the year before ftripped their houfes 
 and every other place of fecurity, of all the 
 arms they could find. He forefaw, that, 
 if the enemy were permitted to repofe for 
 this night, they would be much better pre- 
 pared for the battle which he was refolvcd 
 to give them the next day* His relations 
 G 2 how-
 
 84 MEMCMRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART however were averfe to fighting that even- 
 
 ( v- ' i"g> and were deiirous of waiting for a re- 
 
 .1698. inforcement of lord Lovat's vafTals, from the 
 
 provinces of Obertarf and Glenmorifton, 
 
 which are fituated at the head of the Nefs 
 
 and in its environs. 
 
 Lord Lovat meanwhile refolved at lead to 
 beat up the quarters of his enemies. For 
 this purpofe he felecled fifty active young 
 fellows, and marched them within mufltet- 
 fhot of the enemy. There they gave their 4 
 firfl fire, and immediately threw themfelves 
 upon their bellies in obedience to his or- 
 ders. The Athol troops were extremely 
 terrified at this difcharge. They immedi- 
 ately fet up their bagpipes, and formed 
 themfelves behind their fires. If lord Lo- 
 vat at this moment had had his whole 
 force with him, the enemy might have 
 been all cut in pieces, without the ex- 
 pence of ten men. He could obferve their 
 flighted movement by the ligbt of their 
 fires, a circumftance of danger, to which 
 from ignorance they did not advert j and 
 they were unable to perceive lord Lovat or 
 any of his men, at the diftance of twenty 
 paces. 
 
 Lord
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 85 
 
 Lord Lovat fent immediately for the reft PART 
 
 I. 
 of his force, in order to make a decifive ^- y -_^ 
 
 attack. But the gentlemen of his clan l6 9 8 - 
 were peremptory for waiting the reinforce- 
 ment from Obertarf and Glenmorifton. 
 Lord Lovat perceived that nothing could be 
 done that night; he therefore drew oft his 
 detachment, leaving only twelve men to 
 keep up a ccnfcant fire upon the enemy. 
 He himfeif flept a few hours at about a 
 mile and a half from their camp. 
 
 At break of day he was awaked by a 
 falfe alarm that the enemy were approach- 
 ing. He had laid down in his clothes, 
 and therefore rofe immediately; and, draw- 
 ing his fvvcrd, refolved to die upon the 
 fpot, rather than yield an inch to his an- 
 tagonifrs. He ordered his troop to ftand 
 to their arms and prepare for battle. He 
 marched to a neighbouring height to wait 
 for the attack. But on his way, he was 
 informed that it was a falfe alarm, occa- 
 fioned by a detachment of the enemy, who 
 had fallied from their camp, to purfue the 
 twelve men who had fired upon them in 
 the night ; and having exchanged a few 
 {hot, both parties retired to the main body. 
 
 G 3 Lord
 
 86 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Lord Lovat held a council with the gen- 
 tlemen of his clan, to determine the man- 
 1698. ner in which it was proper to attack the 
 enemy in fo advantageous a poft. He had 
 now been joined by a part of his clan from 
 the province of Obertarf, and his whole 
 force amounted to about three hundred 
 men, one half of them flenderly armed. At 
 the fame time he was perfectly informed, 
 that the enemies force amounted to more 
 than fix hundred troops, carefully felected, 
 and completely accoutered. 
 
 He obferved to his council, that it was 
 impoffible to attack the enemy in front, on 
 account of the walls and huts with which it 
 was covered. It became neceflary therefore 
 to have recourfe to ftratagem. He propofed 
 to detach fixty of his fleeted and moil: active 
 young men under Mr. Alexander Macdo- 
 nald. 
 
 This gentleman, the only neighbour, or 
 perfon not of his own clan, that he had 
 with him, was the famous Alexander Mac- 
 donald, otherwife called ^lifter More, on 
 account of his gigantic fiature, being the 
 tallefl man in Scotland, and not lefs cele- 
 brated
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 87 
 
 brated for his brave exploits, than for his P d R T 
 prodigious height. He was of the family ^^^j 
 of Kappah, whole lands are contiguous l6 9 8 - 
 to thofe of Straheric and Obertarf. He 
 was himfelf related to the Frafers of Stra- 
 heric ; and, being extremely attached to 
 lord Lovat, he always offered, with much 
 pleafure, to riik his life in his fervice. Lord 
 Lovat, knowing his fidelity, valour, and 
 fkill, had recourfe to him upon this impor- 
 tant occafion. 
 
 He afked him, whether he would be 
 willing to take lixty young fellows well 
 armed, and march to a height within fight of 
 the enemy, where he mould draw out his 
 ' little detachment in fo extenlive a line, as 
 to lead the Athol party to believe that lord 
 Lovat and his whole force was on that fide. 
 In the mean time lord Lovat propofed, with 
 the body of his army, to make a circuit 
 of the rock that covered the enemies rear, 
 and take them in flank, while Alexander 
 Macdonald attacked them in front. The 
 propofal was unanimoufly approved by the 
 council, and eagerly accepted by Mr. Mac- 
 donald. 
 
 G 4 The
 
 SS MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 LordLovat now marmalled his little troop, 
 and felected the men moil proper for Mac- 
 donald's detachment. He inftrucled him 
 to gain the place appointed, and to remain 
 there, while lord Lovat filed through an 
 obfcure moat to the other fide of the moun- 
 tain in the enemies rear. Lord Lovat then 
 propofed to make a fignal of three dif- 
 charges of a mufket, when Macdonald was 
 to march as near as poffible to the huts 
 in the enemy's front, and to fire upon them 
 from the neareft ftation he could obtain, 
 in order to diflodge them from their cover, 
 or at leaft to throw them into diforder. 
 Lord Lovat would in the mean time fall 
 upon them fword in hand from the moun- 
 tain; and thus he promifed himfelf an allur- 
 ed victory,, though his number did not 
 amount to the half of the enemy. While 
 this was concerting, his clan was actuated 
 
 O 7 
 
 with the mod incredible ardour, ready to 
 precipitate themfelves upon the enemy, 
 without preparation, and without order. 
 
 Mr. Macdonald now marched on his fide 
 to the neighbouring height, and lord Lovat 
 fet out to make the circuit of the moun- 
 tain.
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 89 
 
 tain. Being arrived within cannot {hot of PART 
 
 ^ -r 
 
 the enemy, without being yet in their ^ ^-^ 
 fight, he drew up his troops, with one l<5 9 8 - 
 gentleman at the head of every fix pea- 
 fants, and difpatched ccntinels, to proceed 
 foftly, and almoft creeping upon their bel- 
 lies, to reconnoitre the motions of the ene- 
 my. One of them prefently returned with 
 notice that the enemy was in motion. A- 
 nother gave intelligence a moment after, 
 that he faw them marching towards In- 
 vernefs in great hafle. Lord Lovat im- 
 mediately afcended with his troop to the 
 fummit of the mountain ; and perceiving 
 that the enemy were actually flying, he 
 made the three difcharges as a fignal to 
 Mr. Macdonald to attack and flop them. 
 
 But Macdonald, who obferved them run- 
 ning with great precipitation, judged it 
 better to outftrip them by the fwiftnefs 
 of his men, in order to flop them at a ter- 
 rible defile, which was fix miles onward, 
 and which it was abfolutely necefiary for 
 them to pals. He obferved that lord Lo- 
 vat and his men were at too great a dif- 
 tance to be able to come up with the ene- 
 my, unlefs they \vere flopped at this defile. 
 
 This
 
 9 o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART This quicknefs of recollection in Mr. Mao 
 donald was a proof of mafterly fkill ; for, 
 t h e enern y had had heart and fpirit 
 enough to rally and face lord Lovat in the 
 plain, they might have cut in pieces his 
 whole force without any lofs. 
 
 Lord Lovat had intreated his troop tc 
 march in order after the enemy, and by no 
 means to break their ranks. But his brave 
 peafants replied with one voice; " If you 
 chufe to attend to your regular manner 
 " of marching, you may do as you pleafe. 
 " But for our parts we will come hand 
 " to hand with thefe rafcals, or burft our 
 " wind in the purfuit." Saying this, and 
 without waiting for orders, they imme- 
 diately broke away after the enemy, and 
 he was the braveft man who could run the 
 faftefl. Lord Lovat ran for three miles 
 along with them, on foot, and almoft 
 naked. He was now obliged to mount on 
 horfeback, without either boots or fpatter- 
 daihes, in order to flop the foremoft of his 
 troop, who rufhed upon the enemy like fo 
 many madmen. A rear guard of only fifty 
 men might at this moment have totally de- 
 ftroyed the Frafers. 
 
 But
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 91 
 
 But the enemy thought only of flight. PART 
 They had been informed in general by one L 
 of their fpies that they were furrounded on 1698. 
 all fides ; and they faw no other means of 
 fafety. They were however immeafurably 
 aflonifhed, when, as they approached the 
 defile which afforded them the only means 
 of efcape, they faw it in pofleffion of Alex- 
 ander Macdonald and his lixty fufileers. 
 They immediately flopped mort. At the 
 fame time they faw the main bodv of the 
 
 J * 
 
 Frafers purfuing them. This body was now 
 extremely difperfed. The very women of 
 the country ran along with their huibands, 
 conjuring them not to fpare the murderers 
 of their chiefs, and the villains who came 
 to rob them of their all. The enemy, be- 
 holding this fpeclacle, and already impreiT- 
 ed with the mod lively apprehenfions, took 
 it for granted that lord Lovat's troop con- 
 fifled of four times their number, though in 
 reality it did not amount to one half of it. 
 
 Lord James Murray is faid to have ex- 
 erted himfelf to compel his men to en- 
 gage, and to have drawn them up in line 
 of battle. But the Stewarts of Athol, who 
 were animated with an inftin<5tive hatred of 
 
 3 -
 
 <?2 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART the marquis, and who had no quarrel 
 ^_ -' _j with the Frafers, declared in a percmp- 
 1698. tory manner to lord James, that they would 
 demand quarter of the viclor, and were 
 ready to lay down their arms. Lord James 
 was belide himfelf at this declaration. Lord 
 Mungo burft into tears, feeing him/elf 
 once more in the hands of lord Lovat, and 
 entertaining a well-grounded apprehenfion, 
 that their repeated breaches of honour and 
 humanity had cancelled all the regard h$ 
 had ever entertained for them. 
 
 During this difpute among the enemy, 
 lord Lovat drew up his troops, as they ar- 
 rived, within muflcet-fhotof the Athol forces. 
 As foon as they were formed, he gave pofi- 
 tive orders to advance, but not to fire a mot, 
 till he had difcharged his piece within pif- 
 tol-fhot of the enemy; then to fire at once, 
 throw down their muikets, and fall upon 
 the enemy fword in hand in front, while 
 Mr. Macdonald and his fmall detachment 
 attacked them in flank. 
 
 The enemy believed themfelves loft with- 
 out redemption. They faw lord Lovat's troop 
 advancing in perfect order. Immediately, 
 
 in
 
 OFLORD LOVAT. 93 
 
 in the room of firing, they laid down their PART 
 arms: and, covering their heads with their . 
 
 * ^7 ^^^^^ ^^^^*~ 
 
 plaids, cried out for quarter. 1698. 
 
 At the fame moment Mr. Archibald 
 Menzies, who was their major, and who 
 had three years before refigned his com- 
 pany of grenadiers in the regiment of lord 
 Murray in favour of lord Lovat, then laird 
 of Beaufort, ran before the enemy, with a 
 white handkerchief or neckcloth tied to a 
 bludgeon, crying out for mercy. He advanc- 
 ed in order to throw himfelf at the feet of 
 lord Lovat. Two of the Frafers followed 
 him, and demanded lord Lovat's permiffion 
 to kill him. But his lord(hip cried out with 
 a loud voice to fpare him. He then threw 
 himfelf proftrate, and begged his life, de- 
 claring he had always been a friend to lord 
 Lovat, and had never done any injury to his 
 province. His requeft was granted. 
 
 " I am alfo come, my lord," added he, 
 
 * to demand quarter for the Stewarts, who 
 
 " are with your enemy, and have been 
 
 " forced upon this expedition as well as 
 
 " rnyfelf. They love you better, than they 
 
 " do
 
 94 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART " do lord Athol and all his children." Lord 
 t ^_ y ^_, Lovat replied, that he could not liften to 
 1698. the'propofal: and was fending him back to 
 his commanders, to tell the enemy to refume 
 their arms and defend themfelves, other- 
 wife he would cut them in pieces ; for he 
 was determined that day to avenge the death 
 of his father, and the tyranny of lord A- 
 thol and all his family. 
 
 At this moment all the gentlemen of the 
 ,clan of the Frafers came up to lord Lovat, 
 and intreated him for God's fake, to fpare 
 thefe miferable wretches, and give them 
 their lives. Lord Lovat and the moft re- 
 folute young people in his troop were pe- 
 remptory for putting them to the fword; 
 and many of his moft valuable friends and 
 relations have lince blamed him for his 
 lenity upon this occafion. But in fact he was 
 not at liberty to act as he pleafed. In fpite 
 of his eager deiire to cut his enemy in pie- 
 ces, he was obliged to follow the advice of 
 his moil venerable relatives and the heads 
 of his clan. And thefe protefted to him, 
 that it would be a real murder to kill 
 people who had laid down their arms ; 
 
 that
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 95 
 
 that their clan would infallibly be extermi- PART 
 
 nated if it were perpetrated ; and that not \ I 
 
 a man in the kingdom would either affift l698 * 
 or pity them. Lord Lovat therefore, to fay 
 the truth in fpite of himfelf, fpared their 
 lives a fecond time to the children of lord A- 
 thol, who had fought every means that hell 
 could invent, and had put in practice both 
 open violence and fccret alTaffination, to put 
 an end to his exiftencej though they had 
 in reality no other caufe of complaint againft 
 him, than that he was born the true and le- 
 gitimate heir to the eftate of Lovat. 
 
 Lord Lovat contented himfelf upon this 
 day of Altmgoir, (fuch is the epithet that 
 his clan beftow upon this bloodlefs vidory) 
 with caufing the children of lord Athol, 
 and all their followers, to fwear upon a 
 naked fword, after the manner of the coun- 
 try, a horrible oath, by which they renoun- 
 ced their claims in Jefus Chrift, and their 
 hopes of heaven, and devoted themfelves to 
 the devil and all the torments of hell, if they 
 ever returned into the territories of lord 
 Lovat, oroccafioned him direclly or indirect- 
 ly the frnalleft mifchief. Befide this, lord 
 James and lord Mungo Murray, and all their 
 
 followers,
 
 96 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART followers, Murrays, Stewarts, Menzies, and 
 L~^~^J Robinfons, executed a paper, containing 
 1698. t h e above oath, together with an obliga- 
 tion under the penalty of a large fum of 
 money, to prevail upon lord Athol, their 
 father, and lord Tullibardin, their brother, 
 fecretary to king William, to do juftice to 
 lord Lovat, and to indemnify him for the, 
 injuries they had done to his inheritance. 
 
 Having obtained thefe fecurities, lord Lo- 
 vat drew up his whole troop in two files ; 
 and, in conformity to an example he had 
 read in the Roman hiftory, made thefe mi- 
 ferable cowards march, like fo many crimi- 
 nals, between the ranks of his men, and 
 obliged them immediately to quit his ter- 
 ritories by the fame road they had entered 
 them. Such was the event of the laft ex- 
 pedition of the family of Athoi into the 
 province of Lovat. 
 
 The children of lord Athol, at once irri- 
 tated and aihamed of this terrible difafter, 
 haftened to appear before the privy council, 
 where they fwore that 'Simon of Beaufort, 
 fuch was the ftyle they allotted to lord Lo- 
 vat, had furrounded them with three thou- 
 
 fand
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 97 
 
 fand men, and would have arTaffinated them, PART 
 if they had not found means to efcape from < v > 
 his cruelty by an unguarded pafs. In the l 9 * 
 mean time, in fpite of the tyranny of lord 
 Athol over his vafTals, and the power of lord 
 Tullibardin, then fecretary of ftate, they 
 were never able to induce a man of the 
 Stewarts, the Robinfons, or any other of 
 their vafTals, to march again/I lord Lo- 
 vat. They fwore they would never more 
 draw their fwords againfl a man who had 
 given them their lives in fo generous a 
 manner. Accordingly from that day lord 
 Lovat pofTefTed his inheritance in tranqui- 
 lity ; being fubjecl: to no other inconvenince, 
 than that of being fometimes invaded by a 
 ilender detachment from the garrifon of fort 
 William, of which the officers and almoft 
 all the foldiers were his friends. 
 
 The fentence of death however being ftill 
 in force againfl him, his friends and rela- 
 tions reprefented to Archibald duke of 
 Argyle, a great favourite of king William, 
 that he ought not to permit the family of 
 Lovat and the clan of the Frafers to perifh ; 
 that they had been confidered in all ages as 
 a branch of his own, and that they had 
 H always
 
 98 MEMOIRS OF THE LTFE 
 
 F A R T always been as attached and as faithful to hiV 
 ^_ '_ _j ancefto 
 1699. felves.. 
 
 anceftors as the Campbels of Inverary them- 
 
 They added that the family of Athol, who 
 exerted themfelves for the extermination of 
 the Frafers y wer-e the hereditary enemies of 
 the houfeof Argyle ; that this very marquis 
 of Athol a few years before had exercifed 
 every fpecies of tyranny and oppreffion over 
 theCampbels in their own country -, and that,, 
 in permitting tfye houfe of Athol to aggran- 
 dize itfelf by the acquifition of the Lovat 
 eflate, he was fuffering fo many declared 
 enemies of his clan to ereft their power up- 
 on the ruin of his friends. Thefe motives 
 determined the duke of Argyle to obtain 
 the indemnity of lord- Lovat and his clan,, 
 in fpite of all the oppofition the earl of 
 Tullibardin could employ. 
 
 The duke of Argyle pofleiTed ten times 
 the fenfe of his rival. King William, who 
 knew him for the beft ftatefman in Scot- 
 land, gave him a very large mare of his 
 confidence. And the duke employed this 
 Eonfidence to convince his fovereign that' 
 
 lord.
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 99 
 
 lord Tullibardin ferved him very unfaith^ PART 
 fully in that kingdom j that he employ- ._ L _^ 
 ed the royal authority to ruin the mofl 1*99- 
 ancient houfes in order to aggrandife his 
 own, and that the perfecution he exercifed 
 againft lord Lovat and the clan of the Fra- 
 fers, was capable of exciting all the clans^ 
 and even the whole nation to revolt againft 
 the government. His grace at the fame 
 time reprefehted the friendfhip fubfifting 
 between the houfe of Campbel and that of 
 Frafer, and how highly his majefty would 
 oblige him in this affair. He added, that 
 the king might fpend a hundred times the 
 value of the Frafer eftate before he could 
 reduce it* on account of its inacceffible 
 iituation, and its intermarriages and friend- 
 fhips with the neighbouring clans. King 
 William prctefted that he was totally 
 ignorant of the affair, and had no con* 
 cern in iffuing fuch orders as his grace re- 
 prefented : and he promifed, in confide- 
 ration of the fervices of the duke of Argyle, 
 to grant a full and unconditional pardon to 
 lord Lovat and his clan. 
 
 The duke, having obtained this promife, 
 
 wrote to lord Lovat to lay down his arms, 
 
 H 2 and
 
 ioo MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE: 
 
 PART and come privately to London when lie 
 
 u ' f t might depend upon his obtaining for him 
 
 - 1699. an en tire pardon. Lord Lovat thanked the 
 
 duke, and promiied to obey 3 and (hortly 
 
 after fet out for London. 
 
 When lord Lovat arrived, he found 
 that the king had iffued orders to the earl 
 of Seafield, his fecretary of flate for Scot- 
 land, to draw up the pardon. This mini- 
 iter, who was the colleague of the earl of 
 Tullibardin, though he was friendly and 
 even related to lord Lovat, yet being natu- 
 rally extremely timid, flood in awe of the 
 vengeance that he might incur from the 
 family of Athol by expediting this pardon. 
 He therefore fuffered the affair to be put 
 off from time to time, in fpite of the feli- 
 citations of the duke of Argyle and lord 
 Lovat, till king William fet out for the 
 United Provinces. Lord Seafield then 
 intreated Mr. Pringle, under fecretary of 
 ftate, to prefent the pardon to the king at 
 Loo, and to fign it as fecretary of ftate ; 
 fmce the papers fubfcribed by Mr. Pringle, 
 when the king was in Holland, were sot 
 lefs valid, than if they had been Cgned by 
 a principal fecretary. 
 
 Lord-
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 101 
 
 Lord Lovat was much afHided at this PART 
 delay. And as it was not proper for him- 
 to return to Scotland, he determined to 
 make an excurfion into France. The princi- 
 pal motive of his tour was as follows. 
 
 The marquis of Athol had been the firft 
 perfon who appeared for king William in 
 the privy council of Scotland. Soon after 
 he changed iides and became a declared Ja- 
 cobite. And now, in order to difcourage 
 the relations and friends of lord Lovat, he 
 gave out, that, when king James mould be 
 reftored, he would trample upon Simon of 
 Beaufort arid his clan, as completely as 
 his fon did by the authority of king Wil- 
 liam. The anceftors of lord Lovat had uni- 
 formly fignalized themfclves in the royal 
 caufe, and indeed had nearly been ruined 
 by their exertions for the illuftrious houfe 
 of Stuart ; and lord Lovat himfelf had ren- 
 dered the moft efTential fervices to the in- 
 terefts of king James. He was therefore 
 refolved to learn from the mouth of that 
 prince, whether the reports, that lord Athol 
 ib induflrioufly difleminated through the 
 north of Scotland, were true or falfe, 
 
 II 3 Arriving
 
 102 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Arriving at St. Germains he addrefTed 
 himfelf to his coufm, fir John Maclean, 
 * 6 9> chief of the clan of Macleans, who intro- 
 duced him to lord Perth. This noble- 
 man received him with open arms, and im- 
 mediately led him to king James. The 
 queen and the young prince her fon were 
 prefent. 
 
 After a fhort cuftomary converfation, lord 
 Lovat complained to the king of the fami- 
 ly of Athol. King James immediately in 
 the prefence of the queen, the prince, the 
 duke of Perth, and fir John Maclean, all 
 four flill living, grew extremely warm, and 
 lifting up his hands he faid, turning to the 
 queen, " This perfidions family of Athol, 
 " and that old traitor, the firft man that re- 
 " volted againft my government in Scot- 
 < land, have the folly to believe that I will 
 (< protect them again ft a family the moft 
 * ( loyal in the kingdom, and whofe anceflors 
 *' have always been loyal to mine. The 
 ' father of this very lord, who is now be- 
 *' fore you, was inviolably attached to my 
 " brother and myfelf. No, my lord," faid 
 the king, turning to lord Lovat, " I will de- 
 f * fciid you againfl any man in the kingdom 
 
 " who
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 103 
 
 ^' who dares to profefs h;mfelf your enemy ; PART 
 
 *< and that perfidious and traitorous family 
 
 '" of Athol, I will do every thing in my 
 
 ** power to exterminate." 
 
 * Madam," added he, turning to the 
 queen, " do you ever remember, and re- 
 " mind the prince your fon of what I now 
 *' fay. Ever make the diftind>ion which is 
 " fojuitly due to the family of Lovat. I 
 '" will give under my hand my .fentiments 
 *' upon this fubjecl to lord Lovat." 
 
 Upon this king James took fonie paper, 
 and wrote with his own hand the obliga- 
 tions that had been conferred upon the 
 crown by the family of Frafer j engaging, 
 in 'behalf of himfelf and his fucceffors, that 
 he would reinftate that family in the pro- 
 perty they had loft by their adherence to the 
 crown, and that he would protect lord Lo- 
 vat and his pofterity againil all their enemies 
 in Scotland, and particularly again ft the 
 perfidious and faithlefs family of Athol. 
 The king then fubfcribed this paper, and 
 affixed to it his lefler feal. Lord Lovat de- 
 pofited it in the hands of fir Alexander In- 
 nes of Coxton, a gentleman diftinguifhed 
 by his attachment to the interefts of James. 
 II 4 King
 
 104 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 King James having intreated lord Lovat 
 to make his peace with the reigning go- 
 l6 99- vernment, in order tofavehis clan, his lord- 
 ihip returned to London, before the time 
 that king William fet out, as has been re- 
 lated, for the Netherlands. Not having 
 been able to obtain his pardon in form, he 
 followed his majefty to Loo, though then 
 under fentence of death, having a letter of 
 recommendation from the duke of Argyle 
 to Mr. William Carftares, chaplain to the 
 king, and who had much influence with his 
 mafter. 
 
 Mr. Carilares received him in the moft 
 polite manner, and promifed to mention 
 him to the king ; which he did the 
 fame day. The king obferved to Mr. Car- 
 flares that lord Lovat was a very bold man 
 to come fo far under fentence of death. 
 Carftares replied, that he placed an entire 
 confidence in his royal word, which he 
 had given to the duke of Argyle. " He 
 " has reafon," faid the king, " and I beg 
 *' of you to fpeak to Mr. Pringle, to draw 
 " up his pardon in all the forms, and as 
 * ample as poffible. I am defirous to in- 
 " demnify him from every thing that I
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 105 
 
 can by the laws of the kingdom, and I PART 
 
 1659. 
 
 will not forget him." 
 
 Mr. Pringle accordingly drew up an am- 
 ple and complete pardon for every imagin- 
 able crime, that it might not be poffible to 
 evade it upon the fubject of the pretended 
 rape, about which lord Athol made fuch a 
 world of noife, and which had no other 
 foundation than that nobleman's malice, in 
 order to ruin lord Lovat by the imputation 
 of a crime that he had never fo much as 
 imagined. 
 
 As foon as king William had figned this 
 unlimited pardon, lord Lovat difpatched 
 his coufin Simon, fon of David Frafer of 
 Brea, exprefs, in order to caufe the great 
 feal of Scotland to be affixed to it. But 
 whether this coufin, who is an unnatural 
 traitor, and a rafcal worthy of the gallows, 
 had at that time fold his chief for the mo- 
 ney of lord Athol, as he repeatedly did af- 
 terwards, or the timidity of lord Seafield 
 induced him to (top this pardon in its paf- 
 fage through the remaining forms; thus 
 much is certain, that the pardon executed 
 in Holland was fupprefTed. Lord Seafield 
 
 in
 
 io6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART i n the mean time caufed another pardon to 
 u.,y pafs the great feal without lord Lovat's 
 j6 99- having the fmalleft intelligence upon the 
 fubjet, comprehending only his high trea- 
 fons againft king William and his govern- 
 ment; thus affording an opportunity to lord 
 Athol frill to profecute his fuit upon the 
 fubjedl of the rape. 
 
 Lord Lovaf was as innocent as the child 
 unborn of this crime : he therefore thought 
 proper to order a citation to be ferved upon 
 lord Athol and his family, by way of re- 
 crimination, for having falfely accufed him, 
 and for the devaluations they had made, with- 
 out orders from the fovereign, in his pro- 
 vinces. Ht next made a progrefs through 
 all the towns of the north, and the coun- 
 ties adjacent to his eftate, where he was re- 
 ceived in a very magnificent manner ; and 
 returned to Edinburgh with a retinue of a 
 hundred gentlemen, who came as witnefies 
 to fupport before the court of judiciary 
 his a&ion againft lord Athol. 
 
 But the very day that had been named 
 for lord Lovat to fupport his charge, the 
 
 duke
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 107 
 
 duke of Argyle, his patron and zealous PART 
 friend, was informed by lord Arbruhel, of \ O^j 
 the Argyle family, and one of the nine lords l6 "* 
 of jufticiary, that the families of Athol and 
 Hamilton had entirely gained the other 
 eight judges, and that, however clear were 
 lord Lovat's innocence, he would not have 
 a fingle voice except his own in his fa- 
 vour, without an order from the king, 
 to oblige the lords of jufticiary to do 
 ftrict juftice, regardlefs of the interefts of 
 their relations or friends. Thefe eight 
 judges had been appointed to their office 
 by lord Tullibardin, the fecretary of ftate, 
 and they confidered their places as depend- 
 ing upon their giving fentence according 
 to his inclination. 
 
 Upon this intelligence the duke of Ar- 
 gyle fent for lord Lovat, who was then 
 at the houfe of his kinfman and friend, 
 the earl of Leven. Both of them accord- 
 ingly repaired to the duke's, who in^ 
 formed lord Lovat of the intelligence he 
 had received from lord Arbruhel, and con- 
 cluded that it was neceflary he mould 
 fuffer himfelf to be caflfor non-appearance, 
 the duke fliould be able to fpeak to the 
 
 king,
 
 io8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART king, either to obtain a new pardon, or an 
 
 v '_ _f order to the court of judiciary to do juf-- 
 
 'Q>9- tice to lord Lovat, according to the laws 
 of the kingdom, and the dictates of equity, 
 without fufTering theinfelves to be biafed 
 by perfonal intereft. 
 
 Lord Lovat, confcious of his innocence,, 
 and having upon the fpot fo many wit- 
 nefies to prove it, declared that he could 
 not confent to the advice of the duke of 
 Argyle, but was refolved to bring the 
 matter to an immediate iliue. The duke 
 grew warm, and remonftrated, before lord 
 Leven and the other lords and gentle- 
 men who were prefent, that, if lord Lovat 
 were as innocent as Jefus Chrift, the eight 
 judges gained by his enemies would con- 
 demn him -, that for his part he would not 
 give them that fatisfaction ; adding, <c My 
 " dear Lovat, I love you too well to quit 
 " you for a moment, till I have abfolutely 
 " feen you on horfeback." Upon this he 
 ordered to his groom immediately to bring 
 to the door the befV horfe in his flables, 
 ready faddled and bridled. 
 
 The other friends of lord Lovat intreat- 
 eq the duke of Argyle in vain, to fuffer him 
 
 to
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 to {land the trial ; his caufe was fo good, and PART 
 
 his xvitneffes fo numerous, it was irnpoui- 
 
 ble the deciiion mould be unfavourable. 
 
 The duke flew into a violent paffion, which 
 
 was a thing very unufual, he being the 
 
 man in the world that had the moft felf- 
 
 polieffion. " Gentlemen," faid he, " do 
 
 " you know thefe rafcally judges, better 
 
 *' than lord Arbruhel and I ; or are the 
 
 " interefts of lord Lovat dearer to yoif, 
 
 " than to me ? If you are prepared to con- 
 
 " fent to his ruin, let me tell you I am not. 
 
 " I infifr. upon his fetting out immediately 
 
 <e for the frontiers of England, whither I 
 
 *' will follow him in four days." 
 
 Lord Lovat was obliged to acquiefce 
 in the advice of the duke of Argyle, his 
 patron, his friend, and his fole depen- 
 dence. He mounted the horfe which the 
 duke had given him, and fet out, to his 
 own regret, as well as to the regret of every 
 other friend he had in the world, who were 
 not fufficiently acquainted with the corrupt 
 and abandoned characters of his judges. 
 Next day the court of judiciary pronounc- 
 ed a fentence of default or non-appearance,, 
 as it is called in Scotland, again ft him. 
 
 Lord
 
 no MEMOIRS OF TH LIFE 
 
 PART Lord Lovat expected the duke of Argyle 
 
 ^ _J"_ j upon the frontiers^ where he was joined by 
 
 J 6 99- his grace the following week, and made a 
 
 moft pleafant journey with this amiable 
 
 companion. After his arrival in London 
 
 he was at the duke's houfe almoft every 
 
 day. 
 
 J 7* The earl of Tullibardin was to the laft 
 degree exafperated, that the duke of Ar- 
 gyle had, without his privity, obtained a 
 pardon for lord Lovat* He was convinced* 
 that king William paid more regard to the 
 counfcls of the duke than to his. Ac- 
 cordingly, like an afs as he was, he carried 
 his commifiion of fecretary of ftate fof 
 Scotland to the king, faying, that as his 
 majefty had more confidence in the duke of 
 Argyle than in him, and as he had been 
 pleafed without his privity to pardon the 
 moft incorrigible rebel and traitor in the 
 three kingdoms, he found that he was inca- 
 pable of ferving his majefty, and therefore 
 thought fit to lay his commifiion at his feet. 
 " Confider what you are doing," replied 
 the king - y " the commiffion you are about 
 " to refign is the moft defirable in the whole 
 
 o 
 
 " Scottim fervice," Tullibardinreplied, that 
 I he
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. in 
 
 he had entirely made up his mind upon the PART 
 fubject, or he mould not have taken a ftep ^Jv, 
 of that importance. 7 OC - 
 
 King William, naturally of an irrit- 
 able temper, immediately flew into a paf- 
 fion, and faid to Tullibardin, " I always 
 *' knew you for a fool and a coward ; I 
 " now fee that you are an abfolute mad- 
 " man. I not only receive your commif- 
 " fion, but I forbid you for ever to enter 
 " into my councils, or to concern yourfelf 
 *' with any of my affairs. Retire immedi- 
 *' ately to your own houfe." 
 
 When lord Tullibardin had left the 
 royal clofet, his majefty entered the anti- 
 chamber where there was a great num- 
 ber of Scotch and Engliih nobility, to 
 whom the king immediately related what 
 this fool had been doing. " At the fame 
 ' time that he kept me in perfect igno- 
 " ranee," faid the king, " he fet all Scot- 
 " land in flames, and employed himfelf to 
 " ruin an ancient family of that kingdom, 
 " to revenge a pretended affront that had 
 91 been put upon his fifter. But I have 
 (t real pleafure in pardoning the young no- 
 
 <f bleman,
 
 ii MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 " bleman, whom this fool has been per- 
 " fecuting, and who has more merit than 
 1700. " he and all his family." General lord 
 Teviot, who was preient at this declaration 
 of king William againft lord Tullibardin, 
 in favour of lord Lovat, and who had al- 
 ways been much attached to the latter, 
 wrote to him the particulars the moment 
 .he left the antichamber. 
 
 The carl of Tullibardin, enraged at this 
 treatment which he had drawn upon him- 
 felf, immediately threw hirnfelf into the 
 party that oppofed king William in the 
 Scottish parliament, at the head of which 
 was his brother-in-law, the duke of Ha- 
 milton.. Thus the prefent lord Athol, 
 after being the violent partifan of king 
 William, and the only man in Scotland 
 to compel the officers of the Scottifh 
 army to take the oath of abjuration 
 againft king James and the pretended 
 prince of Wales, after having held in pri- 
 fon and perfecuted to deftruction the laird 
 of Balleahan, and the Stewart lairds of the 
 county of Athol for having taken arms 
 in favour of king James, had the impudence, 
 finding himfelf difgraced by king William, 
 
 3 to
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 113 
 
 to believe, not only that he mould be PART 
 received with open arms by the exiled 
 family, but that he mould be able to tram- 
 ple upon lord Lovat and his family, which 
 had always been loyal, by his intrigues, 
 and by the credit of his brother-in-law the 
 duke of Hamilton at the court of St. Ger- 
 main's ; and this for no other reafon, than 
 becaufe he confidered lord Lovat as his 
 perfonal enemy, who had it in his power 
 to inftitute a fuit againft him> that muft in- 
 fallibly have terminated in his ruin. 
 
 And however abfurd and prefumptuous 
 thefe hopes may appear, lord 2\thol was not 
 difappointed in therm The misfortunes of 
 lord Lovat, in firft embroiling himfelf with 
 the earl of Middleton, and afterwards in 
 manifesting a zeal in the bufinefs of Scot- 
 land more fanguine than was acceptable to 
 the queen dowager, gave a moft extraordi- 
 nary and improbable fuccefs to the intrigues 
 of lord Athol, and the exertions of the duke 
 of Hamilton for the imprifonment of their 
 antagonift: thus putting him out of a con- 
 dition, to take pofTeffion of his eftates, 
 and to profecute lord Athol for tyrannical 
 and violent opprefnons which have caufed 
 
 I him
 
 ii4 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, &c. 
 
 PART him to be regarded over the whole kingdom 
 of Scotland as a real tyrant, and lord Lovat 
 and his clan as the object of univerfal com- 
 paffion, attachment and efleem. 
 
 If lord Perth will give himfelf the trou- 
 ble to perufe thefe memoirs, and if his near 
 alliance with lord Middleton will permit 
 him to confefs truths advantageous to lord 
 Lovat, he is qualified to bear teftimony to 
 the veracity of what I have here advanced 
 in relation to the court of St. Germains j 
 and he was an ocular witnefs of the greater 
 part of the events which I am about to 
 place in their true light in the fecond part 
 of this hiflory. 
 
 MEMOIRS
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 PART T HE SECOND. 
 
 / 
 
 From the AcceJ/ion of Queen Anne to Lord Lovat's 
 Arrival in England in the Clofe of the Tear 1714. 
 
 Sed quse praeclara, & profpera tanti 
 Ut rebus laetis par fit menfura malorum. 
 
 Dat veniam corvis, vexat cenfura columbas. 
 Sed fpoliatis arma fuperfunt. 
 
 JUVENAL, Sat. 
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 LORD Lovat, after fo many dangers, PART 
 and fuch long adverfity, was in the full IL ^*- 
 poffeilion of the honours and eftates of his 1702. 
 family at the death of king William. He 
 was not ignorant of the mifunderftanding 
 which had fubfifted previous to this event, 
 between king William and the princefs 
 of Denmark ; he knew that that prin- 
 cefs had entertained a ftrong attachment to 
 I 2 the
 
 n6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART t^ 6 duke of Hamilton and the earl of Tul- 
 v- J*l^j libardin ; believing them firm in the inte- 
 1702. refts of king James,, her father,, to whom 
 fhe had eagerly reconciled herfelf, exhibit- 
 ing every mark of repentance and remorfe 
 for having contributed to his misfortunes. 
 Influenced by thefe confiderations, and hav- 
 ing always been zealous for king James,. 
 lately deceafed, lord Lovat, upon the pre- 
 fent intelligence, immediately proclaimed- 
 the pretended prince of Wales in his pro- 
 vince ; refolved either to perform fome 
 diftinguifhed action in his favour, or to 
 make advantageous terms for himfelf with* 
 queen Anne. 
 
 Averfe however to- take any confider- 
 able flep without the advice and permiffion 
 of Archibald duke of Argyle, who was his 
 patron, and to whom he owed his life, he 
 immediately waited upon that nobleman, and 
 told him frankly the defigns he had formed.- 
 His grace, who, without the (hadow of- 
 flattery, may. be faid to have been one of 
 the wifeft men in the three kingdoms, and 
 who had a tender friendfhip for lord Lovat, 
 told him, that the tables were turned upon 
 hira and all the friends of king William ;. 
 
 that
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 117 
 
 that the duke of Hamilton, and lord Athol PART 
 whom queen Anne created duke of Athol i_- r -^ 
 ibme days after her acceffion to the crown*, 1 ? 02 ' 
 were the greatest favourites of the new 
 monarch; that all the queen's attachments 
 were to fuch as had been enemies to king 
 William and Jacobites by profeffion -, that 
 of confequence his own head was not in. 
 fafety, and, for a much itronger reafoo, 
 that of lord Lovat was in great danger. He 
 therefore advifed him to withdraw into 
 France, and to do the beft he could in that 
 .country for himfelf, and for the indem- 
 nification of his friends,, provided his enter- 
 prife fucceeded.. 
 
 Lord Lovat accordingly took leave of 
 the duke, his mofl faithful ally and deareil 
 friend, with tears in his eyes, and a thou- 
 fand protections of gratitude and attach- 
 
 * KingWilliam died on the eighth of March 1702. 
 The old marquis of Athol died in the beginning of 1 703 j 
 and, about a month after his deceafe, John, late eari 
 of Tullibardin, was created -marquis of Tullibardin and 
 duke of Athol. Lord Lovat has every where given him 
 only his father's title ; partly perhaps becaufe it was by 
 this he was known at the court of St. Germains. The 
 partial confufion, that is created by the different ftyles 
 allotted to feveral of the Englifti and Scottish nobility 
 by this court and that of London, is well known. 
 
 I 3 ment.
 
 ii8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART ment. He had alib the honour to take 
 leave of lord Lorn, the preient duke of 
 Argyle, who, though very young, ciifap- 
 proved the advice of his father, and told 
 lord Lovar, that he was going to ruin 
 bimfelf for the unfortunate and ungrateful 
 court of St. Germains ; that for his ow'n 
 part he would med the laft drop of his 
 blood fooner than take part with a family, 
 which had praclifed fo much injustice and 
 cruelty againft the houfe of Argyle. 
 
 Lord Lovat however confidered that he 
 was in danger of his life under the reign 
 of a princefs, who had chofen for her fa- 
 vourites his perfonal enemies. He had felt 
 from his earlieft infancy an extreme bias in 
 favour of the family of Stuart. He had 
 obtained the confent of the duke of Ar- 
 gyle, whofe will was a law to him. He 
 now therefore thought of nothing but giv- 
 ing folidity to his enterprife, by engaging 
 the chiefs of the clans, and thofe noblemen 
 of the lowlands, whom he knew for Jaco- 
 bites, and in whofe intrigues he had for- 
 merly been engaged for the interefts of the 
 late king James, to enter into his defign. 
 
 He
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. ri 9 
 
 He immediately vifited the chiefs of the PART 
 clans, and a great number of the lords of the i_ - v _i 
 lowlands, with William earl Marimal, and '7 02 - 
 the earl of Errol lord conftable of Scotland 
 at their head -, and expoftulated with them 
 in fo fpirited a manner, and urged with fo 
 much force the interefts of the court of St. 
 Germains, that he engaged them to grant 
 him a general commiffion, on their part, 
 and on the part of all the loyal Scots 
 whom they reprefented, to go into France. 
 They affured the court of St. Germains, 
 and the king of France, that they were 
 ready to take up arms and hazard their 
 lives and fortunes for their interefts -, and 
 intreated them, to fend over the perfon 
 whom they ftiled their young monarch, 
 with an officer to command them, and the 
 fuccours that might be necefTary for fuch an' 
 cnterprife. 
 
 Lord Lovat, having received the ^ 
 miffion that he had defired with fo much 
 ardour, fet out upon his expedition with 
 extreme alacrity. He patted through Eng- 
 land and Holland, in order to go into 
 France by the way of Flanders, the only 
 road, which was not fhut up by the war 
 
 I 4 which
 
 120 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART which had juft broken out. After 
 jk__, veral imminent dangers in Holland and in 
 J7P2. Flanders, too long to be here recounted, 
 he arrived at Paris with this important 
 commiffion about the month of Septem- 
 ber 1702, 
 
 His coufin-german, fir John Maclean, 
 chief of a very brave and confiderable clan 
 in Scotland, had refided ten years at the 
 court of St. Germains, and palled for a man 
 of ability and good fenfe. Lord Lovat 
 upon his arrival fent for him exprefs, as a 
 perfon proper to inftrudl: him in the {late of 
 that court. Sir John Maclean accordingly 
 came to Paris $ and, lord Lovat having 
 opened to him the fubjed: of his journey, 
 told him that the perfon to whom he mould 
 addrefs himfelf, was lord Perth, who had 
 been chancellor of Scotland when king 
 James came into France. Lord Drum- 
 monc] his fon, lord Marifhal his fon-in- 
 law ? and the lord conftable his brother-in- 
 law, were in the number of thofe who ha4 
 fent lord Lovat into France $ and were all 
 of them greatly able to ferve the young 
 prince. Lord Lovat therefore felt no pain 
 in acjdrefling Iqrd Perth ? believing, upon 
 
 the
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 121 
 
 the reprefentation he had received, that he PART 
 had more power. at the court of St. Ger- 
 mains than any body elfe, and not having 
 the fmalleft knowledge of lord Middleton. 
 
 Sir John Maclean left lord Lovat at Pa- 
 ris, and went alone to St. Germains, to 
 fpeak to lord Perth, and afterwards to the 
 queen ; and in two days returned to con- 
 duct him to court. He led him in a pri- 
 vate manner to the clofet of lord Perth, 
 who received him with that goodnefs which 
 is natural to him, and with unequivocal 
 marks of friendfhip and fatisfaction. Lord 
 Lovat explained to him his bufinefs and 
 the condition of affairs, and he was charm- 
 ed to fee fo confiderable a project on foot, 
 for the reftoration of the king, and at the 
 head of which were the principal nobility 
 of Scotland, his kinfmen and relations. 
 
 Lord Perth then inftructed lord Lovat 
 in what manner he fhould fpeak to the 
 queen. He faid there was one thing that 
 he muft requeft, without which his pro- 
 ject, and all that the perfons who had fent 
 him could do, would be ineffectual. Every 
 << true friend of his majefty," faid lord 
 I Perth,
 
 122 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART Perth, " is perfuaded that lord Middle- 
 c^^l^j " ton is a faithlefs traitor, a penfionary 
 1702. < o f t he Englifh parliament, to give intel- 
 " ligence of all that pafles at the court of 
 " St. Germains. The late king," he add- 
 ed, " and even the queen herfelf fufpected 
 ' him of having difcovered their fecrets to 
 " the prince of Orange." Sir John Mac- 
 lean, who was alfo in the clofet, confirm- 
 ed what lord Perth faid. They both agreed 
 in giving lord Lovat a black and deteft- 
 able picture of the earl of Middleton, and 
 intreated him to engage the queen upon her 
 royal word, not to difcovera fyllable of his 
 project to this nobleman. 
 
 The young nobleman was an entire fl rang- 
 er to lord Middleton. He did not know that 
 ] e was at that time at daggers-drawing with 
 lord Perth, and his brother the earl of Mel- 
 fort. He was totally ignorant, that fir John 
 Maclean had been difobliged by him in the 
 appointment of a gentleman of the privy 
 chamber to the king, which had been pro- 
 mifed him, and was given to another. He 
 therefore gave implicitly into the fnare, and 
 was credulous and honeft enough to attend 
 to all the precautions that his kinfman and 
 
 s
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 125 
 
 his patron fuggefled. A traitor to his PART 
 king and country, he became his enemy ^_ 11 '^ 
 without knowing him ; and, in his firft 1702, 
 audience of the queen, he exacted her royal 
 promife never to communicate a fyllable-of 
 his project to lord Middleton, as he was 
 extremely fufpected by her mod faithful 
 fubjects. 
 
 Such was the origin of lord Lovat's mis- 
 fortunes. The queen readily complied 
 with his requcft, telling him that the late 
 king and herfelf had had reafon to fuf- 
 pect lord Middleton's fidelity in, a difco- 
 very that the prince of Orange had made 
 of an affair, which regarded the king and 
 the electors Palatine and of Bavaria, and 
 which had been communicated to nobody 
 but lord Middleton. Thus the queen herfelf 
 appeared at that time to have no confi- 
 dence in him. 
 
 Lord Lovat immediately began to work 
 with the queen in digesting the bufinefs 
 upon which he had been fent. At her 
 majefty's requeft the marquis de Torcy, 
 minifter and fecretary of ftate for foreign 
 affairs to the king of France, and monfeig- 
 
 neur
 
 124 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PART rseur Gualterio, nuncio of the pope, en- 
 
 IT 
 
 i_ _^_, tered into the project ; and lord Lovat 
 1702. waited, by her orders, upon each of thefc 
 ftatefmen, to inform them of the fitua- 
 tion and ftate of affairs in Scotland. M. de 
 Torcy exprefied himfelf to lord Lovat, in 
 the firft audience he had of that minifler at 
 Marli, in ftrong terms, refpecting the af- 
 fedtion of the king, his matter, for the 
 Scottim nation, and the confidence he might 
 place in the receiving every fort of fuc- 
 cour. 
 
 The marquis de Callieres, fecretary of 
 the cabinet to the king, his plenipotentiary 
 at Ryfwic, and who was a man of great 
 ability in ftate affairs, had been thoroughly 
 informed in the concerns of the court of 
 St. Germains by his friend lord Perth. 
 Upon this account the marquis de Torcy 
 and the papal nuncio, his intimate friends, 
 earneftly begged of him to work with lord 
 Perth, lord Lovat and fir John Maclean, 
 in forwarding the Scottim project. The 
 papal nuncio, foon after cardinal Gualterio, 
 and whom I mall here diftinguifh by that 
 title, came often to the office of M. de 
 Callieres to obferve their progrefs, and to 
 
 affift
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 125 
 
 afiift them with his advice, he being one of PART 
 the moft fkilful men in Europe in political ^Jf", 
 affairs, 
 
 All thefe perfons were at that time wit- 
 nefles to the zeal and afiiduity of lord Lo- 
 vat for the intereft of the court of St. 
 Germains. As long as the queen kept the 
 fecret, the affair went on in the mod prof- 
 perous manner; and her majefty was fo 
 pafiionately defirous of its fuccefs, that ilie 
 laid twenty times to lord Lovat, that me 
 had fent her jewels to Paris, to be fold, in 
 order to fend the twenty thoufand crowns*, 
 which lord Lovat reprefented to be ne- 
 ceiTary to arm and equip their friends, to 
 the chiefs of the highlands in Scotland. 
 
 But no fooner was the fecret difcovered, 
 than the face of the bufinefs was entirely 
 changed. The earl of Middleton, having 
 learned that lord Lovat was incognito at 
 the court, and that he worked at a project 
 which was to be executed bv the relations 
 
 / 
 
 or allies of the family of Perth, his declar- 
 ed enemies, for the restoration of the king, 
 believed that he was ruined without re- 
 
 * 2500!, 
 
 fource
 
 126 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART fource if the project ihould fucceed. He 
 i_ T _ was not in the wrong ; for, if the Scottim 
 1702* infurrection had been executed, his dif- 
 grace would have been inevitable. Pre- 
 ferring therefore his own private views to 
 the interefts of his king and mailer, he re- 
 fblved to fave himfelf by undermining and 
 ruining the project. 
 
 It was impoffible to fucceed in this un- 
 dertaking without ruining lord Lovat, who 
 was the firft mover in the affair, and the 
 reprefentative of all the loyal Scots. Lord 
 Middleton therefore from this moment 
 plotted the deftruction of Lovat, and ne- 
 ver loft fight of his purpofe, till he had 
 thruft him into a dungeon. Even then he 
 did not ceafe to fear, that lord Lovat might 
 one day divulge the truth of the whole 
 affair to the king and queen. He therefore 
 insinuated to them fo black an idea of lord 
 Lovat, that they believed him the greateft 
 traitor in the three kingdoms ; though 
 there is not a fingle nobleman without ex- 
 ception, who ferved them more faithfully, 
 nor a Scotfman from the death of lord 
 Dundee, who rendered fo great fervices to 
 their intereils. 
 
 Lord
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 127 
 
 Lord Middleton, however, in purfuit p ^ R 
 of his defign, fet out with decrying lord 
 Lovat to the marquis de Torcy ; at the 
 lame time abufing all the highlanders of 
 Scotland, obferving, that they were no bet- 
 ter than a kind of banditti, fit enough to 
 pillage the lowlands, and to carry off 
 cattle, but incapable of forming a regular 
 corps, or of looking in the face the ene- 
 mies of the king. His lordmip had for- 
 gotten, that his father had not rifen to the 
 rank of a peer of Scotland from a private 
 foldier of the regiment of the uncle of lord 
 Lovat in the fervice of the great Guftavus 
 Adolphus, but for having commanded, after 
 his return into Scotland, and his defertion 
 from the army of the protector who had 
 bellowed upon him the rank of colonel, the 
 highland clans in the fervice of king Charles 
 the fecond. In reality, it was to the clans 
 of Frafer and Macleod, that the firft lord 
 Middleton was indebted for his fubliftence 
 for many years. 
 
 Lord Lovat was no fooner acquainted 
 with the calumnies that had been diiTe^ 
 minated againft himfelf and the highland- 
 ers, than he complained in a very lively 
 
 manner
 
 128 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART manner to the queen. Pier majefty had 
 ftill fo much goodnefs for him, and fo much 
 confidence in his zeal, that f]ie ufually gave 
 him three audiences every week. She 
 therefore paid confiderable attention to his 
 remonftrances ; and replied, that if lord Mid- 
 dleton faid a word againft either him or the 
 highlanders, (he would immediately difmifs 
 him from her fervice. The earl however 
 denied with oaths that he had ever uttered 
 what was imputed to him ; and added, 
 
 men if he fpoke againft thofe to whom 
 he was indebted for his rank; but that on 
 the contrary he ihould never forget what 
 he owed to the highlanders, and above all 
 to- the houfe of Lovat. 
 
 Thefe aflurances however did not entirely 
 fatisfy lord Perth ; and perceiving that car- 
 dinal Gualterio had a very particular friend* 
 fhip for lord Lovat, he recommended it to 
 that lord, to intreat his eminence to caufe 
 the queen to be fpoken to by the marquis 
 de Torcy on the part of the king of France, 
 to communicate no affair which refpccled 
 Scotland, to any nobleman of her court, 
 except to lord Perth, lord Lovat, and 
 
 thofe
 
 OF LORD tOVAT. 129 
 
 thofe whom they mould have admitted to PART 
 
 II. . i. 
 a {hare in the bufinefs. The cardinal had ^J-.^l_Jj 
 
 much credit at the French court, and was 1 ' 02 * 
 infinitely efteemed by the fovereign; He 
 therefore eafily brought about what lord 
 Lovat defired, and the queen anew promif- 
 cd compliance. 
 
 Lord Middletori readily perceived that (lie 1703* 
 fpoke to him in a manner more cautious 
 and referved than ufual. He forefaw her 
 entire alienation^ and his own ruin. He 
 therefore at this moment brought his lad 
 mine to play upon the fortrefs ; which had 
 its complete effect, defeated his enemies, 
 overturned the projected infurrection, and 
 put a final termination to the credit of 
 lord Lovat. 
 
 All on a fudden, he retired into the con- 
 vent of the Benedictines at Paris, from 
 whence he wrote to the queen, humbly to in- 
 treat her, to permit him, topafs the remainder 
 of his days in entire feclufion from fecu- 
 lar affairs. He pretended that he had 
 been miraculoufly infpired to reconcile 
 himfelf to the holy Catholic church, by 
 hearing the blefled facramcnt carried along 
 K \vitU
 
 130 
 
 with the found of a little bell before it, to 
 ^ ier apartment of his fon, lord Clermonr, 
 1703. who was at the point of death. Upon 
 this he had immediately fet out for Paris, 
 publicly to abjure the proteftant religion ; 
 and his next flep was, by a memorial, full 
 of penitence and religious forrow, to de- 
 mand permiffion to retire for the reft of 
 his life, in order to expiate the fcandal of 
 his paft impieties. 
 
 The court of St. Germains was extreme- 
 ly divided upon this new event. Lord 
 Perth and all the moft zealous fervants of 
 the young king exclaimed loudly, that lord 
 Middleton had turned Roman Catholic in 
 France, exactly as lord Sunderland had 
 done in England, for the fole purpofe of 
 betraying his fovereign with the greater fe- 
 curity. On the other hand it was vigoroufly 
 maintained by his friends, that the hand of 
 God undoubtedly appeared in the miracu- 
 lous manner of his converfion. The queen 
 entered entirely into their fentiments; and, in 
 fpiteof the hypocritical remonftrances of her 
 minifter, befeeching her to permit him to 
 remain in the convent, her majefly recalled, 
 and even laid her royal injunctions upon 
 
 him
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 131 
 
 him to return to court. Thefe injunctions PART 
 he was unable to reiift. The queen re- .^"Jl 1 ^ 
 ceived him with extreme joy; and from *73' 
 that moment he engroiled an entire afcen^ 
 dency over her. 
 
 Sometime after lord Lovat* perceiving 
 how ill his bufinefs advanced, reproached 
 the queen with the confidence me had new- 
 ly placed in lord Middleton after all me 
 had formerly faid againft that nobleman. 
 The queen replied, that it was true me 
 had fufpecled him* and {he believed not 
 without reafon ; but that after a conver- 
 fion evidently fo miraculous ihe could no 
 longer doubt his fidelity; me was even fa- r 
 tisfied, that the interference of a man fo 
 highly diftinguimed of providence, would 
 bring down the divine favour and bleiling 
 on her affairs. From this period lord Lo- 
 vat perceived all his credit at the court of 
 St. Germains to be at an end. He found 
 his project, and the affairs that had brought 
 him into France, overthrown. And this 
 was fo much the cafe, that the queen, who 
 had often faid, ihe was refolved to fell 
 her jewels in order to give fixty thoufand 
 francs to the highlanders of Scotland, ex- 
 
 K 2 erted
 
 132 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART erted herfelf to perfuade the king of France 
 ^ '_ ^L 1 ^. not to apply this fum of money on his 
 1703. part' for the profecution of the affair, after 
 that prince had had the generofhy, through 
 her majefly's intercefiion, to iflue an order 
 to his treafury to pay the money into the 
 hands of lord Lovat, without cofting her a 
 penny. Lord Lovat immediately determin- 
 ed to warn his hands of the affair, and to 
 return without delay into Scotland. But 
 his kinfman lord Perth, cardinal Gualte- 
 rio, and the marquis de Torcy engaged him 
 to have patience, and to ftay a little while 
 to fee whether any thing could be done. 
 
 The queen on her part, unwilling to 
 difoblige him, obtained for him, through 
 the interelt of madame de Maintenon, 
 cardinal Gualterio, cardinal de Noailles and 
 the marquis de Torcy, a private audience 
 of the mofr. Chriftian king, who had never 
 before granted that favour to any foreigner, 
 let his quality be what it would. 
 
 At this audience there was no perfon 
 prefent except the marquis de Torcy, who 
 flood behind the royal chair. Lord Lovat 
 enlarged upon the antient alliances between 
 
 France
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 133 
 
 France and Scotland ; obferving, that the PART 
 Scots affifled by the French, had frequently 
 beaten the Engliih, and that, if they were 1703. 
 now honoured with the protection of the 
 greatest king that had ever rilled the throne 
 of France, they would not certainly be 
 lefs fuccefsful than they had been in former 
 in fiances. 
 
 His moft Chriftian majefly replied, with 
 a look of much benignity, that himfelf and 
 the whole French nation had their hearts 
 unfeignedly Scottim; and that, fince lord Lo- 
 vat had been chofen to repreient the whole 
 body of loyal Scots, he defired to be under- 
 ftood as from that moment renewing with 
 him all ancient alliances between the two 
 nations. The king promifed at all times to 
 affift the the Scots with troops, money, and 
 every thing that might be necelTary to lup- 
 port them againft the Englifh. He added, 
 that he was perfectly acquainted with the 
 fidelity of lord Lovat and his family, and 
 that he might depend at all times upon his 
 favourable remembrance. 
 
 The moft Chriftian king then quitted lord 
 Lovat with a moil gracious and engaging 
 
 K 3 air,
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART air, extremely natural to this celebrated 
 monarch. When lord Lovat retired at the 
 oppofite door of the clofet where the king 
 had left him, the marquis de Torcy and 
 the marquis de Callieres appeared ready 
 to receive him, and had the politenefs to 
 fay that the king had been highly fatisfi- 
 ed with him. Two days after, the queen 
 fent a billet to cardinal Gualterio, inform- 
 ing him, that me had that day received a 
 vilit from the king of France, who had 
 the goodnefs to fay, that he did not know 
 whether lord Lovat were pleafed with him, 
 but that he had been extremely pleafed 
 with that nobleman : intreating her at 
 the fame time never again to demand of 
 him a private audience for any of her fub- 
 jecls, fince he had at no other time expofed 
 his perfon in that manner to any foreigner. 
 The queen concluded with intreating the 
 cardinal to felicitate lord Lovat, who was 
 then at Paris, upon the fubject. 
 
 Lord Lovat, being very young and fan- 
 guine, was charmed with the unexam- 
 pled honour he had received from the 
 moft Chriftian king, and fenfibly touched 
 with the great attentions he experienced 
 3 from
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 135 
 
 from his minifters. He could not reftrain PART 
 himfelf from frequently expreffing his gra- ^^1^1, 
 titude and zeal for the interefts of the king >75- 
 of France. This was a handle eagerly laid 
 hold of by the earl of Middleton, who con- 
 ftantly furrounded lord Lovat with his crea- 
 tures, to alienate from him the mind of 
 the queen, and to ruin the project of a 
 Scottifh infurreclion. 
 
 Lord Middleton endeavoured to perfuade 
 the queen, that, as lord Lovat was full of 
 ambition and enterprife, he had been gained 
 by the French minifters and by cardinal 
 Gualterio, to excite at all adventures a civil 
 war in Scotland. He added, that indeed 
 fuch a war would be extremely advantageous 
 to France, but that it would ruin inftead 
 of advancing the affairs of the king her fon; 
 that the Scots could never fupport hoftilities 
 againft England for any length of time; 
 and that the moil loyal houfes muft be ex- 
 pected to perifh in fuch an infurrection. 
 He obferved, that fuch a ftep would alfo 
 overthrow the defign entertained by the par- 
 liament of England, of formally recalling 
 their rightful fovereign : a defign, of which 
 he pretended to be aflured, though I believe 
 K 4 very
 
 i 3 6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART very falfely, by the letters of lord Notting- 
 v^-;! 1 ^ ham, lord Wharton, and lord Godolphin. 
 1703. * Lord Perth, who was informed that the 
 queen gave into this fnare of lord Middle- 
 ton to ruin the project of Scotland, com- 
 municated intelligence of it to lord Lovat, 
 and warmly intreated him to diiabufe her 
 majefly. 
 
 Lord Lovat fpoke to the queen that very 
 evening, reprefenting to her in a ftrong 
 manner, that there could be none but 
 concealed traitors who would endeavour to 
 diftingujm. between her interefts and the 
 interefts of France; that her majefty had 
 no other refource under heaven but the af- 
 iiftance of France to fupport her loyal {ob- 
 jects 5 thatthofe, who would have it believ- 
 ed, that a civil war in Scotland would inter- 
 fere with the intentions of the Englifli par- 
 liament in favour of their rightful fovereign, 
 ought to fix a term within which parlia- 
 ment was to declare for the king as they pre^ 
 tended; that, if they fixed no term, it was 
 an inconteilible proof that their promifes 
 
 * A ftroke is drawn through each of thefe names in 
 the ianufcript.
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 137 
 
 were intended only to amufe and lull a 
 (leep the court of St. Germains, as they had 
 fuccefsfully done for fifteen years paftj and f 73 
 that, for thefe reafons, her majefty ought 
 to confider all perfons that infifted upon fuch 
 pretences as traitors, 
 
 The queen protefted before God, that 
 (he had no hope in the Engliih parlia-r 
 ment; that all her expectations were deriv- 
 ed from the generofity and friendfhip of 
 the king of France, from the loyalty of the 
 faithful Scots, and above all from the high- 
 landers. Lord Lovat replied in thefe very 
 words; " With thefe views, whatreafon can 
 *' induce you, madam, to reject the coun- 
 " fels of the French adrniniftration, and of 
 " cardinal Gualterio, whofe attachment is fo 
 *' unqueflionable, for putting the loyal Scots 
 *' in a condition to reflore their fovereign ?'* 
 
 Her majefty now promifed in the moft un- 
 reierved manner to conform herfelf to this 
 advice for the future; and, as me faw that 
 lord Middleton brought every engine into 
 play to counteract the projects and fervices 
 of lord Lovat, me refolved to reconcile 
 as being the ftep which feemed moft 
 
 jiecefTary
 
 i 3 8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART necelTary to the fuccefs of her affairs;, and 
 ^L*!^ to endeavour to derive advantage from their 
 J 73- united counfels. Lord Middleton, who eafily 
 perceived that this reconciliation would place 
 him in a more advantageous fituation than 
 ever for counteracting the expedition and 
 ruining lord Lovat,expreifed himfelf ardent- 
 ly delirous of it. The queen fpoke upon the 
 fubjedt to the cardinal, knowing the ex- 
 treme friendfhip he had for lord Lovat, and 
 engaged his eminence to perfuade him to 
 embrace it. 
 
 The cardinal accordingly warmly intreat- 
 ed lord Lovat to indulge the queen upon this 
 article. He obferved, that he would be 
 as much mafter as ever of what he chofe 
 to communicate, and what to conceal from 
 lord Middleton; that it was always neceffa- 
 ry to be on our guard with a reconciled 
 enemy; but that in the mean time it was 
 expedient, to enter into an apparent intima- 
 cy with the favourite. Lord Lovat had an 
 unbounded deference for the cardinal, and 
 coniented, at his in treaty, to meet lord 
 Middleton at his eminence's apartments. 
 
 Lord
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 139 
 
 Lord Middleton accordingly came thi- PART 
 ther, and lord Lovat, who went there every ' ~ 
 day like a child of the houfe, found the 
 earl and the cardinal together. His emi- 
 nence witnefied the proteftations of friend- 
 fhip that lord Middleton made to lord Lo- 
 vat at this interview, exprefling his gra- 
 titude for the obligations that his father 
 had experienced from his own family, and 
 that of his mother, who was daughter of 
 the chief of the Macleods, 
 
 As lord Lovat was naturally plain and fin- 
 cere in his manners, he perfuaded himfelf. 
 that the profeffions of lord Middleton were 
 honeft and unfeigned. The letters, which 
 he afterward addreffed to lord Lovat from 
 St. Germains, and which are ftill among 
 his lordfhip's papers, were fo full of pro- 
 teftations of attachment and friendship, 
 that in fpite of the precautions that had 
 been infinuated to him by the cardinal, 
 this nobleman admitted them all to be as 
 true as the gofpel. He made limilar pro- 
 teftations on his fide. 
 
 The defign of lord Middleton being 
 thus far advanced, he next employed his 
 
 confident,
 
 140 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 con 6dent, Mrs. Fox, the great female ftatef- 
 man of the court of St. Germains, to draw 
 out of lord Lovat all that he intended to do 
 when he arrived in Scotland. It was this 
 Mrs. Fox, who was conftantly employed in 
 paffing and repaffing between St. Germains 
 and London, to cultivate the pretended 
 commerce between lord Middleton and 
 thofe Englifh noblemen, who promifed to. 
 caufe the queen and the parliament of Eng- 
 land to declare for king James the third. 
 Thefe very noblemen afterwards appeared 
 among the moft zealous partifans of the 
 Jioufe of Hanover. 
 
 I will beg pardon of this lady for a mo- 
 ment, while I return to mention a circum- 
 ilance which I had forgotten in its place. 
 For many months before the queen had en- 
 tirely divulged the Scottifh project, lord 
 Lovat had worked with the minifters of 
 Louis the fourteenth. He obtained of the 
 court of France, to fend an army of five 
 thoufand men to fupport the loyal Scots. 
 They were alfo to fend officers, money, 
 ammunition and arms, fufficient for fuch an 
 enterprife. Every thing hadalreadybeen pre- 
 pared. Lord Lovat had even received from 
 I the
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 141 
 
 the marmal de Vauban, with whom he had ^ r A R r 
 
 ii. . i. 
 
 communicated feveral day c for that purpofe, v 
 his grand fecret for the conftruclion of fold- 
 ing ladders, with which it was propofed to 
 fcale Fort William, formerly Inverlochy, a 
 fortrefs, conftruded in the midft of the 
 mountains, and which ferved as a curb 
 upon the highlanders, particularly the clans 
 of the Camerons and the Macdonalds. 
 
 The affair was in this ftate of preparation, 
 when lord Middleton felt himfelf more than 
 ever obliged to employ the afcendancy, that 
 his pretended miraculous converfion had 
 given him over the mind of the queen, for its 
 fubverlion. All thole fubtleties, pretexts and 
 chicanery, in which the mind of this ftatef- 
 man was fo remarkablyfertile, were exhauft- 
 ed. He at length hit upon a laft refource, 
 which fucceeded beyond his moft fanguine 
 expectations. Heperfuaded the queen tore- 
 prefent to Louis the fourteenth, that, grant- 
 ing all that lord Lovat had faid, refpeding 
 the refolution of the Scots to take arms, 
 were true, when he left that country, yet, 
 having already refided many months at the 
 court of France for the completion of his 
 
 fch erne,
 
 142 
 
 PA R T fcheme, and in that time having received 
 no intelligence from Scotland, the face of 
 affairs in that country might be now entire- 
 ly changed. He therefore moft humbly in-* 
 treated her majefty to defer the execution of 
 the Scottifh project, till me mould have 
 fent lord Lovat back into that country, in 
 order to afcertain how far things remained 
 there in the condition he had left therrij 
 adding, that the moft Chriftian king ought 
 to depute an envoy on his part along with 
 lord Lovat, to learn from the mouths of 
 the loyal Scots their real intentions in fa- 
 vour of their lawful fovereign, and the king- 
 dom of France. 
 
 Louis the fourteenth perceiving that the 
 queen was obftinately bent upon not con- 
 fenting to the Scottim infurredtion till after 
 this fpecious examination, confented that 
 lord Lovat mould be fent home. He agreed 
 at the fame time, to commiffion a gentleman 
 on his part to learn the final refolution of 
 the Scottifh noblemen, previous to his fend- 
 ing them the troops, and the various other 
 fuccours that were propofed. 
 
 It
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 143 
 
 It was at this period that lord Lovat, PART 
 feeing himfelf fufpected, and perfuadedthat e^-v ^ 
 his project and. the pains he had taken. 1 73 
 were loft, abfolutely determined to give up 
 all concern in the affair. But he was not 
 permitted to follow his own inclinations* 
 Cardinal Gualterio, the marquis de Torcy, 
 the marquis de Calieres and lord Perth 
 united to recommend it to him not to aban- 
 don an enterprife, fo glorious for his per- 
 fon and family, and fo ufeful to his king 
 and country. 
 
 M. de Torcy in particular, who was high- 
 ly irritated at the conduct of lord Middle- 
 ton and the weaknefs of the queen, told lord 
 Lovat, for whom he entertained much at- 
 tachment and condefcenfion, that the coun- 
 terplot of lord Middleton ought not to dif- 
 courage him, for that he had nothing to do 
 but to chufe what Scotfman he pleafed to 
 accompany him in the character of envoy 
 from the king of France. He added, that, 
 as the king wifhed the highlanders to take 
 arms immediately, in cafe they were in a ca- 
 pacity to fupport themfelves till the arrival 
 of the French fuccours, it would be proper 
 for lord Lovat to take with him colonel Pe- 
 ter
 
 144 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART ter Graham and major George Frafer, who' 
 ^'-^l 1 ^ was his diftant relation, both very brave of- 
 J 73- ficers, toaffift in the enterprife. LordLovat 
 obtained at the fame time a promife from the 
 marquis de Torcy, to difpatch after him his 
 coufm german, fir John Maclean, with or- 
 ders to join him, and to give him a thoti- 
 fand crowns * for the expences of his jour- 
 ney. The marquis de Torcy performed this 
 promife a few months after. 
 
 Lord Lovat, perceiving that the nomina- 
 tion of an envoy for the king of France was 
 devolved upon him, chofe for that purpofc 
 captain John Murray, a moft refpectable and 
 gallant gentleman, who had been many 
 years in the French fervice. Mr. Murray 
 was brother to the laird of Abercairny, in 
 the county of Perth, the moft ancient 
 branch, and the true head of the family of 
 Murray, though the branch of Athol have 
 falfely arrogated to itfelf a fuperiority, 
 which the laird of Abercairny, and many 
 other branches of the Murray's, more an- 
 cient than that of Athol, have never ac- 
 knowledged. Captain Murray was the fit- 
 tell perfon in the world for that negotia- 
 * 125!.
 
 OFLORDLQVAT. 145 
 
 tion, being defccnded from this illuftrious PART* 
 houfe, and related more or lefs remotely to T_'-J^j 
 the nrft nobility in Scotland. He was I 73 
 charmed with fo honourable an employ- 
 ment - y and he was promoted, and in fome 
 fort rewarded for his undertaking, previous 
 to his departure. 
 
 Cardinal Gualterio, ftill further to footh 
 lord Lovat, and in order to beftow an addi- 
 tional degree of fecurity upon his perfon, an 
 object to which his eminence paid the 
 moft condefcending attention, propofed to 
 him to accept a commiffion of brigadier- 
 general in the fervice of the king of France. 
 The commiffion was accordingly procured 
 for him by the marquis de Torcy. Lord 
 Lovat received from this minifter the writ- 
 ten inftructions of the court of France to 
 take arms in cafe a proper opportunity oc- 
 curred, and- fix thouiand francs * from the 
 royal treafury to defray the expencesof his 
 journey. He was now upon the point of 
 fetting out with Mr. John Murray, colonel 
 Graham, and major Frafer. 
 
 * 250!. 
 
 L It
 
 146 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PART It was at this period that lord Middle- 
 
 TT r - f 
 
 ^J^i ton, conftantly apprehenfive from the good 
 73- understanding that fubfifted between car- 
 dinal Gualterio, the marquis de Torcy, and 
 the other French ministers, and lord Lovat, 
 engaged the queen to bring about the feem- 
 ing reconciliation between him and that no- 
 bleman, of which I have already fpoken, and 
 in the forwarding of which I had men- 
 tionejd the intervention of Mrs. Fox. 
 
 This hireling of lord Middleton was the 
 intimate friend of fir John Maclean, at 
 whofe houfe (he took an opportunity to 
 meet lord Lovat. Taking this nobleman 
 afide, ihe told him that lord Middleton was 
 perfectly charmed with his behaviour, and 
 refolved to make him, his only confidential 
 friend, of all the noblemen that had fol- 
 lowed their exiled mafter. She added, that 
 in order to take meafures with lord Lovat 
 refpecTing the ccmmiffions and honours, 
 which it was proper for his mafter to be- 
 ilow upon him, and which he was deiirous 
 of expediting, he would take it as a favour, 
 if lord Lovat would give him a private in- 
 terview at his petite maifon, hard by the 
 convent of the Benedictines at Paris, where 
 
 he
 
 OFLORDLOVAf. 
 
 he often retired in pious feeluliori from the 
 world, and held his conferences with Mrs. 
 Fox and his other fpies. Lord Lovat en- 
 tered without fufpicion into the fnare that 
 was fpread for him. He did not fail to repair 
 at the day and hour appointed to the ren- 
 dezvous, when, in the room of finding lord 
 Middleton, he was introduced to Mrs. 
 Fox, who was alone, and negligently f- 
 pofed upon a kind of bed. As me had a 
 great deal of wit, (he entertained lord Lovat 
 very agreeably for two hours with the find 
 qualities of lord Middleton, and the in- 
 trigues of the administration. At the end 
 of that time lord Middleton arrived, and 
 Mrs. Fox quitted the apartment,; 
 
 The fecretary, after having highly ex- 
 tolled the generofity of lord Lovat in the 
 undertaking fo extenfive and noble a de- 
 iign, protefted, that,> if the queen had not 
 felt herfelf compelled by the fervices of his 
 houfe and his own extraordinary merit to 
 beftow upon him uncommon favours, he 
 would upon his knees have intfeated her to 
 accord to him fuch marks of diftindion, as 
 .had never been granted to any peer of the 
 L 2 king-
 
 148 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART kingdom of Scotland. Let it be obferved 
 
 I. ,1. by the way, that what lord Middleton faid 
 
 1703. was literally true, and that he kept his 
 
 word in the mofl religious manner. Lord 
 
 Lovat was afterwards thruft for thirty-two 
 
 days into a horrible and noifome dungeon, 
 
 a diftin&ion, which had never been be- 
 
 ftowed upon any Scottifh nobleman before 
 
 him. 
 
 Lord Middleton had informed the court 
 of France, that the commiffions granted by 
 the late king James were annulled by his 
 death ; and that it would be necelTary for 
 the young king, either to grant new com- 
 miffions, or to ijQue full powers under his 
 fign manual, to renew in his abfence the 
 commiffions which the late king had grant- 
 ed .to the loyal Scots. The court of France, 
 having reflected upon this reprefentation, 
 applied to the queen to ilTue thefe full 
 powers to lord Lovat. Her majefty con- 
 fented, and commanded her minifter to 
 prepare them in the moft authentic form. 
 He accordingly dictated to the young king, 
 who wrote them all with his own hand, 
 and figned them J. R. at top and at bot- 
 tom. This inftrument lord Middleton had 
 
 brought
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 149 
 
 brought in his pocket, and delivering it to 
 lord Lovat, " See here," faid he, " the 
 " moft honourable commiffion, and the 
 " moil ample powers that ever king grant- 
 <e ed to a fubject." This inftrument, fo 
 flattering to his perfon- and houfe, is ftill 
 carefully preferved among the papers of lord 
 Lovat. 
 
 After a multitude of care/Fes, the fecretary 
 afked, whether lord Lovat were determined 
 to take arms, and in what manner he in- 
 tended to begin the war. As this nobleman 
 conceived lord Middleton to be fincere in 
 forwarding the expedition, and in his un- 
 bounded profeiiions of friendship, he told 
 him very frankly that his defign was to 
 take arms at all events, lince the inftruc- 
 tions, that the marquis de Torcy had given 
 him on the part of the king of France, di- 
 rected him to do fo, provided he could fup- 
 port himfelf till the arrival of fuccours. 
 He demonftrated to lord Middleton, that 
 he mould infallibly be able to maintain the 
 war for many years, iince, granting that the 
 highlanders loft feveral battles, the enemy 
 could not profit of their victory in fo im- 
 practicable a country. This refolution ap- 
 L 3 parently
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART parently renewed the apprehenfions of the 
 J^4^1i Secretary for the execution of a project that 
 1703. involved in it his ruin, He however dif- 
 fembled his fears, and beftowed infinite 
 commendations upon the firmnefs and ar- 
 dour of lord Lovat, 
 
 This interview was only two days before 
 
 his lordfhip was to fet out for Scotland with 
 
 f < 
 
 Mr. John Murray and his other compa- 
 nions : he had already taken leave pf her 
 majefty and the king. After having there- 
 fore regulated his correfpondence with lord 
 Middleton, and mutually promifed a fincere 
 attachment and eternal friendfhip, lord Lo- 
 vat took leave of th# nobleman with a 
 thoufand embraces, 
 
 Next day lord Lovat was extremely fur- 
 prjfed, while he was employed in preparing 
 his baggage and equipage, at receiving a 
 note from the queen, commanding him to 
 wait upon her at ten o'clock in the even- 
 ing at her ordinary audience, her majefty 
 having forgotten fomething of confequence 
 that fhe wished to communicate to him. 
 Lord Lovat obeyed ; and, after the queen 
 ka$ had the goodnefs to make ufe of a
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 151 
 
 thoufand gracious and obliging expreffions, PART 
 the read to him a billet addrefled to the JL^- 
 duke of Gordon, which contained only 73- 
 three words, to intreat him to be perfuaded 
 of her grateful remembrance, and to place 
 an entire confidence in the bearer. Put- 
 ting this billet into his hands, me afked 
 him, whether he intended to take up arms 
 immediately upon his arrival. 
 
 Lord Lovat replied that he did intend it, 
 provided the opportunity were favourable.. 
 ** My God," faid the queen, " fuch a 
 ** proceeding would ruin every thing, and 
 " prevent the court of France from fend- 
 " ing you any affiftance." Lord Lovat 
 replied, that fo far from having that effect, 
 it was the only method by which the court 
 of France could be obliged to become an 
 auxiliary ; that the marquis de Torcy 
 confidered it in that light ; and had com- 
 manded him on the part of the mod Chrir- 
 ftian king to take arms if he were able 
 to fupport himfelf till the arrival of fuc- 
 cours. " And I," rejoined the queen, 
 " pofitively enjoin you not to take arms, 
 " till you have particular orders from my- 
 " felf." Lord Lovat remained filent, and 
 
 L 4 the
 
 152 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART tne queen immediately with the moft af- 
 
 n.. i. feclionate expreflions wimed him all pof- 
 
 1703. fible fuccefs. He accordingly kifled her 
 
 majefty's hand, and took leave for the fe- 
 
 cond time. 
 
 The following day he took leave of his 
 friend, cardinal Gualterio, who recom- 
 mended it to him, to regulate himfelf by 
 the written instructions he had received from 
 the court of France, and not by the verbal 
 orders of the queen, who was governed 
 by a man, notorioufly the inveterate ene- 
 my of the Scottifh project. Lord Lovat 
 fet out with the defign of taking arms, 
 in order to oblige France to fend the 
 fuccours, which the moft Chriftian king 
 had fo pofitively promifed with his own 
 mouth. 
 
 Mean time lord Middleton, who never 
 loft fight of a fingle opportunity of ruin- 
 ing the Scottim infurrection, fecretly dif- 
 patched James Murray *, his fworn crea- 
 ture, his fpy, and a man who had no other 
 means of fubfiftence, poft for Scotland. 
 This James Murray went by the way of 
 
 * Brother to fir David Murray of Stanhope. 
 
 Hol-
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 153 
 
 Holland; and, as lord Middleton had a re- PART 
 gular commerce with the Englim nobility ^_ 1* 'if 
 in the adminiftration of queen Anne, he J 73- 
 had no difficulty in obtaining paiTports for 
 his creatures, who went backward and for- 
 ward to manage his intrigues in both the 
 Britifh kingdoms. On this account James 
 Murray arrived in Scotland, fix weeks be- 
 fore lord Lovat had been able to quit the 
 coafl of France. 
 
 Lord Lovat indeed was obliged to feek 
 through all the towns upon the coaft, from 
 Bruffels to Calais, in order to pafs in 
 fafety : having no other provilion for that 
 purpofe, than the orders of the marquis de 
 Torcy to the commandants of thefe places 
 to affift him with their power. Accor- 
 dingly he was conftrained to wait an en- 
 tire month the arrival of an Englifli 
 packet for the exchange of prifoners, the 
 captain of which was gained by dint of 
 money, by the count de la Tour, governor 
 of Calais, to take lord Lovat and his friends 
 on board as Englim prifoners of war, and 
 to put them on more during the night in 
 his boat, at fome place in the neighbour- 
 hood of Dover, or at Dover. 
 
 The
 
 I 5 4 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 The captain performed his engagement 
 very faithfully j and from Dover lord Lo- 
 vat and Mr. John Murray fet out for Scot- 
 land. During this journey they were ex- 
 pofed to various dangers ; and particularly 
 at the town of Northallerton were upon 
 the point of being taken into cuftody, 
 through the imprudence of a French valet 
 (Je chambre. 
 
 A juftice of the peace, who happened to 
 be drinking in the kitchen of the poft 
 houfe where lord Lovat and Mr. Murray 
 had taken up their lodgings in that town, 
 underftood by the converfation of this va- 
 let, who was drunk, that his mafter was 
 juft come from France, and that he was a 
 partifan of king James the third. The 
 juftice was the very fame man, who had 
 arrefted Mr. Law upon his arrival from 
 France fome years before, and was libe- 
 rally rewarded for it by king William. 
 Upon this intelligence he aflembled with 
 much fpeed all the conftables in the town, 
 and furrounded the apartment where lord 
 Lovat and Mr. Murray were fitting. 
 
 Lord Lovat was informed of thefe pro- 
 ceedings by a gentleman of his clan, who 
 
 \vas
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 155 
 
 was his fervant. He propofed to Mr. Mur- PART 
 ray, to put themfelves upon their defence, IJ ' 
 and to fight their way through every body 1703. 
 that oppofed them, or to die in the at- 
 tempt, rather than fuffer themfeives to be 
 taken alive. Mr. Murray replied that he 
 was not ready to die ; that he was a natu- 
 ralifed Frenchman, and an envoy of the 
 king of France; and that queen Anne 
 dared not put him to death for fear of re- 
 prifals. Upon this lord Lovat defired him 
 to retire into the next room, as if he did 
 not belong to his company : for himfelf, 
 he was refolved to die upon the fpot, or to 
 force his way through the enemy, fince he 
 expected no better, if he were taken, than 
 to be hanged and quartered. 
 
 He gave orders to his attendant, to lay 
 hold of two piftols that were upon the ta- 
 ble, and a blunderbufs that carried eight 
 bullets. He took fimilar arms himfelf. 
 Understanding that the juftice of peace was 
 foremoft on the flairs, he ordered his gen- 
 tleman to poft himfelf upon the landing 
 place, and to permit the magidrate to 
 enter the apartment, where lord Lovat 
 iftood with his piftol cocked, ready to 
 
 fire,
 
 156 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART fire. He bid his gentleman, the moment 
 ,_1;1^_, he heard the report, to difcharge his blun- 
 J/3- derbufs upon the conftables upon the flairs, 
 telling him, that, as foon as this was done, 
 they would both force their way through 
 all their opponents, who for the moft 
 part had no other arms, than the long 
 ttaves .that are ufually carried by people of 
 their profeffion ; that the night was very 
 dark; and that, could they once gain the 
 ftreet, nothing would be eafier than their 
 efcape. 
 
 But providence infpired lord Lovat with 
 a prefence of mind, which faved his own 
 life and that of his company much more 
 eafily and infallibly, than their courage 
 could have done. He told his gentleman, 
 that he would inform the juflice of the 
 peace that he was brother to the duke of 
 Argyle, who was colonel of the regiment of 
 guards of queen Anne, and well known and 
 much beloved in that country. And as lord 
 Lovat had the honour to be really kinfman 
 to the duke of Argyle, and his intimate 
 friend; and had been many times with him 
 at the races that were held in the neighbour- 
 hood of Northallerton, it did not leem very 
 
 difficult
 
 OF LORD LDVATt 157 
 
 difficult to pafs himfelf for his bro- PART 
 
 ther. JIl^lLi 
 
 1703. 
 
 While lord Lovat was giving thefe or- 
 ders, the juftice of the peace drew up his 
 conftables in the yard, and at the foot of 
 the flairs. He then came up to lord Lo- 
 vat's apartment. The nobleman advanced a 
 few fteps to meet him, and without giving 
 him time to fpeak a word, faid to him, 
 " My dear fir, how happy I am to fee you. 
 " It is almoft two years fince I had that 
 " pleafure with the duke of Argyle, at 
 " the races near this town." The juftice 
 was flruck with thefe words, and replied 
 with a faltering voice, " My lord, I afk 
 " your lordfhip a thoufand pardons for hav- 
 " ing broke thus abruptly into your apart- 
 " ment. But my bufmefs was to beg your 
 tf lordfhip's permiffion to treat you with a 
 " bottle of wine in this town, where I am 
 " a man of fome confequence." Lord Lo- 
 vat replied that he mould accept and re- 
 turn his compliment with extreme plea- 
 fure, and begged him to be feated. 
 
 The peace-officer anfwered that he would 
 return in a moment, but that he would beg 
 
 his
 
 i 5 S MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART his lordmip's permiffion to go and give* 
 ^l^lf orders in perfon to the hoflefs, for the 
 J 73- befl Spanifh wine {he had in the houfe. 
 As foon however as he got to the bottom 
 of the flairs, he told his army of conflables 
 with an authoritative tone, that the gentle- 
 man above flairs was brother to the duke of 
 Argyle ; that he was going to drink a bot- 
 tle with him ; and that for their parts, they 
 had nothing to do but to get home as fad 
 as they could. Having difbanded his for- 
 ces, he returned again immediately, and 
 lord Lovat made him fo drunk, that he 
 was obliged to be carried off without fenfo 
 or motion to his own houfe. 
 
 When he was gone, lord Lovat told Mr. 
 Murray that it would be advifeable tof 
 mount on horfeback immediately, and to 
 quit the town, though it was then only 
 one o'clock in the morning. They accor- 
 dingly fet out ; and lord Lovat had more 
 trouble, to hinder Mr. Murray from flab- 
 bing the French valet, who had occafioned 
 this adventure, than to outwit the penetra- 
 tion, and efcape from the hands of the juf- 
 tice of peace. 
 
 Having
 
 159 
 
 Having left this place, he arrived in PART 
 Scotland with Mr. John Murray, who did JH^I^ 
 not leave him for a moment day or night; 1 73- 
 without flopping in any other town in Eng- 
 land, and exactly two months after the ar- 
 rival of James Murray, the emiiTary of lord 
 Middleton. 
 
 Lord Lovat had been obliged, when at 
 London, to fend colonel Graham and major 
 Frafer before him into Scotland, with or- 
 ders to wait for him upon the borders of 
 that kingdom, neareft to England. Here 
 therefore be met them ; and, as foon as 
 they faw lord Lovat and Mr. John Mur- 
 ray, they informed them of the arrival of 
 Mr. James Murray ; adding, that he was 
 acquainted with the particulars of the pro- 
 jecl, and had declared to the dnke of 
 Hamilton, to lord Athol, and the reft of 
 the lords of the privy council of queen 
 Anne, that lord Lovat was gained by the 
 court of France and the nuncio of the 
 pope, to excite a civil war in Scotland, 
 contrary to the pofitive orders of the 
 king and queen ; though the latter was 
 fo violent a Roman Catholic, that no 
 ProtCilant could live in peace at St. Gcr- 
 i mains,
 
 160 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART mains, and even lord Middleton had been 
 obliged to dilTemble for a time, and pre- 
 tend to reconcile himfelf to the holy 
 fee, though ftill in his heart a true Pro- 
 teftant, and having only taken this ftep 
 the more effectually to protect the caufe of 
 the reformation. 
 
 Mr. Livingfton, a French officer of dif- 
 tinclion, then in Scotland for an affair of 
 honour which had happened to him in 
 France, having obtained his pardon, and re- 
 turned to that court, declared to marfhal 
 Villeroi, his patron, to the marquis de 
 Torcy, and to the queen herfelf, that he 
 had heard all this with his own ears, and 
 a thoufand other injurious afperfions, that 
 were thrown out by Mr. James Murray 
 againfl his queen. 
 
 In the mean time, the Scottifh privy 
 council iffued their proclamation a month 
 before lord Lovat arrived, to take him 
 dead or alive, fixing a price upon his 
 head, and prohibiting, under pain of death, 
 all the fubjeds of queen Anne to hold 
 any commerce with him, either by word 
 or writing. This aftonifhed beyond mea- 
 
 fure
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 161 
 
 fure Mr. John Murray, who gave him- PART 
 felf up for loft. But lord Lovat intreated v ^Jl 
 him not to be difheartened ; adding, that 1 73- 
 he had nothing to fear; and that for 
 himfelf he had been inured to fuch me- 
 naces. 
 
 Immediately upon his arrival in Scotland^ 
 lord Lovat fent intelligence to his brother; 
 and a few of the gentlemen of his clan, who 
 haftened to join him. He then waited with 
 Mr. John Murray upon the heads of the 
 clans, and the principal loyal noblemen in 
 Scotland. When lord L'ovat produced his 
 commimons, and his comprehenfive full 
 powers figned by his king, and Mr. Murray 
 had allured them, on the part of his moft 
 Chriftian majefty, that he would fend them 
 every kind of fuccour* they were perfectly 
 ravimedj and made a thoufand protections 
 of fidelity to their king and the inter efts of 
 France, and of their relblution to hazard 
 their lives in the caufe. 
 
 But, if they received this news with the ex-*- 
 tremeftpleafure, they were not lefs indignant 
 at the bafe proceedings of lord Middleton, 
 the effects of which lord Lovat had now too 
 
 M dearly
 
 162 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART dearly experienced, to be able to doubt of 
 them any longer. Nor were they lefs exaf- 
 perated with the unlicenfed infolence of 
 James Murray : fo that the laird of the Stew- 
 arts of Appin, a gentleman well born and 
 extremely loyal, together with fome other 
 lairds, was ready to fet out for Edinburgh, 
 in order to cut off his nofe and ears. But 
 Mr. John Murray, who feared that this 
 action might prove difadvantageous to him, 
 intreated lord Lovat to divert the laird of 
 Appin, who was married to his coufin ger- 
 man, the daughter of the chief of the Mac- 
 leods, from his purpofe. 
 
 Lord Lovat complied with the requeft ; 
 and at the fame time employed himfelf 
 daily to all her faithful fubjecls in making 
 the eulogium of a queen, who has fince be- 
 come his inveterate enemy -, telling them, 
 that this princefs inftilled the beft fenti- 
 ments into her fon, and taught him to re- 
 gard the Scottifh nation as his moft faith- 
 ful fubjecls ; for which reafon they ought 
 to treat with the fulleft contempt the im- 
 poftures and calumnies, with which that 
 villain, James Murray, was continually 
 blackening the character of his benefac- 
 trefs. 
 
 Lord
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 163 
 
 Lord Lovat and Mr. Murray having PART 
 now held particular conferences with all 
 the Scottifh leaders moft attached to their 73' 
 fovereign, his lordfhip refolved to invite 
 them to a general council of war in the 
 caftle of Drummond. In this council he 
 propofed to them to take up arms imme- 
 diately, with an entire confidence of being 
 fpeedily fuccoured from the kingdom of 
 France. Mr. Murray at the fame time 
 confirmed to them the expectations with 
 which lord Lovat fought to infpire them on 
 the part of the moft Chriftian king. The 
 chiefs of the highland clans were unani* 
 oufly of lord Lovat's opinion. 
 
 But lord Drummond, whofe loyalty to 
 his fovereign never incurred the fhadow of 
 an imputation, obferved to them, that there 
 was one consideration, which was abfolute- 
 ly decifive againft their taking arms at that 
 time. It was, that the king had appointed 
 no general; and that the Scottifh nobles, 
 equally perfuaded of their capacity and loy- 
 alty, would never brook fubmiffion to one 
 of their own body, unlefs he were exprefsly 
 nominated by a particular commifTion. 
 
 M 2 J^ord
 
 164 
 
 Lord Lovat replied, that, though he had 
 as good a title as any man to pretend to the 
 command, in the execution of a project of 
 which he had been the firft author, he would 
 however cheerfully accept lord Drummond 
 for his commander ; that, if lord Drum- 
 mond declined, and any of the principal 
 nobility, whofe loyalty was unqueftionable, 
 the earl of Breadalbane, the earl of Errol, 
 earl Marimal, or the duke of Gordon, were 
 willing to take the command of the army, 
 he would readily obey them, and he was 
 perfuaded that the other heads of clans 
 would follow his example. 
 
 Lord Drummond returned his grateful 
 thanks to lord Lovat and the chiefs that 
 declared themlelves of his opinion, but 
 added, that he would never accept the com- 
 mand, and he was perfuaded the other low- 
 land lords would be of the fame mind ; 
 iince fuch a ftep would infallibly excite the 
 jealoufy of his majefty's fubjects, and prevent 
 the lowland lords, not invited to the com- 
 mand, from joining the army. They muft 
 therefore expect a reinforcement, or at any 
 rate a general from France, to whofe com- 
 mand
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 165 
 
 mand the Scottish nobility might feel it no PART 
 
 indignity to fubmit, 
 
 1703. 
 
 Jn this manner, in fpite of all the efforts 
 .of lord Lovat, Mr. Murray, and the heads 
 of the clans, to effect an immediate infur- 
 rection in expectation of a reinforcement 
 from France, and of feveral officers, vvhofe 
 mifiion into that country would then be in- 
 fallible, it was unfortunately concluded in 
 this fatal council, to defer for fome months 
 the decifive ftep. Meanwhile they refolved, 
 that it was expedient to fend back Mr. John 
 Murray, or lord Lovat, without delay into 
 France, to demand fuccours in general, and 
 to counteract the pernicious effects, that 
 might be produced in the mind of the 
 queen by the falmoods of James Murray, 
 fupported by the influence of lord Mid- 
 dleton. 
 
 The countefs of Errol, fifter to lord 
 Perth, the foul of the king's affairs in the 
 lowlands, and a woman of a mafculine 
 and fuperior genius, was the only per- 
 fon in all that part of Scotland to fupport 
 the opinion of lord Lovat for immediate 
 extremities. Indeed this lady obferved 
 
 M 3 fairly
 
 166 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART fairly to Mr. John Murray, that (he did 
 Jj ^J not find in any body, but that nobleman, the 
 *73- firm and refolute fpirit, which was indif- 
 penfibly necefTary in the defperate condi- 
 tion of the royal affairs. 
 
 Mr. Murray immediately and abfolutely 
 refufed to return into France upon the er- 
 rand propofed in the general council, and 
 that for two reafons. The firft, that there 
 ftill remained a great number of lairds 
 affectionate to the royal caufe, whom he had 
 not yet feen, and that the bufinefs of the 
 commiffion which had brought him into 
 Britain, was therefore not yet fulfilled. 
 His fecond reafon was, that he allured the 
 council that lord Lovat had much more 
 credit at the court of France than he had, 
 as well as with the queen by the interven- 
 tion of his friend, cardinal Gualterio, who 
 had great influence over that princefs. 
 
 Lord Lovat therefore, finding all the 
 nobility of the lowlands averfe to the tak- 
 ing arms, and defirous to gain thefe no- 
 blemen to rife in concert with the high- 
 landers, furFered himfelf to be carried 
 away by their in treaties. In an evil hour 
 
 he
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 167 
 
 he confented to return immediately into PART 
 France, in fpite of the tears of the gentle- ._ l*! 1 ^ 
 men of his clan, who in defpair tore their 1703. 
 hair, when they faw him ready to abandon 
 them a fecond time. 
 
 Greatly were it to have been wifhed, that 
 he had followed his own inclination and 
 judgement, in taking up arms with the 
 reft of the highland lairds, his near re- 
 lations and friends, regardlefs of the ti- 
 mid counfels of the nobility of the flat 
 country. He could have repelled his ene- 
 mies without difficulty, till the arrival of 
 a reinforcement from France. And in that 
 cafe he would have become one of the firft 
 men in that part of Scotland j or at worft 
 have made a brilliant and enviable fortune 
 in France, in confequence of fo important 
 a fervice, and fo diflinguimed a zeal for the 
 caufe of his fovereign, and the interefls of 
 the moft Chriftian king. But providence 
 had otherwife decided ; and referved for 
 him in that country dungeons and prifons, 
 rather than riches and honours. 
 
 Mr. Murray was obliged to -return to 
 
 Edinburgh, to concert matters with the 
 
 M 4 earl
 
 i68 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART earl of Errol, earl Mariftial, the duke of 
 Gordon, and other noblemen attached to 
 the royal caufe. It has already been feen 
 that this gentleman, though extremely fin- 
 cere and polTefTed of much ability, was na^ 
 turally mild and timid in his difpofition. 
 He was therefore greatly apprehenfive, that 
 he mould be put in prifon through the 
 treachery of James Murray. He knew that 
 the dukes of Argyle and Qii^eniberry and 
 the earl of Leven, who may at this time 
 be ftyled the triumvirate of Scotland, had 
 formerly fupported lord Lovat againft the 
 tyranny of lord Athol, at a time when the 
 latter was fecretary of ftate to king Wil- 
 liam, and feemed to have the whole power 
 of the adminiftration in his hands. He 
 therefore applied to lord Drummond in an 
 earneft manner, to engage lord Lovat to 
 wait upon thefe noblemen, his ancient 
 friends, to amufe them with a fictitious 
 account of their journey, and to intreat 
 them to give no trouble to Mr. Murray, 
 who was come into Scotland purely to vilit 
 his relations and friends. 
 
 Lord Lovat would have been happy at 
 another time, tp have waited upon the 
 
 dukv
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 169 
 
 duke of Argyle and lord Leven, his rela- PART 
 .... . i n. -i- 
 
 t;ons, his intimate acquaintance, and per- v_ v t 
 
 fons, to whom he was placed under the moft I7 3 * 
 efTential obligations. But now, that he 
 was unalterably fixed to engage in a war 
 for the fervice of his Jung and the interefts 
 of France, for which thefe noblemen ha4 
 no partiality, it was difficult for him to 
 perfuade himfelf to have an interview with 
 them. But above all, the laft man he 
 would wifh to have feen was the duke of 
 Queenfberry, the inveterate and irrecon- 
 cileable enemy of king James the third. 
 
 Mr. Murray and lord Drummond were 
 however urgent in their arguments with 
 him to comply with the propofaL They 
 even fuggefted to him the idea of making 
 his peace with queen Anne, remaining at 
 home in his clan, and fending major Fra- 
 fer, who had come with him from France, 
 to demand the propofed reinforcements. 
 Overcome by their arguments, he at length 
 confented to fee thefe lords ; but at the 
 fame time obferved to lord Drummond and 
 Mr. Murray, that the half of Scotland 
 hould not buy him to make his peace with 
 Anne, and that no confideration 
 
 Hiould
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART mould prevent him from paffing immediate- 
 i,! v ~...j ly into France, to learn the prefent purpofes 
 J ' C3< and final refolution of the two courts. 
 
 Lord Lovat accordingly waited upon the 
 three noblemen, and he was particularly 
 upon his guard with the duke of Queenf- 
 berry, in order to amufe, and throw hina 
 upon a wrong fcent. The duke himfelf 
 gave lord Lovat an immediate opportu- 
 nity of doing fo without much exercife of 
 his invention. 
 
 He told lord Lovat, that he was already 
 acquainted with the whole of the bufmefs 
 that had brought him into Britain j that 
 the brother, or brother-in-law of James 
 Murray, who was a member of the Scot- 
 tim parliament, to which Queeniberry was 
 high commiffioner, introduced to him that 
 emifTary - 9 and that he had difcovered to him 
 the whole plan of the Scottish infurreftion 
 concerted between the courts of France and 
 St. Germains. He further told lord Lo-> 
 vat, that he knew that he had feen, or was 
 about to fee all the highland chiefs, and 
 the other friends of the king in the north; 
 that he did not however aik him any quefti- 
 5
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 171 
 
 ons upon that fubject; but that he had one PART 
 favour to demand of him, which lord 
 Lovat muft not refufe : he ought to re- 
 member, that lord Athol and the duke of 
 Hamilton were two perfons, wha had for 
 a long time endeavoured to deprive him 
 of eftate, reputation and life; he ought 
 not to forget, that he himfelf had united 
 with the duke of Argyle to defend him 
 againft their malice -, he had therefore no 
 reafon to fpare them. The duke according- 
 ly hoped that lord Lovat would frankly in- 
 form him, whether the report were true, 
 that lord Athol and the duke of Hamilton 
 correfponded with the court of St. Germains, 
 at the very time that they difplayed an of- 
 tentatious zeal in the fervice of the prefent 
 government. 
 
 The duke of Queenlberry at this time 
 breathed the moft inveterate enmity againft 
 Hamilton and Athol, becaufe they oppof- 
 ed the projects of that nobleman in his 
 parliament. He would therefore have giv- 
 en every thing he had in the world, to be 
 put into a method of depriving thefe two 
 lords of the power of counteracting and op- 
 pofing his adminiftration. Lord Lovat on 
 his part was not lefs delighted, that the 
 
 duke
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PART duke had chofen his field of battle fo op- 
 
 T T f 
 
 Jfl^L.^ portunecly. 
 
 J/3: 
 
 He accordingly replied, he would give 
 his excellency every kind of fatisfadtion up-r 
 on that head, on condition that he would 
 grant him in return a fmall favour for one 
 of his friends. The duke returned, that he 
 had nothing to do but to aik, and that he 
 plight be confident of obtaining every thing 
 that depended upon him. Lord Lovat then 
 intreated him not to difturb Mr, John Mur- 
 ray, who was not come into Scotland, as 
 James Murray had falfely given out, to ex- 
 cite an infurrection, but purely to fee his 
 Brothers and kinfmen, and from whom his 
 excellency might be afTured he had nothing 
 to fear. The duke without hefitation gave 
 his word that Mr. John Murray fhould 
 meet with no trouble, 
 
 Lord Lovat, having thus obtained the 
 favour he defired, was now to pay the duke 
 of Queenfberry for it in the manner he de- 
 manded. He had been informed by all the 
 faithful partifans of king James the third, 
 and among others by Mr. John Murray, 
 that the duke of Hamilton intended n 
 
 good
 
 6FLORt>LOVAT. 
 
 good to the royal party, but that on the 
 contrary he was devoured with the abfurd 
 idea of becoming himfelf king of Scotland. 
 Mr. Murray had received this particular in- 
 telligence from his brother-in-law, Mr. 
 Graham of Fintry, one of the braveft and 
 moft honed men in Scotland, and who 
 could not be furpaffed in attachment to his 
 Sovereign. 
 
 The laird of Fintry reported that the duke 
 of Hamilton, with whom he was very inti- 
 mate, had weakly difcovered his fecret 
 to him, as to his beft friend, in a private 
 converfation they had held in the duke's 
 clofet. The duke had obferved, that he 
 had pretenlions of great antiquity by one 
 of his anceftors on the female fide to the 
 crown of Scotland, and that he was af- 
 fured that the Scottifh nation, and parti- 
 cularly the Prefbyterians, who were both 
 , ,ihe ftrongeft and the moft numerous party, 
 would never receive a Popifh fovereign ; add- 
 ing, that he had puthimfelf at the head of 
 the Jacobite party with no other defign, 
 than to embroil the two kingdoms, and to 
 profit of their diforder, by exalting him- 
 felf to the crown. Mr. Graham of Fintry, 
 
 who
 
 i 7 4 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 p A R * T who was a zealous partifan of king James, 
 
 L v -^ was fo incenfed at this difcovery, that he 
 
 1 ~ 3 ' did not hefitate to fay, " my lord duke, 
 
 " your defign is as unjuftifiable as your 
 
 " hopes are groundlefs. You have five 
 
 *' hundred brave gentlemen, who are now 
 
 " your good friends, fhat would be the 
 
 *' firft to poignard you, if they faw you 
 
 " mad enough to declare yourfelf king of 
 
 " Scotland." 
 
 Nor was this the only confideration that 
 influenced lord Lovat in his prefcnt con- 
 dud:. He himfelf knew, by ocular de- 
 monftration, that the duke of Hamilton 
 had accepted the commiflion of general of 
 the Scottish army from the late king James; 
 that he had promifed an hundred feveral 
 times to join himfelf to the highland forces 
 with a body of cavalry ; that he had regu- 
 larly broken his word ; and that he had 
 never expended fo much as afixpence, for a 
 prince, who had laid him under accumu- 
 lated obligations. Combining therefore 
 what he had himfelf obferved with the dif 
 covery of Mr. Murray, lord Lovat thought 
 that he had no reafon in the world to fpare 
 fuch a man as the duke of Hamilton. 
 
 With
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 175 
 
 With refpedt to lord Athol, he was noto- P n A R J 
 rioufly the incorrigible enemy of king James, \~-r-* 
 His accumulated treafons rendered his per- 
 fon odious to all his majefty's faithful fer- 
 vants. Much lefs therefore was lord Lovat 
 bound to fpare this incomparable villain, 
 than the duke his brother-in-law. In a 
 word, he was perfuaded that he could not do 
 a better fervice to his king, than to put the 
 duke of Hamilton and lord Athol, the two 
 greateft hypocrites in Scotland, and of whofe 
 duplicity and felfim policy no man was ig- 
 norant, out of a condition to injure his 
 project, or to prejudice the interefh of their 
 fovereign. 
 
 Lord Lovat therefore made to the duke 
 of Queenfberry this pretended difcovery, 
 which had no foundation in any thing he 
 knew upon the fubjecl, except in the 
 groundlefs aflertions of a few Jacobites, 
 attached to the party of the duke of 
 Hamilton and lord Athol. He affured his 
 excellency that thefe two noblemen were 
 the moft faithful friends and fervants of 
 king James ; that Mr. James Murray had 
 brought them over commiflions from the 
 court of St. Germainsj and that they had 
 
 promifed
 
 176 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART promifed to take up arms at a very early pe- 
 
 i_-^ l jt riod, and to put themfelves at the head of 
 
 1703. the whole Jacobite party in order to re- 
 
 ftore the king; that his excellency might 
 
 aflure queen Anne that this was the real ftate 
 
 of the cafe. 
 
 The duke of Queen{berry was overjoyed 
 at this chimerical difcovery. He made a 
 thoufand profeffions of fervice to Lord Lo- 
 vat. He offered, to make his peace with 
 queen Anne, to obtain for him a regiment 
 and a confiderable penfion, and to make 
 him chief justiciary and commandant of the 
 county, which was the feat of the Lovat 
 eftates. Lord Lovat returned him his grate- 
 ful thanks for thefe great offers. But he re- 
 pliedi that he could not at prefent accept 
 of them ; that he was obliged in honour 
 and conference, to return into France for 
 the fervice of his king, and to carry on a 
 project in which he was engaged. 
 
 He however promifed his excellency, that,- 
 if he had then nothing to do for king James; 
 he would in the following fpring demand 
 permiffion to make his peace with queen 
 Anne ; adding that he (hould then be happy 
 
 to
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 177 
 
 to accept the offers that his excellency had PART 
 the kindnefs to make. In the mean time ^ '_*'_ ^ 
 he promifed, that, if the duke would fa- J 73* 
 vour him with a paffport for his im- 
 mediate return into France, he would 
 communicate to him with the earlieft 
 opportunity a more particular account of 
 the engagements of the duke of Hamil- 
 ton and lord Athol with the court of St. 
 Germains, in order that his excellency might 
 have proofs, fufficient to ruin thefe noble- 
 men at the court of London. 
 
 The duke of Queenfberry gave into the 
 fhare in the moft unfufpecting manner He 
 granted upon the fpot a paffport to lord Lo- 
 vat, written and figned with his own hand, 
 as viceroy of Scotland, to enable him to 
 proceed in fafety from Edinburgh to Lon- 
 don. Lord Lovat has flill in his pofief- 
 fion this document, fealed with the arms 
 of the duke of Queenlberry ; as well as the 
 great offers that his excellency made him 
 in writing. 
 
 When the duke had given him the paffport, 
 
 he mentioned that he mould take poft in two 
 
 days for court, adding, that lord Lovat had 
 
 N only
 
 178 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART only to come incognito to his houfe in 
 London, and that he would procure for 
 him, from an Englih fecretary of ftate, a 
 paflport under borrowed names for his jour- 
 ney to Holland; that of the duke not 
 being fufficient for that purpofe. Lord Lo- 
 vat thanked his excellency, promifed to 
 pay his duty to him at London with 'the 
 earlieft opportunity, and took leave, wim- 
 ing him a, good journey. 
 
 Next day lord Drummond and Mr. Mur- 
 ray arrived at Edinburgh. Lord Lovat 
 related to them verbatim all that palled 
 between him and the duke of Queenf- 
 berry. They agreed in approving what he 
 had done, and even applauded the dexte- 
 rity with which he had delivered himfelf 
 from an imminent and unforefeen danger, 
 by his romances of the duke of Ha- 
 milton and lord Athol, whom all the 
 true friends of the king regarded as im- 
 pellers, that for their private interefts were 
 defirous of playing off both parties, with- 
 out having a fincere friendfhip for either. 
 
 Such were the very words of lord Drum- 
 mond and Mr. Murray ; and fuch the firft 
 
 and
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 179 
 
 and fole guilt of lord Lovat. Far from P A RT 
 
 being a real crime, it ought to be regarded ._ 1*1 'j, 
 
 as a good and eiTential fervice to his king, '73- 
 and the fincere, political, and ingenious 
 fruit of his zeal for his project and the in- 
 terefts of his fovereign. 
 
 With refpedl: to his interviews with the 
 duke of Argyle and lord Leven, to my know- 
 ledge he often took God to witnefs, that he 
 had endeavoured, as if his life had depended 
 on it, to gain over thefe lords, his relations 
 and intimate friends, to the party of the king 
 and the interefts of France, reprefenting to 
 them, that it was the only method they could 
 take to fave their families, France being, at 
 that time, completely in a condition to reflore 
 king James in fpite of his enemies. 
 
 The duke of Argyle was much afFedled 
 by what he faid, refpecting the power of 
 France, and her firm refolution to reflore 
 king James, as well as of the difpofitions 
 of a ftrong party in Scotland and in Eng- 
 land to receive him. 
 
 His grace however replied ; " My dear 
 
 " friend! though I perim in the party of the 
 
 *' revolution, I will never defert it. I can- 
 
 N 2 " not
 
 i8o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART" no t truft the pretended fon of a king, who 
 ' cut off the head of my father in fo unjuft 
 " and cruel a manner, after the fervices he 
 " had rendered to that very king,and his bro- 
 " ther Charles the fecond. In the mean time, 
 " my dear Lovat, if by the fortune of war 
 " the party for which you have declared 
 " yourfelf prevail, do what you can for 
 " me and my family; and I promife on 
 " my part, if our government continue, as 
 " I hope it will, effectually and at all times 
 " to protect you and your houfe in fpite 
 " of all your enemies." 
 
 After mutual protections of friendship* 
 the duke of Argyle, without afking a iin- 
 gle queflion concerning an individual in 
 the royal party, bid adieu to lord Lovat, 
 embracing him tenderly, while on his part 
 he was fo much affected that he could not 
 fpeak. This was a kind of prefage of 
 the melancholy news lord Lovat received a 
 fhort time after of the death of the duke 
 of Argyle. He was touched to the bot- 
 tom of his foul with this intelligence. The 
 duke had always loved him as a father, 
 and refpedted him as his faithful defender 
 againft the powerful and arbitrary houfes of 
 
 Hamilton
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 181 
 
 Hamilton and Athol. He was however well p Tr A R 
 
 II. . 
 pleafed with the unbounded expectations, t-~v 
 
 that the whole kingdom entertained from 
 the valour and genius of the young duke of 
 Argyle,who has fince furpafled the moft fan- 
 guine ideas that his early youth infpired, and 
 is acknowledged through all Europe, as well 
 as in thefe three kingdoms, as the greateft 
 hero and ornament of the Scottifh nation. 
 
 With regard to the commerce of lord Lo- 
 vat with the earl of Leven, who is ftill 
 living, the earl will not pretend to deny, 
 that lord Lovat, from a leader in the revo- 
 lution intereft, made him a compleat con- 
 vert to the royal party, and that he gave 
 him an ample commiffion to make his peace 
 with the court of St. Germains, promifing, 
 if the king would grant him the fame 
 appointments he polTefled under queen 
 Anne, to declare for the royal party, and 
 conftantly adhere to it. 
 
 It is certain indeed, that, if the infurredtion 
 in Scotland had been executed, and lord Le- 
 ven had been afiured of the terms he had 
 demanded of the court of St. Germains, 
 he would infallibly have delivered up to 
 
 N 7 the
 
 j82 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART the royal party the cattle of Edinburgh, 
 5_ '-'/-I- of which he was then governor. His 
 1 73- commerce with the court of St. Ger- 
 main s for feveral years paft is fufficiently 
 notorious, and abundantly proves the difpo- 
 iition which lord Lovat had created, and 
 left him in for the interefts of that court. 
 
 It proves however, at the fame time, this 
 earl of Leven to be the moft ungrateful and 
 unnatural of mankind, the greateft liar and 
 impoftor on the face of the earth, when, 
 knowing the difgraceinto which lord Lovat 
 had fallen at the court of St. Germains, 
 and that he could not better make his 
 court to the queen and her ministers than 
 by blackening the reputation of his kinf- 
 man, he fent thither pretended letters, in 
 which he was reprefented as betraying to 
 him, from time to time, all the meafures o 
 that court. 
 
 The reader has here before him all the 
 high treafons, and criminal and perfidious 
 informations, fo loudly expatiated on, and 
 painted in fuch lively colours by lord 
 Middleton, of which lord Lovat was guilty 
 in this expedition. In the mean time lord 
 
 Drum-
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 183 
 
 Drummond and Mr. John Murray regarded p A R 
 thcfe very tranfactions as the beft fervices < 
 he could have rendered his king; in difco- ' 3 ' 
 vering a method, of faving Mr. Murray and 
 himfelf without the fmalleffc prejudice to 
 the interefts of his party, and at the fame 
 time of making the fidelity, and almoft per- 
 fuading the enemies of the king to defert 
 their party. God knows what rewards 
 thefe fervices have procured him ! 
 
 But, if lord Lovat had indeed been fuch 
 a chara6ter as lord Middleton reprefented 
 him, he needed only to have accepted the of- 
 fers of the duke of Queenfberry. In that 
 cafe, without having been guilty of treafon 
 to his party, he would have been put into 
 complete pofTefiion of his province and e- 
 flates. And, if he had wifhed to incur the 
 treachery and villainy which his enemies 
 have falfely imputed to him, had he not 
 the heads of all the king's friends in his 
 pocket, and were not the documents in his 
 pofieffion fufficient to have brought to the 
 fcaffold every loyal nobleman in the king- 
 dom ? But God gave him religion, and ho- 
 nour, and courage enough, rather to have 
 Buffered himfelf to have been torn in pie- 
 N 4 ces
 
 PART ces by four horfes, than ever to have be- 
 
 ^J^-^J trayed or taken away the life of the pooreft 
 
 J73- lacquey or artifan, whom he knew to be 
 
 faithful to that prince, for whom he fo ge- 
 
 neroufly facrificed his cleared and moft un- 
 
 queftionable intereils. 
 
 The duke of Queenfberry mean while fet 
 out for London, and lord Lovat, not chu- 
 iing to take any ftep but in concert with 
 lord Drummond and Mr. John Murray, 
 envoy for the king of France, confulted 
 them refpeeting the method of his return. 
 They both intreated him for his greater 
 fafety to proceed to London, and accept 
 the pafTport the commiifioner had offered. 
 Lord Lovat confented ; and, having no- 
 body at London in whom he could con- 
 fide, he begged lord Drummond and Mr. 
 Murray to addrefs him to fome faithful 
 fubject, who might be his counfel and the 
 witnefs of his actions, in order to his ex- 
 culpation, in cafe any unforefeen accident 
 fhould abridge him of his liberty, or ruin, 
 his project, 
 
 Mr. John Murray addreffed him to his 
 nephew Mr. William Keith, the fon of fir 
 
 3 William
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 185 
 
 William Keith, as a proper pcrfon to affifl PART 
 and attend him during his refidence in the 
 metropolis. He was a gentleman, full of 
 honour and good fenfe, a zealous partifan 
 of the king, and for that reafon the de- 
 clared enemy of the duke of Queenfberry. 
 Mr. Murray, who was brother to lady 
 Keith his mother, wrote to Mr. Keith, to 
 render every fervice to lord Lovat, to com- 
 municate to him without referve whatever 
 he knew refpecting the king's affairs, and, 
 if it were neceflkry, to expofe his life 
 to infure him a fafe pafTage out of Eng- 
 land, 
 
 Lord Lovat fet out for London with this 
 recommendation, and he took with him 
 Mr. Campbel, the fon of the laird of Glen- 
 daruel of the family of Breadalbane, his 
 coufin german, and half brother to lir John 
 Maclean. 'Mr. Campbel appeared extremely 
 zealous for the royal caufe, and was the 
 perfon that conduced lord Lovat to the 
 houfe of lord Breadalbane. This nobleman 
 was the foundefl head, as well as the moft 
 loyal fubjecl: in the kingdom. He had 
 more experience than ail the Scottifh no- 
 blemen
 
 j-86 MEMOIRS OF THE 
 
 f A R T blemen of the royal party > and more cou- 
 rage, though upwards of fixty years of 
 age, to expofe himfelf fword in hand at the 
 head of his vaiTals for the fervice of his 
 king, than any young fellow in Scotland. 
 Add to this, that his power was very ex- 
 {enfive in the mountains of Perthmire, 
 
 Campbel of Glendaruel being of this 
 family, and at the fame time coufin ger- 
 man to lord Lovat on the mother's fide, 
 had been the confident between thefe twq 
 noblemen in the bufinefs that had brought 
 the latter into Scotland. For thefe rea- 
 fons lord Lovat trufted him as his own 
 brother. And neither he nor Mr. Keith, 
 whp received lord Lovat with open arms 
 and in the moil affectionate manner, quit- 
 ted him day or night during the fhort period 
 he continued in London. 
 
 Mr. Keith approved extremely of what lorcl 
 Lovat had donetoamufe the duke of Queenf- 
 berry, and the trick he had played the duke 
 of Hamilton and lord Athol. " Though," 
 faid he, obferving upon this point, " I am in 
 " appearance the friend of the duke of Ha- 
 
 " miltor^
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 187 
 
 c< milton and lord Atho], there is not in PART 
 
 ee reality a perfon in the kingdom that hates ^_:j'_*l, 
 
 " them more than I do. In the firft place *73- 
 
 61 nobody is better acquainted with the 
 
 " abfurd and ambitious views of the duke 
 
 " of Hamilton upon the crown. And for 
 
 " lord Athol, all the friends of the king 
 
 " know but too well, that he only appears 
 
 <( of our party, from an avaricious and 
 
 " immeafurable thirft of the places and 
 
 " penfions, which he expecls from the pre- 
 
 " fent government, to induce him to betray, 
 
 " as he has repeatedly done, the interefts of 
 
 " the king, and enable him to fupport his 
 
 " numerous and necemtous family, who 
 
 " have no other property than the empty 
 
 ?' title of my lord." 
 
 Mr. Keith, in order the better to inform 
 lord Lovat of the fituation of the king's 
 
 o 
 
 affairs in England, introduced him to old 
 Fergufon, fo well known for the author or 
 accomplice of fo many confpiracies, plots 
 and criminal intrigues. He had been in 
 many plots againft king Charles. He had 
 confpired againft the life of the late king 
 James ; but he afterwards became his zea- 
 I lous
 
 i8$ MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART lous fervant and public partifan. And as 
 Ll^l^ h e had a ver y fharp and fatirical pen, the 
 *73- royal party employed him in writing li- 
 bels upon king William, and invedives 
 againfl his government and friends. 
 
 Mr. Fergufon received lord Lovat with 
 open arms > and, having been previouily 
 informed by Mr. Keith of the credit this no- 
 bleman pofleffed at the courts of France and 
 St. Germains, he made to him a magni- 
 ficent detail of all he had done for the 
 king, and how much he had advanced his 
 intereft in the Englim parliament. Two 
 Jays after he gave to lord Lovat commif- 
 fions on his own part, and on the part of 
 feveral illuftrious perfonages in the Eng- 
 lifh parliament, addrefled to the queen and 
 lord Middleton, 
 
 He alfo gave him a letter of recommen- 
 dation to his brother major general Fer- 
 gufon, who had entered into the fervice of 
 king William, and at that time commanded 
 the Scottifh regiments in garrifon at Boif- 
 leduc, intreating him to render the fame 
 fervices to lord Lovat as he would to him- 
 
 felf
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 
 
 {elfin his fituation. This letter was the PART 
 means of faving lord Lovat's life about a ^^1^1.^ 
 fortnight after. He now took leave of 73- 
 Mr. Fergufon with mutual protections 
 of friendmip and efleem, the latter moft 
 humbly intreating him to reprefent to the 
 court of St. Germains what he had done, 
 and what he was refolved to do for her 
 fervice. 
 
 Lord Lovat waited with impatience for 
 the paflport which the duke of Queenf- 
 berry had promifed him* His friend Mr. 
 Keith conjured him to prefs the duke to 
 forward that bufinefs with all fpeed, fince 
 his life would probably be the forfeit of 
 his being taken into cuftody. Mr. Keith 
 even went with lord Lovat to the duke of 
 Queenfberry's gate, and remained in the 
 carriage, not daring to be feen, while lord 
 Lovat and his coulin were with the duke. 
 As foon as he had obtained his paflport, he 
 thought of nothing but his journey; and 
 the faithful Keith did not leave him till he 
 {aw him fall down the Thames. 
 
 This young gentleman remarked to lord 
 Lovat with tears in his eyes, at the moment 
 
 of
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART of their feparation, that it was necefTary id 
 uJ ,-*!? employ a degree of policy in the affairs of 
 *73* Scotland ; that it would be a melancholy 
 confideration for the interefts and the 
 friends of the king, to fee fo noble a pro* 
 ject mifcarry j but that for his part, he was 
 greatly apprehenfive of the fubtle and dan- 
 gerous character of lord Middleton ; he 
 was perfuaded he would do his utmoft to 
 ruin a project, which had the family of 
 Perth, its relations and allies at its head. 
 He added, that lord Lovat had need alike 
 of difcretion and perfeverance, to counter- 
 work all that lord Middleton might ad- 
 vance againft the infurreetion j and that, if 
 at any time the vivacity of his temper led 
 him to embroil himfelf with the minifies 
 he and his project mufl be ruined together. 
 The event was literally as Mr. Keith had 
 predicted. 
 
 As lord Lovat was in continual appre- 
 henhenfion of being taken in England and 
 in Holland, he did not wifh to carry about 
 him the portrait of his fovereign, which his 
 majefty had recently beftowed upon him 
 with extraordinary marks of his bounty. 
 
 He
 
 170: 
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 191 
 
 He therefore caufed a very neat box to be PART 
 made, with an infcription, that it contained 
 the portrait of his king, which his majefty 
 had given him, in return for the fervices he 
 had performed for his majefty and for the king 
 his father during their exile. He inclofed 
 in the fame box the commiilion which his 
 majefty had beftowed upon him, as colonel 
 of a regiment of infantry. This box he 
 placed as a facred depofit, in the hands of 
 his coufin german Campbel of Glenda- 
 ruel, conjuring him to carry it together 
 with its contents, as a thing dearer to him 
 than his life, to his clan. 
 
 Lord Lovat had by extreme good for- 
 tune left in Scotland, with one of the braveft 
 gentlemen of his clan, the box, in which he 
 had adroitly concealed THE GRAND AP- 
 POINTMENT, OR UNLIMITED FULL POW- 
 ERS, which the king had given him to re- 
 prefent his facred perfon, and to renew in 
 his name, in cafe the occafion fhould make 
 it proper to take up arms, all the commif- 
 fions which the late king James had grant- 
 ed in Scotland. This appointment, not 
 lefs honourable than rare, is ftill faithfully 
 
 pre-
 
 192 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFfi 
 
 A R T preferred by the gentleman to whom it was 
 
 _ t I* originally confided. 
 1703. 
 
 During the whole time of lord Lovat's 
 refidence in London, he had lodged at the 
 houfe of a very zealous partifan of king 
 James the third. He had not the fmallcfl 
 intercourfe with any individual in Eng- 
 land that was not noted for attachment to 
 the royal caufe, except the iingle quarter 
 of an hour, that he fpent at the duke of 
 Queenfberry's by the advice of his moft re- 
 fpedtable friends, in order to obtain his 
 paflport* 
 
 In his paflage to Holland he was in 
 much danger of his life, there being on 
 board the Dutch veflel in which he was 
 embarked, two creatures of his enemies, 
 major Duncan Mackenzie, and Scatual 
 Mackenzie, his eldeft fon. Lord Lovat 
 had no other means of fafety in this fitua- 
 tion, till they got out to fea, but that of 
 concealing himfelf in the hammoc of a 
 common failor. 
 
 A few days after his arrival in Holland, 
 he received a letter from Campbel of Glen- 
 
 daruel,
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 193 
 
 daruel, informing him that fir John Mac- PART 
 lean, half brother to Glendaruel, arid couim r^-l^llli 
 german to lord Lovat, was arrived in Eng- 1 73- 
 land with his lady, and had furrendefed 
 himfelf prifoner; that lord Lovat had riot 
 left London fix hour.s, before a pofle of 
 constables came to apprehend him ; that 
 they had treated his landlord very roughly, 
 and thrown him into a dungeon in New- 
 gate; and that, if he had ftaid a day lon- 
 ger in England, his deftruftiori would have 
 been infallible* 
 
 Upon the receipt of this letter lord Lo- 
 vat wrote to Glendaruel, to Mr. William 
 Keith, and to Mr. Fergufon, the famous 
 partifan of king James, and enemy to the 
 duke of Queenlberry. He felicitated hirn- 
 felf upon having efcaped from the hands of 
 the Englifh government, and fo ingeni- 
 oufly amufed the duke of Queenfberry. 
 At the fame time he obferved, how much 
 he was afflicted at the adverfity to which 
 his landlord was expofed for his fidelity to 
 his king and to himfelf. 
 
 He inclofed a letter to his brother, fir 
 
 John Maclean, in which lord Lovat ex- 
 
 O hqrted
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART horted him, in the name of God, to fuffef 
 J^- !t death itielf, rather than to aft hoflile to the 
 7oj.j interefts of his fovereign. He obferved that 
 a finglefalfe llep in his lituation would de- 
 llroy the merit of all he had hitherto done, 
 and obliterate the fervice of ancefiors, the 
 nioft celebrated for their loyalty ; adding, 
 that he had rather hear that he was torn to 
 pieces by horfes, than that he had barter- 
 ed away his loyalty and his honour. Lord 
 Lovat wrote in this urgent manner to fir 
 John Maclean, becaufe he feared that lady 
 Maclean, his wife, who was a woman of 
 much policy and finefle, might prevail upon 
 him to make fbipwreck of his honour for 
 the fake of his eftate. At the fame time 
 he exprefled his fentiments of this lady in a 
 very open manner to Glendaruel her bro- 
 ther-in-law. 
 
 What lord Lovat predicted reflecting her 
 and her hulband, happened in a very mort 
 time. Sir John Maclean, to his fhame 
 and eternal confufion, as the mofl contemp- 
 tible of cowards, after a few days impri- 
 fonment, and having firft conditioned for a 
 penfion from queen Anne, made an ample 
 
 difco^-
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 195 
 
 difcovery of every thing he knew refpect- PART 
 ing his coufm lord Lovat, the Scottish u-^-ll 
 infurre<5Hon, and all the projects of the J /3- 
 court of St. Germains. He was accord- 
 ingly, as all the world knows, imme- 
 diately fet at liberty and penfioned, and 
 has ever lince been univerfally regarded as 
 the moft worthlefs of the human race. 
 
 Lord Lovat's difpatches from Hol- 
 land, were either intercepted or treache- 
 roufly delivered into the hands of the go- 
 vernment, and printed by the exprefs 
 order of the Englim parliament. They 
 ought alone to convince the whole world 
 of his zeal, his faithful and unalterable at- 
 tachment to the interefts of his king, and 
 thofe of France, from which the former were 
 infeparable. It was not however till after lord 
 Lovat's arrival in France, that he knew 
 himfelf to have been betrayed by his coufin 
 german, Campbel of Glendaruel. This un- 
 natural monfter, this perfidious traitor, this 
 execrable villain conceived and carried into 
 action the barbarous defign, in fpite of their 
 relationmip and intimate friendihip, in fpite 
 of the unbounded confidence lord Lovat 
 
 O 2 had
 
 196 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART had placed in him, of accomplishing the 
 II. .1. ent j re ru j n O f t h at nobleman in the courts 
 
 i?3- both of England and France. 
 
 The infamous idea of Glendaruel found 
 harbour in his avaricious foul, firft, in or- 
 der that he might turn to his own ufc 
 eight fine horfes that lord Lovat had left in 
 his care, together with four military trunks 
 rilled with various articles of drefs, gold 
 and iilver plate, and with a variety of jew- 
 els, to the value of 300!, which this villain 
 took poileffion of upon his return to Lon- 
 don. 
 
 The other part of the monfter's idea was 
 as black as the former. Glendaruel was 
 lieutenant of the company of volunteers of 
 Mr. Campbel of Finac, his relation and a 
 gentleman who had mown himfelf his fin- 
 cere friend. 
 
 It may be proper in this place to men- 
 tion, that Mr. Campbel of Finac is one of 
 the moft gallant and worthy men in Scot- 
 land. His integrity and honour are known 
 and revered by all his acquaintance. His 
 courage, intrepidity and military fkill, were 
 
 greatly
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 197 
 
 greatly confpicuous in the affair of Darien, PAR 
 where with an handful of brave Scots he J^V 
 beat an army of Spaniards, difarmed with 1703 
 his own hand the enemy's general, and 
 brought away his fabre, as a token of his 
 victory, upon his return into Scotland. 
 His victory however was rendered ufelefs, 
 by the combination of the Englifh with 
 their inveterate enemies for the ruin of 
 the Scottish colony eftablimed at Darien. 
 
 Mr. Campbel of Finac, was upon bad 
 terms with lord Athol. I have already 
 had occaiion to relate, that, upon fome de- 
 fpotic proceedings of lord Athol, while 
 earl of Tullibardin, this gentleman fent 
 his lordmip a challenge. Lord Athol how- 
 ever faw no.merit in expofing his life againft 
 a valour fo well known as that of Finac. 
 He therefore fhamefully declined the in- 
 vitation, and was forced with infamy to aik 
 pardon and forgivenefs of his antagonift, 
 who threatened to beitow upon him the 
 appropriated reward of cowards and pol- 
 troons, by publicly caning him at the high 
 crofs of Edinburgh, where this affair made 
 a great deal of noife. 
 
 03 I quit
 
 
 i 9 3 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 I quit this hero in order to return to 
 the treacherous Glendaruel. The villain 
 J 73- was fufficiently informed, that lord Athol 
 and lord vifcount Tarbat were the intimate 
 friends and favourites of queen Anne, and 
 for their private interefls the declared ene- 
 mies of lord Lovat. He did not doubt, 
 that, in betraying and delivering into their 
 hands this nobleman, his coufin german, 
 he mould obtain for the price of his vil- 
 lainy the company of volunteers of the 
 brave Campbel of Finac, who was alfo his 
 coufin and his captain, which was worth 
 at lead 170!. a year. He was fatisfied, 
 that lord Athol would be charmed to meet 
 with a decent opportunity of difgracing 
 Finac, who had affronted him in fo public 
 and unqualified a manner. 
 
 Thus was Glendaruel blinded by an in- 
 famous fpirit of avarice and ambition. He 
 forgot, that a few weeks before, he had 
 been the zealous partifan of king James, 
 had conducted lord Lovat to the houfes of 
 lord Breadalbane and many other loyal 
 chiefs, and that his difcovery would put 
 their lives in imminent danger, as well as 
 iubje<5t his own to the mercy of the Eng- 
 
 3
 
 OF LO RD LOVAT. 199 
 
 lifli government. He forgot every thing PAR' 
 that ought to be dear to a man of realbn, v ~v-^ 
 honour and probity, and ruihed headlong '73- 
 into the prefence of lords Athol and Tar- 
 bat, the very day that he took leave of lord 
 Lovat upon the departure of that nobleman 
 for Holland. 
 
 He difcovered to thefe noblemen every 
 thing that he knew refpecting the affairs 
 of the king, and of his coufm lord Lovat, 
 who at that time conducted them. He 
 delivered up to them the box that lord 
 Lovat had confided to him, containing the 
 portrait of the king, and his commif- 
 fion of colonel of infantry. Finally, he 
 difclofed to them the commerce which lord 
 Lovat had carried on with the duke of 
 Queenfberry, and the pafTport that his ex- 
 cellency had procured him for his journey 
 to Holland. 
 
 Lord Athol and lord Tarbat were parti- 
 cularly gratified with the laft part of his 
 difcovery, by means of which they hoped 
 immediately to accomplim. the ruin of the 
 duke of Queenfberry. They went without 
 
 04 a mo-
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 A R T a moment's paufe to queen Anne, and ac-^ 
 II. . i. CL1 fed the duke to her majefty, as guilty 
 
 1703. of high treafon, having maintained a com- 
 merce with the mod dangerous emif- 
 fary that had ever been employed by the 
 courts of France and St. Germains. To 
 fubftantiate their accufations they produc- 
 ed the villain Glendaruel, who declared, 
 that he had himfelf been witnefs to a con- 
 ference of lord Lovat with the duke of 
 Queeniberry, once at Edinburgh, and once 
 in. London, and that he was ready to make 
 oath, that the duke had given him a pail- 
 port for his journey into Holland. At the 
 lame time, by cpncert with thefe noble- 
 men, he delivered to queen Anne with his 
 own hand the portrait of the king, and the 
 commiffion of lord Lovat, which had been 
 confided to him as the moft facred depofit : 
 a circumftance, which ought to render the 
 name of this modern Judas odious to the 
 lateft posterity, 
 
 Lords Athol and Tarbat warmly prefT- 
 ed the queen, to permit the duke of Queenf- 
 berry to be tried for his life upon thefe accu- 
 fations. And indeed he mud probably have 
 3
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 201 
 
 Jofl his head in the affair, if he had not pre- PART 
 vioufly advertifed the queen, that the flight 
 jntercourfe between him and lord Lovat, 
 had been folely intended to difcover and 
 eilablifh the intrigues of the duke of Ha- 
 milton and lord Athol at the court of St. 
 Germains. And in this he averred the 
 preciie and literal truth, 
 
 But the duke of Queenfberry had nothing 
 to fupport his aflertion, but the prefump-r 
 tions with which lord Lovat had furnifhed 
 him ao;ainft the duke of Hamilton and lord 
 
 o 
 
 Athol > while on the other hand lords Athol 
 and Tarbat had legal evidence of the com- 
 merce of the duke of Queenfberry with lord 
 Lovat, the emilTary of the courts of France 
 and St. Germains. The duke was there- 
 fore obliged to defend himfelf againft this 
 accufation by fuing for a pardon from the 
 queen. And he was fo much irritated a- 
 gainft lord Lovat, whom he conceived to 
 have duped and betrayed him to merlieurs 
 Keith and Fergufon, his declared enemies, 
 that he became from that moment his in- 
 veterate foe. At the fame time he treated 
 in an inhuman manner Mr. William Keith, 
 
 be ca life
 
 202 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART becaufe he was informed that he had been 
 i^t every day with that nobleman during his 
 refidence in London. 
 
 The duke however was extremely in the 
 wrong with refpect to lord Lovat. Lord 
 Lovat had difcovered nothing to him of the 
 affairs of the king and of France, nor did 
 his grace afk him a fingle queftion but in 
 relation to the duke of Hamilton and 
 lord Athol, whom his informant, and all the 
 king's true friends, hated as much as he did. 
 Far at the fame time from wiihing to be- 
 tray the duke of Queenfberry, and to repay 
 with ingratitude the good offices he had 
 received from him, he was conftantly ready 
 to do his excellency every fervice, which 
 confifted with his honour, his loyalty, and 
 his confcience. Willingly would he have 
 furnimed the duke, had it been in his 
 power, with the means of ruining the duke 
 of Hamilton and lord Athol at the court of 
 queen Anne, perfuaded that he could not 
 render a more eiTential fervice to his king, 
 than by destroying the credit and influence 
 of theie noblemen, who equally betrayed 
 both parties, and were the objeds .of pub- 
 lic
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 203 
 
 lie deteflation to the zealous partifans of PART 
 either. .. ' lll 
 
 Such is the fimple and firicere detail, 
 excluiive of the fecrets of the king and of 
 France, which it would at all times be im- 
 proper to publifh : fuch, I fay, is the exac~b 
 detail of all lord Lovat's tranfadions in 
 Scotland. And this ought for ever to con- 
 found the author of a book, entitled, Me- 
 moirs concerning the Affairs of Scotland, 
 from Queen Anne's Acceffion to the Throne 
 to the Commencement of the Union*; 
 printed at London in the year 1714. 
 
 I know not what epithet to beflow upon 
 this miferable author, who is fo full of 
 contradictions, even in the characters he 
 draws with fo much bitternefs and impu- 
 dence of the moft able and illuftrious gen- 
 tlemen, and the firft nobility of Scotland. 
 The mildefl cenfure that can be pafTed 
 upon him, is that he has been infolent, 
 ignorant and witlefs. 
 
 Indeed he confefies as much himfelf:,he 
 ailced pardon beforehand. It were there- 
 
 * By George Lockh.irt of Carnwath. 
 
 fore
 
 204 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 TART fore pity to treat his book with too much 
 feverity, lince he has fupprefled his name, 
 for fear of being cudgelled to death by the 
 footmen of the many noblemen he has mal- 
 treated, and who are unwilling themfelves 
 to foil their hands with mooting him 
 through the head, as a gentleman did the 
 father of this author, if he be the perfon 
 whom all the world believes him to be. 
 Indeed the father was worth a million of 
 fuch fons as this, who have the folly to fet 
 up for an author, before they have acquired 
 the means pf fubfiftence, and without pof- 
 feffing the fmalleft particle of knowledge, 
 refpeding either the tranfactions of the 
 world in general, or their own country in 
 particular. 
 
 But it is not my bufinefs to refute his 
 whole book. Abler men than I are equal- 
 ly involved in his calumnies. Since too 
 the author appears to be animated with an 
 inextinguifhable zeal for the honour and 
 prolperity of Scotland, his country and 
 mine, he would have deferved fome in- 
 dulgence, if his blind fpirit of party had 
 not led him to the difiemin.ation of ib 
 many absurdities and fallhoods refpedting 
 
 perfons
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 105 
 
 perfons of the higheft quality, and to PART 
 the groundlefs flattery and prepofterous ap- v __ f l^'_ 1 ^ J 
 plaufe of thofe, whom he imagined to be 
 of his own opinion. My only defign is 
 to eflablifli the honour and integrity of lord 
 Lovat, whom this writer has the infolence 
 to attack. I will therefore confine myfelf 
 to the clear and unanfwerable refutation of 
 thofe articles of his book, which in fo piti- 
 lefs a manner tear to pieces the character of 
 this nobleman, under the name of Simon 
 Frafer of Beaufort. The following is the 
 paflage to which I allude. 
 
 " About this time a flying report was 
 " fpread about, as if a plot had been dif- 
 " covered, wherein a certain number of the 
 " chiefs and heads of the cavaliers had ert- 
 " g a g e d to rife in arms againft queen Anne, 
 " in favour of the pretended prince of 
 " Wales, (as they termed the king) and 
 " this ftory was propagated to blacken thofe 
 " peoples endeavours to liberate their coun- 
 '* try from the flavery and dominion which 
 " England ufurped over it. 
 
 " But becaufe this {ham plot was the 
 " foundation of a mighty fuperftructure, 
 
 " made
 
 206 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART made a great noife, and was the handle the 
 " courtiers laid hold on to ruin the cavalier 
 (t and country parties, I muft go back a 
 " little, and trace it from its original, that 
 " the defign and conclufion of it may be the 
 " better underftood, and the whole looked 
 " upon with that deteftation and horror by 
 " future ages, which all good men had of 
 " it at the time. 
 
 " You muft know then, that after the 
 '* duke of Queeniterry had broke his vows 
 " to the cavaliers, and feen them, when 
 " joined to the country, fo ftrong and zeal- 
 " ous a party, there was no hopes of being 
 " able to ftand it out againft fo violent and 
 " united a torrent ; he bethought himfelf to 
 " undermine thejr reputations, and fo di- 
 " minifti their intereft with the court, 
 " and find a pretence to vent his wrath, 
 " and execute his malice againft thofe that 
 " thwarted his arbitrary defigns. And know* 
 " ing, to his certain experience, that the 
 (t poet was very much in the right, when 
 " he aflerted, that, 
 
 Plots, true or falfe, are neceflary things 
 To fet up commonwealths, and ruin kings, 
 
 he,
 
 OF LORD L O V A T. 207 
 
 " he, with the fpecial advice and confent PART 
 
 " of his dear friends, the duke of Argyle, 
 
 *' the earls of Stair and Leven, and Mr. Car- 
 
 <c ftares (a rebellious prefbyterian preach- 
 
 " er, and one of her majefly's chaplains) 
 
 " refolved, one way or other, to frame fuch 
 
 " a plot, as, when lodged upon thofe they 
 
 " defigned it againft, ihould, in. all hu- 
 
 " man probability, be their utter ruin and 
 
 *< deftrudion. 
 
 " They pitched upon one Simon Frafer, 
 <c of Beaufort, as the tool to carry on this 
 " wicked defign, and be an evidence to 
 " charge fuch perfons, as they directed. 
 " This gentleman, fome three or four years 
 " before, had been guilty of a moft fcanda- 
 " lous rape upon the perfon of the lady 
 " dowager Lovat, fifter to the duke of Athol, 
 " for which crime the lords of judiciary 
 " condemned him to die : and letters of 
 " fire and fword were raifed, and a detach- 
 ** ment of king William's troops fent againft 
 " him and his adherents, who were pretty 
 
 ' numerous, betwixt whom feveral fkir- 
 " mifhes happened. But finding the duke 
 
 ' of Argyle, who was his great patron, 
 t( (for no other reafon, that I know of, but 
 
 " becaufe
 
 2o8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 " becaufe he had been guilty of a vile,, 
 " lewd and deteftable crime ; and likewife 
 " upon the perfon of one of the family of 
 " Athol, which two houfes bore each other 
 " a conftant grudge: ) I fay, Frafer, finding 
 " Argyle was no longer able to protect him 
 " againft the force of law and juftice, quit- 
 " ted the kingdom, and retired into France. 
 " But king James having got an account of 
 " the crimes he was found guilty of, for 
 " which he had left his native country, 
 " would not, during his life, allow him to 
 " come to the court of St. Germains. 
 
 " This perfon being made choice of, as 
 <c well qualified for fuch a defign, was fent 
 " for from France to England, and after- 
 " wards brought from thence to Scotland. 
 " But before he left France, by the advice 
 <c of his friends at home, he turned papift ; 
 " and finding a way to be introduced to the 
 '"* French king by the pope's nuncio, he re- 
 " presented himfelf as a perfon of great in- 
 '* terefl in Scotland, and opprefled for his zeal 
 *' to the royal family, and that with encou- 
 ragement, and a fmall affiftance, he could 
 " contribute to make a great diverfion to 
 < the Englifh arms, and much promote 
 
 > " the
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 209 
 
 *' the royal intereftj and for that end pro- PART 
 tf pofed ; that his moft Chriftian majefty 
 *' mould furnim him with two or three 
 *' hundred men, and a good fum of money 
 " to take along with him to Scotland, where 
 " he would perform wonders. But the 
 " French king, unwilling to hazard his men 
 " and money, without a farther fecurity, 
 " and more probability than his afTertions, 
 " gave him a fair anfwer, defmng him to 
 *' go firft to Scotland, and bring him feme 
 " credentials from thole perfons, over whom 
 " he pretended fo much power; which he 
 *' agreed to j and got, for that purpofe, a 
 " little money, and, by the French inter- 
 " eft, fuch credit at St. Germains, as to 
 " obtain a commiilion from king James to 
 *' be a major-general, with a power to raife 
 *' and command forces in his behalf, which 
 " was the main thing he aimed at, But at 
 f< the fame time, captain John Murray, bro- 
 Sf ther to Mr. Murray of Abercairny^ and 
 " captain James Murray, brother to firDa- 
 " vid Murray of Stanhope, were likewife, 
 *' under the protection of queen Anne's 
 ' acl of indemnity, fent over to Scotland 
 " to be a check upon him, and bring intel- 
 *' ligence, how they found the tempers of 
 P " the
 
 P A R 1* " the people, and their inclination towards 
 " kin S James. 
 
 " Thus provided, Frafer arrived in Eng- 
 * { land ; and on the borders of Scotland was 
 (t met by the duke of Argyle, and by him 
 " conducted to Edinburgh, where he was 
 " kept private; and being fully inftrucled 
 t( what he was to do, the duke of Queenf- 
 " berry gave him a pafs to fecure him from 
 " being apprehended, in obedience to the 
 " the letters of fire and fword emitted againft 
 ** him. And now he goes to the highlands, 
 " introduces himfelf into the company of all 
 " that he knew were well affected to king 
 " James and his intereft, there produces his 
 " major-general's commiffiorf, as a teftifi- 
 " cate of the truft repofed in him, and pro- 
 " poring their rifmg in arms, and fignifying 
 " the fame under their hands, That the 
 " king might know ajjuredly, 'who they 
 " were, and what numbers he had to trufl to, 
 te and regulate his affairs accordingly ; fome 
 " were fo far feduced, as to affure him, 
 " they were ready to ferve the king, (though 
 " I believe there was none that did it 
 " in the terms he demanded j) but general- 
 " ly there were few, that did not regret the 
 
 " king's
 
 ** 
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 211 
 
 king's repofing any truft in a perfori of fo PART 
 bad a charaler> and, fearing he would 
 
 " betray them, refufed to treat or come to 
 " particulars with 
 
 " After he had trafficked here and there 
 " through the highlands with fmall fuc- 
 " cefsi when the parliament was adjourned^ 
 *' he went to London, to conlider of what 
 " further ufe he might be to his confti- 
 " tuentSj refolving (though the primttm 
 *' mobile, and his patron, the duke of Ar- 
 *' gyle, was now dead) to continue in their 
 *' fervice. And they, finding he had made but 
 " a fmall progrefs, and could not as yet fix 
 " any thing at the doors of thofe perfons 
 " againft whom they levelled, refolved to 
 " fend him again to France, to demand let- 
 *' ters, and further encouragement, to the 
 *' dukes of Hamilton and Athol, the earls 
 f{ of Seafield and Cromartv, and the cava- 
 
 * 
 
 " liers : and for that end, the duke of 
 tc Queenfberry procured him, and two others 
 " with him, a pafs from the earl of Not- 
 <f tingham, fecretary of England, under 
 ts borrowed names. If he went upon a 
 *' good defign, as the duke of Queenfberry 
 " afterwards alledged, why needed he have 
 P 2 made
 
 ai2 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PART " made their perfons and bufmefs fuch a 
 
 iff 
 
 iecret to the queen's fecretary, as that he 
 " muft know neither ? 
 
 " But before Frafer reached Paris, and 
 " had executed his black defign, it came to 
 " light in great meafure j for the famous 
 " Mr. Fergufon foon difcovered, and con- 
 " fequently defeated the project, when it 
 " was as yet but in embrio; for Frafer, 
 " whilft he was in London, having ad- 
 " drefled himfelf to him, and one Mr. 
 " William Keith, (a great depender on the 
 " duke of Athol) he acquainted them with 
 " his pretended defign and project for king 
 " James, and mightily prefled Keith, that 
 " he would ufe his endeavours to perfuade 
 *' the duke of Athol to forgive him, and al- 
 " low him accefs to his grace, iince he was 
 " heartily forry for the crime he had com- 
 " mitted, and was promoting fo good a de- 
 te fign : but Keith (though he played the 
 " fool, and dipt deep enough with him in 
 " all other points) told him, that was what 
 " he could not prefume to propofe, and 
 " what he knew the duke of Athol would 
 " never grant. 
 
 " But
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 213 
 
 ** But Fergufon, an old experienced plot- PART 
 *' ter, understanding his character, fuf- 
 " peeled his integrity > and, it coming to 
 " his knowledge, that he was often pri- 
 " vately with the Scottifli courtiers, was by 
 " them fupported, and had obtained a pafs, 
 " as above related, he foon concluded, that 
 " there was fome bafe defign in hand, and 
 <f thereupon gave the duke of Athol notice 
 " of itj and he again, having enquired at 
 " the earl of Nottingham's, and finding 
 " Fergufon's information to hold good, and 
 " his fufpicions to be well grounded, ac- 
 " quaints queen Anne of the whole pro- 
 tf cedure, accufing the duke of Queenf- 
 ff berry in particular, and his other friends 
 " and partifans, of correfponding with, and 
 " protecting aperfon, outlawed in the king- 
 " domof Scotland, guilty of the mof}: hor- 
 if rid crimes, and a trafficker with France. 
 
 " Whereupon the duke of Queenfberry, 
 * f to vindicate himfelf, declared, that Fra- 
 " fer, when he came to Scotland, wrote to 
 " him, that he could make great difcove- 
 *' ries for the queen's fervice - y and that 
 " upon that account he had fent for him, 
 4f given him a protection in Scotland, and 
 P 3 " again
 
 214 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART "again procured him a pals in England, 
 with a defign he mould go to France, 
 ft and make a clearer difcovery, which he 
 *' did not doubt he would have performed, 
 * f had not the matter come too foon to 
 ** light ; and, as a convincing proof thereof, 
 <e he produces a letter from the queen-mo- 
 " ther, directed to L. M. which he inter- 
 < f preted, the lord Murray ; (formerly the 
 " title of the duke of Athol, before his 
 father died.) But his grace made ufe of 
 " fuch folid arguments, and convincing; 
 ' proofs to mew the fallacy of that letter, 
 [that is, that L. M. might as well ftand 
 for fifty other noblemen as himfelf,] that 
 " queen Anne herfelf could not deny, but 
 " that me thought it not genuine. 
 
 " Now let any impartial judge confider, 
 ' if it is probable that Frafer, with whom 
 " no honed man in Scotland would con- 
 *' verfe, who was under fentence of death, 
 <e and not fuch a tool as to imagine, that 
 <* he had an intereft to do any thing of mo- 
 '< ment for king James's fervice, could have 
 <c had the impudence to addrefs the French 
 t > s king in fuch terms as he did, and come 
 *? over to Scotland, unlefs he had been put 
 
 " upon
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 215 
 
 ft upon it, and protected by fuch as could PART 
 
 " fupport him at home ? If he propofed to 
 
 (< cheat the French king of a little money, 
 
 " why came he to Scotland with it; fince 
 
 " he knew he could not fail, in time, to be 
 
 " difcovered, and then could neither hope 
 
 " to be protected there, or to dare to return 
 
 " to France ? Thefe, I fay, and many other 
 
 " fuch fhrewd prefumptions, make it clear, 
 
 " what was the defign of this pretended 
 
 " plot, and, if fuccefsful, how difmal the 
 
 " confequences of it would have proved, 
 
 " (viz. The deftru<5tion of thofe who op- 
 
 " pofed the defigns of the Scottilh cour- 
 
 " tiers and Engliih miniftry againil Scot- 
 
 " land ;) how happy it was in being ren- 
 
 <f dered abortive, before the defigned con- 
 
 " ception had come to full maturity; and 
 
 " how odious the thoughts of fuch a hel- 
 
 *' lifh confpiracy, and the abettors thereof, 
 
 " ought to be in the eyes of all good 
 
 " men !" * 
 
 It is fomewhat extraordinary, that, con- 
 trary to all honour, juftice and common 
 fenfe, this author has had the impudence to 
 let loofe his fpleen upon lord Lovat, whom 
 
 * Memoirs of Scotland, p. 74 84. 
 
 P 4 he
 
 216 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART he did not know, and who is by his birth, 
 fo extremely his fuperior; being the twenty- 
 fecond lord Lovat from father to fon, al- 
 lied to the royal family and to the firft 
 houfes in Scotland ; not to mention his 
 perfonal merit, which has (hone forth in 
 France, as well as at home, in fpite of the 
 pialice of his enemies. It is flill more ex- 
 traordinary, that this author, who pretends 
 to advance nothing but unquestionable facts, 
 and to write entirely from his own know- 
 ledge, mould invent and give to the world 
 fuch a farrago refpeding lord Lovat, com- 
 pofed entirely of incredible lies and pal- 
 pable contradictions, without the fhadaw 
 of probability, reality or common fenfe. 
 
 The defign of the author is fufficieritly 
 evident. His book is entirely calculated 
 to undermine the reputation, the intereft, 
 and the lives of the dukes of Queenfberry 
 and Argyle, and the earl of Leven, the moft 
 formidable enemies of his party ; and to 
 give to the world as undoubted realities, 
 the dark inventions of the duke of Hamil- 
 ton and the lords Athol and Tarbat, pro- 
 duced by the fear of punifhment for their 
 correfpondence with the court of St. Ger- 
 main s
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 217 
 
 mains, at the fame time that they pre- PART 
 tended to be the zealous partifans of the 
 court of London. 
 
 In profecuting this defign he endeavours 
 to throw upon the fhoulders of the firfl 
 mentioned noblemen the contrivance of a 
 project, of which they knew as much 
 as the khan of Crim Tartary. He repre- 
 fents them as fending for lord Lovat, their 
 intimate friend, whom (probably by a mi- 
 racle) this viiionary writer reprefents as ac^ 
 quainted with the nature and particulars of 
 their plot, at the diftance of two hundred 
 leagues, and at a time, when the commerce 
 of letters was totally rendered impracticable 
 by the war. In the next place, by a miracle 
 not lefs wonderful, he converts lord Lovat to 
 the popim religion, by the advice and com- 
 mand of his patrons, Queenfberry, Argyle, 
 Leven and Carftares, the pillars of the 
 prefbyterian religion in Scotland : a moil 
 admirable means which this author has dif- 
 covered, for advancing the interefts of the 
 proteftant fucceffion ! 
 
 And upon this foundation, equally chi- 
 merical, falfe, fcandalous and diabolical^ 
 
 the
 
 218 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 . 
 
 PART the author commences his narrative with 
 calumniating lord Lovat. He makes him, 
 in the firfl place, guilty of a rape ; a crime 
 of which he was as innocent as the child 
 unborn, and which the whole north of 
 Scotland, where lord Lovat has always 
 been, and is at this day much loved and re- 
 fpecled, knows to have had no foundation, 
 but in the malicious invention of lord 
 Athol; in order to accumulate the crime of 
 high treafon againft king William, with 
 which he charged him ; and to make him- 
 felf matter of his eftate : for which ty- 
 ranny the name of Athol is regarded with 
 odium and horror through the whole north 
 of Scotland, 
 
 The author proceeds with his ridiculous 
 fuppofitions, and fends lord Lovat into 
 France three years before he quitted his 
 own country : not knowing probably, that 
 lord Lovat obtained a pardon from king 
 William; and that, at the time of that 
 prince's death, he was in quiet poilcfTion of 
 his eltates, and about to commence a pro- 
 fecution againft lord Athol, which would 
 have reduced him to the fame beggary, as 
 the young lord Murrays his brothers : not 
 
 knowing,.
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 219 
 
 knowing, that it was at the acceffion of PART 
 queen Anne, and her declared favouritifm to 
 ]ord Athol and his other enemies, that lord 
 Lovat proclaimed his fovereign in his own 
 province, and afterwards entered into an en- 
 gagement with the moft confiderable of the 
 loyal nobility and heads of clans, previous 
 to his pafling into France. 
 
 The author of the memoirs reprefents 
 lord Lovat as obtaining a commifiion of 
 major-general from king James, and a power 
 to raife and command forces in his behalf, 
 which, telling the truth for once in his 
 life, he adds, was " the main thing lord 
 f< Lovat aimed at/' But, as importers are 
 generally deficient in memory, the author 
 forgets that he had, in the preceding page, 
 reprefented lord Lovat as repulfed in the 
 moft difgraceful manner by the late king*. 
 
 But I know not whether I ought to have 
 paid any attention to the calumnies of this 
 
 * Mr. Lockhart is not perhaps in this inftance guilty 
 of the contradiction imputed to him. In the paflagelaft 
 alluded to, he fpeaks of king James the fecond ; and in 
 the former he probably alludes to the prince, whom he 
 ftyles king James the third; 
 
 infolent
 
 220 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART infolent writer, or to have given myfelf the 
 trouble to refute an idiot, who contradicts 
 himfelf in every page refpecting this chi- 
 merical plot. It is evident, that he is not 
 only ignorant of the whole north of Scot- 
 land, but that he knows neither the cha- 
 racter nor hiflory of lord Lovat, except 
 from the mifreprefentations of lord Athol 
 and his creatures. It is not lefs evident, 
 that he is equally ignorant of the politics of 
 France and St. Germains, except from the 
 confufed and nonfenfical ideas, that he has 
 imbibed from the drunken Jacobites who 
 frequented Peter Steele's tavern at Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 He ought not furely upon the report of 
 people of that clafs to have calumniated 
 lord Lovat, who was from his earlieft in- 
 fancy engaged in military and political af- 
 fairs, in which afiuredly the genius and 
 courage of this author would have been npt 
 unfrequently emharrafled. This will be 
 fufficiently evident from a few inftances, 
 which I think it necefiary to cite, and in 
 which I (hall be obliged to repeat certain 
 particulars which have already beeq. related. 
 
 The
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 221 
 
 The author of thefe memoirs was pro- PAR' 
 bably ignorant, that lord Lovat was im- ^i^-l 
 prifoned for his exertions in the royal 
 caufe at the age of thirteen years, and at 
 the very time that his elder brother was 
 the firft to join in the expedition of lord 
 vifcount Dundee.* * 1689 
 
 He was ignorant, that at the age of fix- 
 teen years, || and after the death of his elder |] 1692 
 brother and of lord Dundee, lord Lovat 
 joined the infurrection in favour of king 
 James of general Thomas Buchan -(-. 
 
 The author was ignorant, that at the 
 age of twenty years J lord Lovat expofedhis t 1696 
 life with lord Marimal, lord Drummond, 
 lord Kilfeith, and other noble prifoners, by 
 concurring in a defign to furprife the caftle 
 of Edinburgh in favour of king James, who 
 was then expected in Scotland. 
 
 The author was ignorant, that at the 
 age of twenty-three years ^f, being per- ^ 1695 
 fecuted by the prefent lord Athol, and 
 knowing that it had been menaced by 
 
 f There is fome miftake In this place. General Bu- 
 chan's infurre&ion belongs to the year 2690. 
 
 the
 
 222 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PA R T the old marquis of Athol, that, in cafe 
 king James ihould be reftoredj he would 
 trample upon lord Lovat and his clan, as 
 completely as his fon did by the authority 
 of king William, this nobleman went into 
 France in order to expoftulate with the late 
 king James j who received him, in the pre- 
 fence of the queen, the young prince, lord 
 Perth* and fir John Maclean, all four flill 
 living* with as much friendship and conde- 
 fcenfion as he ever extended to a fubject; 
 at the fame time giving lord Lovat under 
 his' hand the moil honourable teftimonyj 
 and the moft magnificent promifes, which 
 are flill in the pofleffion of a man of rank, 
 and lord Lovat's intimate friend. 
 
 / ' 
 Such Was the difhonourable manner in. 
 
 which king James drove lord Lovat from 
 the court of St. Germains ; and fuch the 
 only voyage that lord Lovat made into 
 France during the life of king William* 
 and which lafted only for fifteen days : 
 circumftanees, which ought to confound 
 the author of thefe memoirs, when he 
 fees the whole fabric of his plot over- 
 turned by fo fimple a tale; 
 
 That
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 That author ought to be extremely con- P A R 1* 
 founded, when he knows, that, after the 
 death of king William, not only the loyal 
 highland lairds, but alfo the earl of Errol, 
 the earl Marifhal, lord Drummond, and all 
 the other noblemen of the low country 
 fincerely attached to their fovereign, en- 
 tered into an engagement with lord Lo- 
 vat, to rifk their lives and fortunes for the 
 refloration of their exiled prince -, and that, 
 upon his arrival at the courts of St. Ger- 
 mains and France, he was received with 
 more diftin&ion than any Scotfman had hi- 
 therto been. 
 
 Add to this, that, even after the difco- 
 very of his project both in Scotland and 
 England, lord Lovat, upon his return into 
 France with new aflurances from the king's 
 faithful fubjefts, was equally well received 
 as at firft j that he negociated for fix months 
 with the minifters of ftate and the mar- 
 fhals of France for the completion of the 
 expedition ; and that the naval and land 
 armaments were ready, when the queen, 
 governed by lord Middleton, with an unex- 
 ampled weaknefs refuled to iffue commif- 
 iions to her fubjecls to join the troops of 
 
 France :
 
 224 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART France : a conduct^ which was the vinble 
 caufe of preventing the reftoration of her 
 fon, and of infinite mifchief to the affairs 
 of France. 
 
 And what ought for ^ever to confound 
 the author of the Scottilh memoirs, is, 
 that, after the infurrection had thus 
 completely failed, and lord Lovat for the 
 loudnefs of his refentment was perfe- 
 cuted with great rancour by the queen 
 and lord Middleton, the court of France, 
 fo celebrated for its wifdom and fagacity, 
 knowing the advantageous' commifiion this 
 nobleman had brought into France, and the 
 ftrength of the party in Scotland with 
 which he was engaged, and convinced of 
 his zeal and fidelity, far from uniting with 
 the court of St. Germains in his per- 
 fecution, protected him againft all their 
 machinations and malice* The king of 
 France had the goodnefs to beftow upon him 
 various gratifications, befide a penfion of 
 four thoufand francs *, which is the ordi- 
 nary half-pay of a major-general., His 
 majefty had the kindnefs, in fpite of the 
 * 1 661. 135. 4<J. 
 
 reiterated
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 225 
 
 reiterated and incefiant calumnies of the PART 
 court of St. Gennains, to continue this pen- 
 fion to lord Lovat, for more than ten years, 
 till his departure into England : and in 
 the courfe of the laft war, when France was 
 obliged to pay all the world in paper, lord 
 Lovat may lay, that he was perhaps the on- 
 ly man in the kingdom, who received his 
 penfion in money. Indeed he was pro- 
 tected to the laft by the marquis de Torcy 
 and other French noblemen, his friends, 
 againft all the fury of his enemies in Scot- 
 land and at St. Germains. 
 
 From what has been advanced it is as 
 clear as the day, that the project of lord Lo- 
 vat was real, folid, well founded and well 
 conducted, and the moft promifing that ever 
 was formed for the reftoration of king James; 
 and that the " (ham plot" of the author of 
 the Memoirs had no foundation, but in the 
 malicious invention of lord Athol and lord 
 Tarbat, in order to ruin the dukes of Queenf- 
 berry and Argyle in England and lord Lovat 
 in France ; a circumftance, that ought to 
 render their memory odious to the lateft pof- 
 terity. 
 
 In 

 
 226 M E M O I R 5 O F T HE L I F E 
 
 In fupporting the impeached honour of 
 lord Lovat, I have found my lelf obliged to 
 do juilice to the dukes of Queenfberry and 
 Argyle, who were noblemen incapable of 
 the bafenefs imputed to them by the author 
 of the Memoirs, and who knew no more of 
 the project than the Great Mogul, till it was 
 betrayed by Mr. James Murray and fir John 
 
 Maclean. After this treachery, which was 
 
 ./ ? 
 
 yet incapable of ruining the fcheme, the 
 dukes of Argyle and Queenfberry never de- 
 fired lord Lovat to difclofe to them the fmall- 
 eft circumftance rcfpecting it, if we except 
 the queftion of the duke of Queenfberry in 
 regard <to the duke of Hamilton and lord 
 
 > 
 
 Athtil. I leave therefore this miferable au- 
 thor to the pungency of his remorfe, for 
 having invented a plot, not lefs malicious 
 than chimerical, and which he has not been 
 able to patch together without the moft 
 palpable contradictions. I return to lord 
 Lovat's journey, and the narrative of his real 
 projeft for the reiteration of his king, the 
 relation of which, in all its parts, is calcu- 
 lated to overturn the abfurd and imaginary 
 plot of the author of the Memoirs of Scot* 
 land. 
 
 5 SECT-
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 227 
 SECT; II. 
 
 If ORD Lovat, arrived at Rotterdam* 
 was extremely embarrafied^ concern- 
 ing the manner in which he mould pafs, 1/03. 
 from the frontiers of Holland to the French 
 army in Flanders. The Dutch had ftrict- 
 ly prohibited to all their fubjeds, either to 
 go into Flanders, or to let out horfes or 
 equipages to hire for thatpurpofe, without 
 their orders; under pain of death. Every 
 perfon was fearched and ftri&ly examined* 
 as he entered or went out of the frontier 
 towns of the United Provinces. 
 
 Unable otherwife to extricate himfelf 
 from this dilemma, lord Lovat repaired to 
 the Hague, and applied to an Irifh Ro- 
 man Catholic merchant, to whom he had 
 recommendations, to procure him a pafTport 
 at a ftipulated price. This merchant intro- 
 duced lord Lovat to the fecretary, by whofe 
 means he was accuftomed to obtain pafs- 
 ports; but he found it impoffible to fuc- 
 ceed in the prefent conjuncture. He ob- 
 ferved however to this nobleman, that it was 
 r>eceflary for him to quit the Hague imme- 
 
 diately.
 
 228 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART diately, fince he would infallibly be a dead 
 
 T^'-*- 2 ^ man if he were known. 
 i73- 
 
 Lord Lovat accordingly took his paffage 
 that very hour in the trechfchuyt of Delft, 
 having remained at the Hague only feven 
 or eight hours. He left behind him his 
 brother and major Frafer, who had accom- 
 panied him from Scotland, and who (laid 
 that night at the Hague in order to fee 
 the archduke, then upon his paiTage for 
 Spain, having aflumed the title of Charles 
 the third, king of Spain and the Indies. 
 
 It may be obferved by the way, that ma- 
 . jor George Frafer had actual rank in France, 
 where he had ferved fourteen years, and 
 that lord Lovat had obtained of the mar- 
 quis de Torcy, as an extraordinary favour, 
 to have his company to Scotland, on ac- 
 count of his high and deferved reputati- 
 on, as a very brave man, and an excel- 
 lent officer. The brother of lord Lovat 
 had been almoft compelled by that no- 
 bleman, he having obtained for him a pro- 
 vifional penfion of ten thoufand livres * 
 from the courts of France and St. Germains, 
 
 * 400!. 
 
 to
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 2*9 
 
 to quit Scotland, in order to be educated PAR 
 with his young fovereign at Paris. And ^j4- 
 a circumftance, which further overthrows I 73- 
 the ideas of the author of the Memoirs 
 of Scotland, is that the brother of lord 
 Lovat, during the term of his residence 
 upon the continent, constantly received a 
 penfion from the king of France, under 
 the name of the chevalier Frafer, diftinct 
 from that which was be/lowed upon lord 
 Lovat. 
 
 Lord Lovat had left the Hague fcarcely 
 two hours, when the officers of juftice 
 fearchcd all the taverns and cofFee-houfes in 
 the town for him, at the fame time defcrib- 
 ing his perfon : whether it were, that he 
 was betrayed by the Irim merchant, or was 
 known by any Scotfman refiding at that 
 place. He received intilligence of the dan- 
 ger he had efcaped from major Frafer and his 
 brother ; and, apprehenfive that it was not 
 yet over, he refolved to fet out without de- 
 lay for the frontiers. 
 
 In this fituation he recollected the letter 
 he had received from old Mr. Fergufon at 
 London to major general Fergufon, his bro- 
 
 ther,
 
 2 3 o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART ther, who commanded the troops at Boiile- 
 
 1^4-^ -due. With this recommendation he deter- 
 
 1 73- mined to fet out for that fortrefs ; himfelf, 
 
 his brother and major Frafer having dif- 
 
 guifed themfelves in the uniform of Dutch 
 
 officers. 
 
 Upon their arrival lord Lovat was imme- 
 4iately known, by an officer of general Mur- 
 jay's regiment, who was upon guard at the 
 gates, and by two foldiers of the Frafer clan. 
 Thefe laft informed a great number of Fraf- 
 ers, who were in the Scottish regiments, 
 that garrifoned that place. They according- 
 ly flocked to the tavern where lord Lovat 
 had taken up his quarters, and with a 
 thoughtlefs and unreflecting zeal threw 
 themfelves at his feet, faying, that having 
 now the happinefs to meet with their chief, 
 they would never more lofe light of him, 
 but would follow him wherever he went, 
 into France, or to the end of the world. 
 Lord Lovat, perceiving the imminent dan- 
 ger in which thefe poor fellows had involv- 
 ed him, commanded them, each man to re- 
 turn to his ftation, and not to vifit him 
 again till night, adding, that his life would 
 be the forfeit of their difobedience.
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 231 
 
 In the evening- he waited upon general PAR! 
 Fcrgufon, who, having read his brother's \^.^L^ 
 letter, intreating him to communicate to 
 lord Lovat every thing that he knew re- 
 fpeding the interests of the king, and 
 to beftow upon him all the attentions 
 in his power, defired that nobleman to 
 fup with -him alone, obferving, that he 
 could inform him of fcveral things of the 
 lair, importance to the two courts. When 
 lord Lovat waited upon him in purfuance 
 of his invitation, the general allured him, 
 that, though he had been obliged for fub- 
 fillence to enter into the fervice of king Wil- 
 liam and the Dutch republic, he had always 
 been in his heart faithfully attached to king 
 James. He faid, that he fliould be charmed 
 to meet with a favourable occaiion of ihed- 
 ding his blood for the reiteration of his 
 prince, 
 
 The more unqueftionably to prove his 
 zeal for this intereft, he gave lord Lovat a 
 copy of the fecret intelligence, that M. 
 Ivoye, at that time governor of Boiflcduc, 
 and a general officer of the Dutch artillery, 
 had received from the fecretaries of M. 
 Chamillard, the French minifter for the war 
 
 depart-
 
 232 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART department. In thefe letters all the defigns 
 of France refpecting Spain, Flanders, and 
 the other countries that were the feat of war, 
 were detailed ; defigns, which the king of 
 France conceived to be unknown to any 
 perfon befide his minifter and favourite, 
 M. Chamillard. This ftatefman, under the 
 influence of a weaknefs fatal to his country, 
 difcovered them to his fecretaries, who fold 
 them again to the enemies of their king; and 
 M. Ivoye had a round fum of money every 
 year from the flates of Holland for this bull- 
 nefs. It is indeed notorious, that this infa- 
 mous traffic was carried on with more fuccefs 
 under the administration of M, ChamillarcU 
 than it had ever been before ; it being ex- 
 tremely rare for Frenchmen to betray the 
 interefls of their monarch. Lord Lovat 
 flaid with general Fergufon till after mid- 
 night; and the general told him, that he 
 would fend his valet de chambre to intro- 
 duce him again the next day by a private 
 door. 
 
 In the morning however the commander 
 found his garrifon alarmed and mutinous. 
 Some officers of the regiments of Orkney 
 and Murray, relations and friends of lo$d 
 
 AthoU
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 233 
 
 Athol, underftood, that lord Lovat was in P.A R T 
 the town, and had been addrefTed by feveral 
 foldiers of the Frafer clan, who were en- 
 lifted in their regiments. Thefe gentle- 
 men immediately fpread a report, that he 
 was come thither to debauch the Scot- 
 tifh garrifon, and induce them to defert. 
 The officers in general had heard this re- 
 port, and reprefented it to their comman- 
 der, deliring him to arreft lord Lovat, as 
 an enemy to the ftate, and a partifan and 
 emiflary of France. 
 
 Upon this event general Fergufon dif- 
 patched immediately a meliage to bring 
 lord Lovat incognito to his quarters.- He 
 told him with concern, the great danger in 
 which he was ; that it was neceflary he 
 /hould difguife himfelf, and fet out upon 
 the fpot, fince, if the Dutch had the leaft 
 rumour of the intelligence which had been 
 fpread by the Scottiih officers, it would 
 be impoffible to fave his life, or hin- 
 der him from being cut into a thoufand 
 pieces. Lord Lovat thanked general Fer- 
 gufon with great warmth, and told him, 
 that he was ready to fet out iniiantly, pro- 
 vided 
 5
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFT 
 
 FART vided he had the means of arriving in fafety 
 
 r _ *l?lj at Antwerp. 
 
 1703. 
 
 The affair was difficult, but Mr. Fergu- 
 fon accomplifhed it, by means of a fum of 
 money, and by the affiftance of a rich 
 Dutch Roman Catholic merchant, whom 
 he knew to be extremely attached to the 
 French intereft. This merchant brought 
 to Mr. Fergufon and lord Lovat a Catholic 
 poftilion, whom he ufed when he went to 
 Antwerp and Bruffels in time of peace. 
 The poftilion had three faddle and one 
 draught-horfe. He agreed to conduct lord 
 kovat and his brother to Antwerp upon two 
 of the faddle horfes, himfelf being mounted 
 upon the third; offering his little coun- 
 try cart to convey major Frafer and lord Lo- 
 vat's page. At the fame time he demanded 
 a hundred louis d'or * upon the fpot, in 
 ready money, fifty for the rifk of his horfes, 
 and fifty for the rifk of his life, both of 
 them being forfeited in cafe of a difcor 
 Very. 
 
 Lord Lovat counted down the fum re- 
 quired, and, by the advice of Mr. Fergu- 
 
 * lool. 
 
 fon.
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 235 
 
 fon, difguifed himfelf like a carter, in PART 
 order to drive the cart out of the town. In ^ 
 this difguife he pafTed all the gates and re- 
 doubts of Boifleduc on the fide of Ant- 
 werp, the centinels being extremely nu- 
 merous in that direction. Major Frafer and 
 lord Lovat's brother efcaped in the habit of 
 poor citizens of Boifleduc. The rendez- 
 vous was fixed with the poftiljon at a league 
 from the town, and he arrived about half 
 an hour after funfet with his three horfes. 
 Lord Lovat and his brother immediately 
 rnounted, and, having recommended them- 
 felves to the care of providence, they 
 travelled all night, in order to reach the 
 neighbourhood of Antwerp before break of 
 day. This was the road in all Europe 
 the moil: dangerous, upon account of the 
 partifans and detachments that roamed up 
 and down the country day and night. 
 
 Near to the large town which lies half 
 way between Antwerp and Boifleduc, the 
 night being very dark, lord Lovat, his bro- 
 ther and the poftilion found themfelves in 
 a manner furrounded by a party of fifty or 
 {ixty men. The poftilion proving faint- 
 hearted,
 
 236 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART hearted, lord Lovat was obliged to threaten 
 c_jji him, and to defire his brother to blow out 
 1 73- his brains, if he did not follow them with- 
 out hefitation. In the mean time, with 
 his piftol cocked in his hand, he fpurred 
 his horfe acrofs the high road in which the 
 party were^ in order to gain the heaths on 
 the fide of Breda. 
 
 Having galloped half a league acrofs this 
 wide plain, lord Lovat faid to his guide, 
 " You fee we are now out of reach of the 
 " detachment ; are you able in the dark 
 " to find once more the Antwerp road ? 
 " No," faid the poftilion, " I do not know 
 ' how to find the high road; but I know 
 " that there is a bridge, fomewhere about 
 *' three leagues from hence, which we 
 '* muft crofs, if we would not make an el*- 
 " bow of fix. But at this bridge," added 
 he, " there is almoft always {rationed a 
 " fmall party of the garrifon of Breda, and 
 (t we muft not go near it without learning 
 " whether or not it is guarded." Lord Lovat 
 had travelled over this very country the 
 preceding year; and, having accurately mark- 
 ed the lituation of Antwerp, he replied to the 
 
 guide.
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 237 
 
 guide, " Fear nothing, I know perfectly p ^ R 
 " well which way Antwerp lies, and I will \ -v < 
 " find my way by the ftars, without going 
 " a league out of the right direction, one 
 " way or the other." 
 
 J 
 
 Saying this, they proceeded ; and the 
 poftilion obferving in a fhort time that they 
 were not above a quarter of a league from 
 the bridge he had mentioned, they agreed 
 to advance to a neighbouring cottage. The 
 poftilion having called to the peafant in the 
 jargon f the country, he rofe, and lord 
 Lovat gave him a crown * to go before and 
 reconnoitre whether the bridge were guard- 
 ed. The peafant found nobody; and return- 
 ing, lord Lovat gave him a trifle more. Ap- 
 proaching mean while with a cautious pace 
 towards the bridge, and hearing no noife, he 
 fpurred his horfe vigoroufly, and pafTed over 
 at a hand gallop. From this place they con- 
 tinued to travel the fame rate; till they 
 arrived at break of day within a league and 
 a half of Antwerp, lord Lovat being ex- 
 tremely glad to find himfelf out of danger. 
 
 Having entered the city, he ordered him- 
 felf to be conducted to the quarters of mar- 
 
 * Two fhillinsrs and fixpence. 
 
 Oial
 
 238 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART fhal Villeroi, who received him in a moft 
 ^1*1^ obliging manner, and infilled upon his din- 
 73- ing with him* Lord Lovat was alone with 
 marmal Villeroi, and the duke de Villeroi, 
 his fon. Upon this occafion he acquainted 
 them with the particulars he had learned re- 
 fpecting the archduke, as well as with the 
 treachery of the fecretaries of M. Chamil- 
 lard. Villerei immediately difpatched a 
 courier with this intelligence to Verfaillesy 
 at the fame time defiring lord Lovat to 
 do him the honour to repofe himfelf for a 
 few days at Antwerp, and entreating him to 
 accept of his equipage when he chofe 
 to let out for Paris. Lord Lovat thanked 
 the marfhal very much, but added, that he 
 was refolved to take poft, as foon as major 
 Frafer his relation, whom he had left upon 
 the road, andrefpecting whofe fafety he was 
 
 in fome pain, mould arrive. 
 
 \ 
 
 It was not without reafon that lord Lo- 
 vat was anxious upon this head. The ma* 
 jor and lord Lovat's page, in paiiing from 
 Boifleduc to Antwerp, went feven or eight 
 leagues out of the way, and, being obliged 
 to conceal themfelves in the day time, they 
 were four nights in the moft immineut 
 
 rifk
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 239 
 
 rifk of their lives before they joined lord PART 
 Lovat. This nobleman, thinking that they . '^'^'_f 
 had been aflaffinated or made priibners, was I 74r 
 delighted to fee them arrive at Antwerp. 
 He difmifled the poftilion with an ad- 
 ditional gratuity : fb that the feventeen. 
 leagues from Boifleduc to Antwerp, beiide 
 the danger of his life, coft lord Lovat more 
 than an hundred and ten louis d'or ; and he 
 thought himfelf too happy, at that price, to 
 be iheltered in the midft of the French * 
 army. 
 
 Lord Lovat, having made his court, dur- 
 ing the few days he fpent at Antwerp and 
 Bruflels, to marihal Villeroi and the duke 
 his fon, took poft with the gentlemen who 
 were with him for Paris, where he arrived 
 in twenty-four hours after he had left Bruf- 
 fels. 
 
 He went immediately to pay his duty to 
 cardinal Gualterio and the marquis de Tor- 
 cy, and to give them an account of his ex- 
 pedition. They received him with their 
 ufual kindnefs, and were charmed to lee 
 him efcaped from fo many dangers, and 
 Ilill in a condition to execute his project. 
 
 The
 
 PART The next day he repaired to St. Ger- 
 ^J"^ mains, where the queen received him with 
 1704. extraordinary marks of condefcenfion and 
 amity, thanking God, that he had efcaped 
 the numerous perils, which he had encoun- 
 tered for her fervice. 
 
 Lord Middleton, and the duke of Ber- 
 wick, who was juft fetting out for Spain to 
 fupport king Philip againft the archduke, 
 came together into the antichamber of the 
 queen, to embrace lord Lovat. They re- 
 ceived him with open arms, and conduct- 
 ed him to the apartments of the duke, 
 where they both exprefled themfelves to- 
 wards him in the moft polite and obliging 
 terms. Lord Lovat recounted in a brief 
 manner the adventures of his journey. ,Lord 
 Middleton was overjoyed to fee him arriv- 
 ed in fafety after fo many dangers ; adding, 
 that he muft now think no more of return- 
 ing into Scotland, till his king mould ac- 
 company him in perfon ; that he faw in- 
 numerable difficulties in his fcheme; and 
 that it was neceflary at length to give it 
 up, as attended with too many perils. 
 
 Lord
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 241 
 
 Lord Lovat told him, that his queen and PART 
 the court of France muft difpofe of his pro- v v- J 
 jecl; as they pleafed ; for himfelf, he mould I 74- 
 always be ready to obey their inftructions. 
 Lord Middleton, in order to convince lord 
 Lovat of the fincerity of his attachment, 
 added, that he would fpeak to the king to 
 beflow upon him the blue ribbon of his 
 country, afluring him, that he would add 
 new luftre to that honourable order. 
 
 Lord Lovat returned from St. Germains 
 to Paris, perfectly fatisfied with his recep- 
 tion. In arriving however at his own 
 apartments, he fell lick of an illnefs, con- 
 traded by the incredible fatigues he had 
 fuffered for eight months part. This was 
 the fatal accident, which ruined at once his 
 own affairs and thofe of his prince. Lord 
 Middleton eagerly embraced the opportu- 
 nity, to eradicate from the bread of his 
 miftrefs every impreflion flie yet retained in 
 his favour. 
 
 The queen in the mean time being in- 
 formed of the illnefs of lord Lovat, and yet 
 continuing to regard him with her accuf- 
 
 R tomed
 
 242 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 p A FLT tomed complacency, fent him the follow- 
 
 s_l*l*lf ing letter entirely written with her own 
 
 I 74- hand, and which lord Lovat ftill preferves, 
 
 as a teftimojiy, to confound the calumnies 
 
 of thofe who afterwards perfecuted him. 
 
 " My lord, 
 
 " I am extremely afflicted at the news of 
 st your illnefs, and I lincerely pray God to 
 " reftore your health, that I may oblige the 
 *' king my fon to beftow upon your perfon 
 " and family fuch distinguished marks of 
 " his efteem, as may fuffice to convince po- 
 * c fterity, that the king is indebted to you 
 " for every future degree of profperity he 
 " may enjoy, as much as to any fubject. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 " M.-R." 
 
 After receiving this letter, lord Lovat 
 conceived himfelf to be fo firmly efta- 
 bliihed in the mind of the queen, that 
 nothing could make him ; but he was ex- 
 tremely miftaken. By the intrigues and in- 
 firiuations of lord Middleton, her majefty 
 foon after became his declared enemy, and 
 continued fo for eleven years, in fpite of all 
 I the
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 243 
 
 the efforts of himfelf and his friends to ex- PAR! 
 cite her majefty's clemency, or convince her i_- T 1 
 of her injustice. J 74- 
 
 Lord Lovat's illnefs lafted three weeks, 
 2nd when he left his chamber; he receiv- 
 ed from cardinal Gualterio, and the mar- 
 quis de Torcy the agreeable intelligence, 
 that the moft Chriftian king was as de- 
 termined as ever to execute the pro- 
 ject, and to fend, in order to fupport the 
 loyal Scots, an army of five or iix thou- 
 fand menj with every other neceffafy af- 
 fiftance of arms^ money, ammunition and 
 provilions. They added, that he mufl 
 immediately, in conjunction with the mar- 
 fhal de Coeuvre, vice-admiral of France, 
 and, fmce the death of his father, marfhai 
 d'Etrees, employ himfelf in digefting the 
 bufinefs. At the fame time the cardinal 
 cbferved to lord Lovat, that he fhould join 
 with him, in this employment, the marquis 
 de Callieres, fecretary of the cabinet to the 
 moft Chriftian king, and the intimate friend 
 of the cardinal and the marquis de Torcy. 
 
 The marmal de Coeuvre was endowed 
 
 with an underftanding, active, penetrating, 
 
 R 2 and
 
 244 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 'ART and heroic. He was of a diftinguimed valour, 
 I -*l 2 lf anc ^ poflefTed much of the confidence of the 
 1704. king. He had entered into very clofe con- 
 nections with cardinal Gualterio and the 
 marquis de Torcy. 
 
 The marquis de Callieres was a man of 
 a clear and folid understanding, of a fupe- 
 rior genius for the affairs and intrigues of 
 flate, and confummate in every thing that 
 constitutes the character of an able minif- 
 ter. He was better acquainted with the 
 affairs of foreign countries, than the natives 
 themfelves. But what was molt admirable 
 in his character was his rare integrity and 
 inviolable probity, and that he was the beft 
 friend that ever exifted* He was fo invin- 
 cibly attached to his word and his friend- 
 fhip, that no power and no misfortune 
 upon earth could ever lead him to depart 
 from them, or prevent him from fupport- 
 ing opprefled innocence, and alTerting the 
 truth with which he was acquainted. 
 
 Lord Lovat entered into the affair with 
 thefe two great men ; and the cardinal and 
 M. de Torcy frequently vifited them at 
 their labour, to obferve their progrefs, and 
 
 affid
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 245 
 
 them with their advice. Lord Mid- 
 dleton, being informed by his fpies that 
 lord Lovat was mut up for hours together 
 with thefe diflinguiihed perfonages, no lon- 
 ger doubted of the determination of the 
 court of France refpecting the Scottim in- 
 furrection. Always imprefTed with the in- 
 fallible ruin that awaited him if the project 
 fucceeded, he now applied himfelf wholly 
 to engage the queen to oppofe it effec- 
 tually and in earned. 
 
 For this purpofe he exerted his utmoffc 
 endeavours, to make lord Lovat appear in 
 the blackeft colours to the queen, and even 
 to the French adminiftration ; and this at 
 the very time that he wrote to him let- 
 ters, filled with the moft liberal expref- 
 fions -of amity and attachment. Lord 
 Lovat having mown thefe letters to the 
 cardinal de Noailles, cardinal Gualterio, the 
 mar thai de Coeuvre, and the marquifes de 
 Torcy and de Callieres, lord Middleton 
 has always been regarded by thefe noble- 
 men, as falfe, infmcere, double and hypo- 
 critical. It was their undoubted perfua- 
 fion of this fact, that in the event was the 
 means of faving lord Lovat. 
 
 R 3 At
 
 246 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 > A R T At this period the impudent traitor, 
 ^ James Murray, arrived from Scotland, 
 1704* bringing with him fuppofjtitious papers, 
 fabricated by lord Middleton, and other ca- 
 lumnies, fent by lord Athol. From this 
 moment lord Middleton threw off the malk. 
 He openly afTured the court of France, 
 that lord Lovat had betrayed his own pro- 
 ject to the cukes of Queeniberry and Ar- 
 gyle, and the earl of Leven ; though all 
 Scotland knew, that the projed: had been 
 betrayed by this very James Murray, two 
 months before the arrival of lord Lovat, 
 -and that the traitor had published the moft 
 bitter invectives againft his queen, which 
 lord Lovat every where counteracted by 
 the warmeft eulogiums. In the mean 
 time this wretch, being the creature of lord 
 Middleton, was gracioufly received, im- 
 plicitly credited, and obtained the highr 
 eft rewards from the queen. Her majefty 
 entered with equal readinefs into all the 
 fentiments of lord Middleton for the de- 
 ftru(5lion of lord Lovat. 
 
 They were fo urgent in their infamous 
 charges againft him, that the marquis de 
 Torcy thought proper to fend for this no- 
 bleman
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 247 
 bleman to his clofet, and minutely to exa- PART 
 
 < r i n 1 J- II. . 2. 
 
 mine for four hours into all his proceedings ^ -^ _ f 
 in the execution of his commiflion, of which '74- 
 he had already given an account to this mi- 
 nifterin writing. This great flatefman then 
 did him the honour to exprefs his fenti- 
 ments upon the fubject in thefe words ; 
 " I am perfuaded of your fidelity and inno- 
 " cence. You are however extremely to 
 " be lamented, fince the court of St. Ger- 
 * c mains fpares nothing to paint you as 
 " black as hell. But fear nothing, you 
 " have the king my mafter on your fide." 
 It will not be improper to fay a word 
 here, en paffant, of the character of the 
 marquis de Torcy, though I am extremely 
 incapable of placing it in the light it de- 
 fer ves. 'f: i 
 
 M. de Torcy was the moft bland and 
 condefcending mjnifter in Europe. The 
 equanimity of his character was fo great, 
 that he was never known to lofe his tem- 
 per. His underftanding was fo penetrat- 
 ing, that nothing could efcape it. His 
 genius was fo folid and perfevering, that all 
 his projects fucceeded, or at leaft never 
 failed through his fault. His great talents 
 R 4 made
 
 243 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 > A R T made him one of the ableft ftatefmen in the 
 ^ ,''_/ world; and his amiable qualities gained him 
 1 7** the hearts of every man, native or foreign- 
 er, who had any intercourfe with him. 
 
 He had other perfe&ions, by fo much 
 the more admirable, as they are not al- 
 ways found in conjunction with agreable 
 talents and f}rft-rate abilities. It may be 
 faid without flattery of the: marquis de 
 Torcy, that there was not an hbnefter man 
 in the world. His probity was fo invincible, 
 that the mines of Peru would have been in- 
 Capable of making him fay or do any thing, 
 inconiiftent with duty, juftice and truth. 
 To this rare quality it may he added, that 
 there never exifted a friend more iincere, 
 or more unchangeable. It was impoflible 
 to have an opportunity of nearly examining 
 this great minifter without loving and re^ 
 fpecling him. 
 
 Lord Lovat was penetrated with grief 
 and indignation, when the marquis de 
 Torcy related the difgraceful character 
 given of him by the court of St. Ger- 
 mains, and when he of confequence faw 
 all the dangers he had encountered, and 
 
 the
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 249 
 
 the fervices he had performed, repaid only PART 
 with the moft unexampled calumny and 
 the blacked ingratitude. He took leave 
 of the marquis, and retired to his auberge, 
 in the lelTer place at Verfailles, determined 
 never more to interfere with the affairs of 
 that ungrateful court. He feated himfelf 
 in a drfconfolate poflure, and, leaning upon 
 a table, ruminated upon the means of quit- 
 ting France with honour. 
 
 While he was in this humour, his land- 
 lady entered the room, to tell him that 
 there was below flairs a gentleman in a gold- 
 laced coat, who wifhed to fpeak to him in 
 private, but would not come into lord Lo- 
 vat's apartment. Lord Lovat took .his 
 fword in his hand, and went towards the 
 flairs. Mean while the vifitor afcended, 
 and bid the landlady withdraw the candle. 
 
 He came up to lord Lovat, compli- 
 mented him upon having done the great- 
 eft fervices to the court of France and to 
 his king ; but added, that he had very pow- 
 erful enemies ; that they had at lad obtain- 
 ed an order from the moil Chriftian king 
 
 to
 
 250 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 to throw him into the Baflile; that the 
 warrant was already in the hands of the 
 officers of the grand prevof -, that they 
 were upon the hunt for him; and that one 
 of his friends, being acquainted with the 
 affair, had defired this meffenger to inform 
 him, that he muft fly immediately, if he 
 would efcape irretrievable ruin. 
 
 Lord Lovat anfwered his intelligencer 
 with great firmnefs, that he did not at all 
 linderftand what he meaned -, but that he 
 had nothing to do but to return to the per- 
 fon who fent him, with alTurances, that he 
 was as fincerely attached as any man to the 
 moft Chriftian king; that he had faith- 
 fully ferved his prince and the interefts of 
 France ; and that he was therefore un- 
 der no apprehenfions, but mould wait in 
 perfect tranquility for every thing that 
 might befal him. 
 
 
 At this reply the ftranger appeared to 
 b much confufed. Lord Lovat immedi- 
 ately comprehended, that, as he was upon 
 good terms with the court of France, this 
 muft be a contrivance of his enemies at 
 
 the
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 951 
 
 the court of St. Germains, in order to ruin PART 
 him, if he had been fool or coward enough 
 to give into their fnare. He afterwards 
 learned that this treacherous intelligencer 
 was no other than James Murray, whom lord 
 Middleton had fent, either to afTaflinate or 
 entrap him. 
 
 Lord Lovat, having pafled a very bad 
 night, between mortification and refent- 
 ment, arrived at feven o'clock in the morn- 
 ing at the houfe of the marquis de Callieres, 
 who always protected him, being better ac- 
 quainted than any other perfon with his 
 loyalty and zeal. Having acquainted this 
 minifler with the malicious turn that had 
 been played him, M. de Callieres was ex- 
 tremely irritated, and faid, that it was one 
 of lord Middleton's infamous tricks, but 
 that he would immediately wait upon the 
 marquis de Torcy, to confult with him 
 upon what had happened. In the mean 
 time he defired lord Lovat to wait in his 
 apartment till he returned. 
 
 When he came back, he had the good- 
 nefs to confole lord Lovat by informing him, 
 
 that
 
 252 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART that M. de Torcy was perfectly fatisfied of 
 ' ' his zeal and fidelity, that he need therefore 
 fear nothing from the court of St. Germains, 
 and that he ought not to lofe courage, or 
 even relax of his zeal for the Scottish expe- 
 dition, fince he had the court of France 
 on his fide, which was alone able to carry it 
 into execution. Being thus fupported by 
 the marquis de Torcy, and confoled by M. 
 de Callieres, lord Lovat returned to Paris, 
 to work in his ufual manner with the mar* 
 fhal de Coeuvre, 
 
 Soon after this interview, the more to con- 
 found the enemies of lord Lovat, his grace 
 the duke of Perth, a man of high and punc- 
 tilious honour, and who may without flat- 
 tery be faid to have been, of all the minifters 
 at St. Germains, the king's moft zealous and 
 faithful fervant, received a letter from Scot- 
 land from his eldeft fon lord Drummond, 
 who, of his own mere motion, and totally 
 ignorant of the perfecution which was at 
 this time begun againft lord Lovat in France, 
 wrote in a manner, which not only moft 
 amply juftified, but implied the higheft 
 applaufe of the conduct of his lordihip, 
 
 He
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 253 
 
 He aflerted, that lord Lovat had rendered PART 
 the moft efTential iervices to the royal intercft ^J I/ 
 in Scotland, and that it was not pofiible I /4- 
 fufficientiy to praile his zeaH his fidelity, 
 and the intrepidity he had difplayed, in fo 
 warmly urging the refolution to take arms 
 at all events. He added, that above all, his 
 dexterity ought to be greatly admired, and 
 munificently rewarded, in having with fo 
 much readinefs and policy amufed the duke 
 of Queenfberry, and by that means faved the 
 lives of Mr. John Murray and himfelf, 
 without incurring the fmalleft injury to the 
 royal caufe. At the fame time he refer- 
 red to Mr. John Murray for an explicit de- 
 tail of all that had been done in the affair *. 
 This by the way ferves further to overthrow 
 
 * In Macpherfon's Original Papers, in which the evi- 
 dence againft lord Lovat is carefully collected, a letter 
 upon this fubject from lord Drum mond to the duke of 
 Perth is mentioned in a billet of lord Middleton, but the 
 letter itfelf does not appear. Whether it were fupprefled 
 by Mr. Macpherfon, from the apprehenfion that con- 
 tradictory evidence would only fcrve to bewilder his read- 
 er, or were deftroyed by lord Middleton and his friends, 
 this circumftance may feem calculated to confirm lord 
 Jx>vat's narrative. It may be obferved, that, fo far as ap- 
 pears, lord Drummond and Mr. John Murray were uni- 
 form in the afiertion of his lord/hip's innocence. 
 
 I the
 
 254 MEMOIRS OF THE LlFEl 
 A R T the afiertions of the author of the Memoirs 
 
 II. .2. , 
 
 ~-v * of Scotland. 
 1704. 
 
 Lord Perth triumphed extremely at the 
 receipt of this letter, as he had been deeply 
 embarked in the Scottish project, and lord 
 Dfummond his eldeft fon, earl Marifhal his 
 Ibn-in-law, and the earl of Errol his bro- 
 ther-in-law, were at the head of it. Lord 
 Perth upon this occalion vindicated with fo 
 much zeal and fervency the honour and in- 
 corruptibility of lord Lovat, to the courts 
 both of France and St. Germains, that he 
 embroiled himfelf irretrievably with the 
 queen. He repaired with equal hafte to 
 (hew this letter to the marquifes de Torcy 
 and de Gallieres, cardinal Gualterio, and 
 the marilial de Coeuvre, who were all of 
 them extremely delighted with its con- 
 tents. Mean while the friends of lord 
 ^- Lovat exclaimed loudly againft lord Mid- 
 dleton, his calumnies, and his unjufl pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 The marquis de Torcy and the cardinal 
 now fpoke afrem to the king of the benefit 
 he would derive to his affairs from favouring 
 the Scottiih infurreclion, and his majefty 
 
 was
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 255 
 
 was accordingly induced to undertake it PART 
 
 II 4 
 
 without delay. The next day he fpoke to 
 the marfhal de Coeuvre to form fuitable ar- 
 rangements with M. de Pointis, who was 
 to command the fquadron. Meantime the 
 marmal worked, without intermiffion, with 
 lord Lovat and the other perfons declined 
 to affift in the expedition. 
 
 Lord Middleton now underftood, that 
 the court of France had taken its deter- 
 mination, and that lord Lovat exclaim- 
 ed loudly againfr, him and the intrigues 
 he had formed to ruin the Scottifh affairs* 
 He faw, that the French adminiftration paid 
 no attention to his malicious memorials, and 
 that the letter of lord Drummond was con- 
 ftantly objected to him, as fully juftifying 
 lord Lovat. Thus circumftanced, he had the 
 impudence, having been at daggers-draw 
 ing with lord Perth ever fince their arrival 
 in France, to accufe this refpectable noble- 
 man of having invented, forged and fuborned 
 this letter, to ferve the in terefls of his fac- 
 tion. 
 
 Lord Perth, whofe rectitude and probity 
 were never before called in queftion by 
 
 his
 
 256 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART his greateft enemies, was conflrained upon 
 l!.jlll> this occafion to prove the hand writing of his 
 74 fon, by a comparifon with feveral letters 
 that lord Drummond had written to the 
 queen. He further proved, that this let- 
 ter had been conveyed to him, by a fecret 
 addreis, through the hands of Mr. Drum- 
 rnond, banker at Amfterdam. In fine, lord 
 Middleton univerfally pafled for a bafe ca- 
 Jumniator. The queen herfelf, who was the 
 only perfon that had ever given into his un-- 
 worthy fufpicions, was at length convinced 
 of their faldiood and injuftice. 
 
 The minifrer was not yet deterred by 
 the jflvame and confulion he had incurred in 
 thus afperfing lord Perth. He faw himfelf 
 upon the eve of being ruined for ever by the 
 project of the Scottim. infurrection. He 
 tortured his invention to find out ca- 
 lumnies againft lord Lovat, that might 
 finally remove his apprehenfions, and enable 
 the queen to demand from his moil Chrifti- 
 an majefty that he mould be commit- 
 ted to prifon. The fcheme he at length 
 feleded was the moll extravagant and ab- 
 furd that could be conceived. He perfuad- 
 ed the queen that lord Lovat had engaged 
 
 iir
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 257 
 
 fir Alexander Maclean, captain in the regi- PART 
 ment of Dorrington, to join with him in 
 attacking the duke of Berwick and lord 
 Middleton, in the middle of the night, in 
 the galleries of St. Germains. 
 
 As fir Alexander Maclean was poor, 
 and had juft married an Englifh woman, 
 one of the fempftrefles to the queen, lord 
 Middleton entertained no doubt, that, by 
 an offer of ten thoufand francs * in ready 
 money, and a penfion of two thoufand 
 livres -f*, he mould eafily induce him to 
 advance any thing he pleafed to effect 
 the ruin of lord Lovat. It appeared how- 
 ever in the event that he was extremely mif- 
 taken. 
 
 In the mean time the queen received this 
 romance for an undoubted truth, and made 
 her complaints refpedting it to the court of 
 France. Cardinal Gualterio was fo highly 
 irritated and amamed at this conduct of her 
 majefty, that he went purpofely to St. Ger- 
 mains to tell her, that me ought never to 
 mention to the court of France, a thing fo 
 
 * 400!. f Sol. 
 
 S extravagant,
 
 258 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART extravagant, and fo entirely deftitute of pro- 
 
 L-*- 2 - 1 bability, that fuch a procedure muft necefTa- 
 
 J 7 4- r ily gi ve the mofl Chriftian king and his 
 
 minifters the mofl unfavourable impreffion 
 
 of her majefty. 
 
 At the fame moment fir Alexander Mac- 
 lean declared publicly, in what manner he 
 had been tampered with, and the extraor- 
 dinary reward that had been offered, to in- 
 duce him to maintain what was neceflary for 
 the deilrudtion of lord Lovat. He had re- 
 jected the propofal with difdain, and was 
 extremely incenfed that fuch an idea had 
 been entertained of him. He faid, that he 
 would not accept the bribe of a kingdom for 
 the ruin of his countryman and friend, in 
 oppofition to honour and confcience; that he 
 had never heard lord Lovat fpeak but with 
 extreme refpect and affection of the duke of 
 Berwick, who had always treated him with 
 the greateft condefcenfion ; and that neither 
 lord Lovat nor himfelf were fools or mad 
 enough, to think of attacking the principal 
 perfons of the royal court, in the palace of 
 their fovereign, and in the midft of the 
 French guards. 
 
 3 I do
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 259 
 
 I do not believe that the queen had any PART* 
 other (hare in this flagitious calumny, than 
 by the weaknefs, with which (he gave im- 
 plicitly into the reprefentations of lord 
 Middleton. Be that as it will, it is certain 
 that me and even the minifter and his 
 emiflaries were fo extremely amamed of this 
 diabolical romance, that they fuffered lord 
 Lovat to remain unmolefled for fome time 
 afterwards. 
 
 The Scottim expedition, being now per- 
 fectly digested, was prefented to the mod 
 Chriftian king by the marshal de Coeuvre. 
 His majefty approved of it, and told the 
 marfhal that, as he was determined immedi- 
 ately to carry it into execution, it was pro- 
 per that he mould give it to the marquis de 
 Torcy, to propofe and get it pafTed in the 
 privy council. 
 
 Upon this reply M. de Coeuvre, car- 
 dinal Gualterio and the other friends of 
 lord Lovat felicitated him upon the fuccefs 
 of his undertaking. They told him, that 
 he muft be infallibly in a fhort time one of 
 
 the firft of the Scottim nobilitv : fince he 
 
 j ' 
 
 would be called upon to head the infurrecti- 
 
 S 2 on,
 
 PART on, not only as a general officer to king 
 
 ^_^1*^ James, but as a general officer in the 
 
 r 74- army of France; and fince every thing ne- 
 
 ceflary for the fuccefs of the expedition, 
 
 land forces, a fquadron of (hips, money, 
 
 arms and amunition, was already prepared, 
 
 and nothing remained but the form, which 
 
 was fixed for a very early day, of carrying 
 
 it through the privy council. 
 
 Lord Lovat was extremely delighted to 
 fee his project, after fo great dangers and fo 
 many crofs accidents, upon the point of 
 .being executed. He thanked thefe noble- 
 men in the warmed terms, for their zeal 
 and generous attention to the interefts of 
 of his king. He told them, that he had no 
 longer any apprehenfions, but from the in- 
 trigues of lord Middleton ; that nothing 
 could hinder the project from having the 
 completed fuccefs, but the finifter tranf- 
 actions of that nobleman, with the king, in 
 England, and in Scotland. 
 
 It was not without reafon that lord Lo- 
 vat apprehended the black deiigns of this 
 perfidious minifter. Having learned how 
 nearly the bufinefs was ripe for execution, 
 
 the
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 261 
 
 the fecretary, as his laft refource, acquired p A R T 
 fuchan afcendantover the mind of the queen, 
 as to induce her to refufe to the king of 
 France to iffue the neceflary commiffions to 
 her fubjeds. A few days after the moft 
 Chriftian king waited upon her majefty, to 
 acquaint her with his refolution, and to de- 
 lire her to hold her commiffions in readinefs, 
 to call upon her fubjects to join his troops, 
 as foon they fhould difembark upon the 
 iiland. 
 
 The queen, governed by lord Middleton, 
 without having faid a word to cardinal 
 Gualterio and the marquis de Torcy, who 
 had laboured with fo much zeal and attach- 
 ment for the interefts of her fon, replied, 
 that (he was perfuaded this project was cal- 
 culated to ruin the loyal inhabitants of Scot- 
 land, and that me could not therefore in 
 confcience comply with what his majefty 
 propofed. Louis was aftonifhed, and, if I 
 may dare to fay it, exafperatedat this anfwer. 
 But, as he is the prince in the world the 
 moft polifhed in his manners, he diflembled 
 his real fentiments, and only told the queen, 
 that (lie might then be allured that (he was at 
 liberty to retain her commifTions, till (he 
 S 3 and
 
 262 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART anc | h er minifters were as fully convinced 
 Ji. . 2. J 
 
 of the excellence of the Scottish project, as 
 
 h e anc j hj s fervants already were, 
 
 The day following the marquis de Torcy 
 propofed the Scottim project in the privy 
 council, M, Philipeaux the chancellor, 
 the duke de BeauvillierSj the count de 
 Pontchartrain, and almofi: all the ministers, 
 made feparate fpeeches, in order to demon- 
 flrate the utility of the meafure, 
 
 The king replied, " Meflieurs, I am fa-> 
 < c tisfied that the Scottish project would be 
 " of more utility to me than all my alli- 
 <c ances ; I am convinced, that a civil war 
 /' in England and Scotland would at once 
 6t diflblve the league, that has been form- 
 ** ed againft me, and which fubfifts only 
 *' by the money and exertions of that coun- 
 <c try. But I am not at liberty to carry 
 * c the projecl: into execution. The queen 
 ' of England, to my great furprife, has 
 ' refufed to iflue orders to her fuhjeds to 
 <e join my troops, I have given my pro- 
 f< teclion to this princefs, and granted her 
 ' an afylum in my dominions, and it would 
 *< ill become me to compel her to a mea- 
 
 fure,
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 263 
 
 * 
 
 " fore, which fhe believes inimical to PART 
 
 " her interefts. It is neceffary there- ' ' 2 
 
 " fore to defer this falutary project, till 
 
 <( the queen of England has opened her 
 
 " eyes to the advantages with which it is 
 
 *' attended. I never defigned to make a 
 
 " conqueft of Scotland - y but on the con- 
 
 <f trary to fuccour and fupport the loyal 
 
 " Scots, in their exertions for the reftora- 
 
 " tion of their fovereign." 
 
 The whole council was equally confound- 
 ed and offended with this aftonifhing refufal 
 on the part of the queen of England. The 
 marquis de Torcy, who had hitherto em- 
 ployed much attention and ability upon the 
 fubject, was now fo violently difgufted, as 
 to proteft, that, unlefs by the orders of the 
 king his mafter, he would never more con- 
 cern himfelf with the affairs of this ftupid 
 and perfidious court, or with thofe of the un- 
 fortunate queen, who feemed to employ 
 all her power in ruining the profpe&s of 
 her fon. M. de Torcy, faw with perfect 
 clearnefs, all the confequences that could 
 have refulted from this project, and the 
 irreparable misfortune that the queen of 
 England, by placing implicit confidence in 
 
 S 4 her
 
 264 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART her perfidious fecretary, caufed, not only 
 
 i^-Jlirf to the affairs of her fon, but alfo to the in- 
 
 '704- terefts of France. From that time therefore 
 
 he feemed to have conceived an averfion 
 
 even to the hearing of the queen of England, 
 
 or any of her concerns. 
 
 It is indeed certain, and no perfon of 
 good fenfe can deny it, that by this fatal 
 refufal, the effect of a headlong and unex- 
 ampled weaknefs, the queen gave fo deci- 
 iive a blow to the interefts of the court of 
 St. Germains, that neither (he nor all her 
 friends will probably ever be able to re- 
 cover fo favourable an opportunity. King 
 James, morally fpeaking, muft by this pro- 
 ject have been infallibly reftored. The 
 Scottifh nation were refolved to hazard 
 their lives in his favour. England was 
 torn by the higheft rage of contending fac- 
 tions. Queen Anne was in her heart a 
 well-wifher to the caufe. France, at that 
 time every where victorious and triumph- 
 ant, was in a condition to have afforded 
 him every kind of aiiiftance. There was 
 nothing, but the immediate interpofition of 
 heaven, the flrange imbecility of his mo- 
 ther, and the ignominious perfidy of the 
 
 eari
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 265 
 
 earl of Middleton, that could at this time PART 
 have prevented the reftoration of king James J^A^, 
 to the throne of the three kingdoms; and i?4* 
 of confequence the advancement of the moffc 
 Chriftian king to the fituation of undifputed 
 arbiter of Europe. 
 
 Lord Lovat was impreffed with the deep- 
 eft defpair at this termination of all his 
 hopes, and all his labours. He inftantly 
 refolved to return into Scotland without 
 taking leave of the queen, or ever here- 
 after having the fmalleft concern in her 
 affairs. With this determination he haft- 
 ened to wait upon cardinal Gualterio. His 
 eminence had from the firft treated lord 
 Lovat with fo much condefcenfion, and had 
 continued to entertain for him fo untaint- 
 ed a friendmip, that he had long been in 
 the habit of taking no ftep that regarded 
 the two courts, without firft communicat- 
 ing it to the cardinal. And here I muft 
 attempt a iketch, though it will neceffari- 
 ly be very imperfect, of the various perfec- 
 tions of this great man. 
 
 Cardinal Gualterio was handfome and 
 well made. He was the moft affable and 
 
 engaging
 
 2 66 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART engaging of the human race. His friends 
 L-^V J were always received by him with open 
 J 74- arms, and a vifage full of complacency. 
 A French nobleman juftly obferved to 
 me, that his eminence had no kind of 
 refemblance to the reft of his countrymen. 
 The Italians commonly appear to carry 
 their heart upon their lips, while in reality 
 they are full of diflimulation. Cardinal 
 Gualterio had their frank and honeft air, 
 t>ut at the fame time was in reality one of 
 the fincereft and moft indefatigable friends 
 in the univerfe. 
 
 Lord Lovat experienced in his own per- 
 fon the reality of this amiable quality. The 
 cardinal lived with this nobleman for two 
 years in all the habits of the moft unreftrain- 
 edintercourfe; he ferved him like a brother; 
 he made all his beft friends in the court of 
 France common to lord Lovat. And 
 though he was the nuncio of the pope, and 
 well knew that lord Lovat was a proteftant, 
 he never fpoke a word to him upon the 
 fubjecl: of religion ; though the author of 
 the Memoirs of Scotland has the impu- 
 dence to affert, that lord Lovat was recon- 
 ciled to the church of Rome, in order to 
 
 ingratiate
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 267 
 
 ingratiate himfelf with the cardinal. Little PART 
 did this author know of the true character ^^l 2 ^ 
 of cardinal Guakerio. This great man 1704. 
 left to the preacher and the confelTor the 
 bufinefs of converting fouls. The theatre, 
 in which he employed all his talents and 
 all his induftry, was that of the affairs of 
 fhte. 
 
 In the fcience of politics he was con- 
 fummately fkilfulj and it may be faid of 
 him without exaggeration, that he was one 
 of the firft and ableft minifters in the world. 
 He had fecret correfpondencies in all the 
 confiderable courts of Europe, and very 
 frequently received from them letters en- 
 tirely written in cypher. He had himfelf 
 fo great a facility of language, and fuch a 
 command of his attention, that I have feen 
 him at the fame time dictate to his three 
 fecretaries, and write with his own hand 
 more than fifty letters in fix hours. 
 
 His incomparable ability in all kinds of 
 affairs, his mild and unaffuming difpofition, 
 and the opennefs and affability of his cha- 
 racter drew upon him the fpecial friendmip 
 and regard, not only of the moft Chriftian 
 
 king,
 
 268 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART king, but of all his minifters, and all the 
 J^* 2 * nobility of France to whom he was known. 
 1704. Indeed he feemed to be regarded by Louis 
 the fourteenth and his fervants, lefs as a 
 foreign ambaffador, than as a leading mem- 
 ber of the French administration. 
 
 Lord Lovat having waited upon the car- 
 dinal, acquainted him with his intention to 
 abandon the affairs of St. Germains, fince 
 the queen, contrary to her promife and her 
 oath, had ruined all by this lafl fatal flroke, 
 topleafelord Middleton. 
 
 The cardinal replied, " My poor lord 
 "Lovat, you are young and ardent; you 
 " carry your heart too much upon your 
 " lips ; but nothing is more neceffary, 
 " than to diffemble your feelings and your 
 " refentment, if you would fucceed in 
 " affairs of ftate. Do you not fee," con- 
 tinued he, " my poor lord, that I am oblig- 
 *' ed to diffemble with certain people three 
 " hundred and fixty five days in the year ? 
 " And you cannot diffemble for a fingle 
 " hour with the queen and lord Middle- 
 " ton. Let me intreat you, my dear friend, 
 " to follow a little my example. Culti- 
 
 " vate
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 269 
 <f vate perfeverance and firmnefs in the PART 
 
 r 
 
 " purfuit of difficult objects : you fee I 
 " am never disheartened. In the mean time 
 " you have feveral times recalled the queen. 
 " to her original purpofes by your fpirited 
 " remonftrances on the part of the loyal 
 *' Scots. I would have you once more 
 " write to her majefty, remonftrate on the 
 " extreme injury fhe is doing to the affairs 
 " of her fon, by following the counfel of 
 " thofe, who are defirous of defeating the 
 " Scottim projedt for their private intereft. 
 " As foon as the queen has received this 
 " letter," added the cardinal, " I will 
 " wait upon her, that I may inforce 
 " your reprefentations as far as is in my 
 " power." 
 
 Lord Lovat, agreably to the advice 
 of the cardinal, wrote a letter to the queen, 
 poffibly-fomewhat more fpirited than the 
 cardinal defired. It was in reality this fa- 
 tal letter, that fo incenfed the queen againfl 
 him, that me has not yet forgiven it, not- 
 withftanding the penitence the author has 
 performed of thirty-two days in a dark and 
 unwholefome dungeon ; of three years im- 
 prifonment in the caftle of Angouleme ; 
 3 and
 
 270 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART and of feven years imprifonment in the city 
 of Saumur. This unfortunate letter there- 
 fore being the immediate caufe of all the 
 calamities that afterwards overtook lord 
 Lovat, it is proper that the fubflance of it 
 ihould be related in this place. 
 
 Lord Lovat declared in this letter, that 
 he was greatly mortified that he had fo often 
 expofed his life, and facrificed his property, 
 in bringing to perfection a project, which 
 her majefty, in contradiction to the mod 
 formal and pofitive promifes, had over- 
 turned at one blow ; and which would, in 
 all human appearance, have feated king 
 James upon the throne of his anceftors. 
 He obferved, that every loyal fubject in the 
 Scottish nation would be as much afflicted 
 at the unfortunate event as he was -, and 
 affirmed, that, while her majefty implicitly 
 followed the advice of the people who were 
 at the head of the Englifh parliament, 
 Jefus Chrift would come in the clouds 
 before the king her fon would be reftored. 
 He concluded, that for his own part he 
 would never more draw his fword in the roy- 
 al caufe, fo long as the regency was in her 
 majefly's hands; but that, when his king 
 
 mould
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 271 
 
 fnould be major, or of an age to be at the PART 
 head of his affairs, he would expofe him- u^-v~ 
 fclf with his whole clan, to the laft drop of 1 74' 
 their blood, for his fervice. In the mean 
 time, he fhould always maintain the re- 
 fpect for her majefly which was due to the 
 mother of his fovereign. 
 
 The queen put this letter immediately 
 into the hands of lord Middleton, who 
 declared, that it was full of high treafon, 
 and the moft formal difobedience -, and 
 that, if lord Lovat had written fuch a 
 letter to a queen, reigning in Scotland, 
 his head inufl have paid the forfeit of 
 his infolence. Incited by thefe reprefenta- 
 tions, the queen took the letter in high re- 
 fentment, and immediately waited upon, 
 the king of France, intreating him, for 
 his rebellion to commit lord Lovat to the 
 Baftile, and adding, that fhe muft otherwife 
 be obliged entirely to withdraw herfelf from 
 the world, that me might no longer be ex- 
 pofed to fuch infults on the part of her 
 fu ejects. 
 
 Cardinal Gualterio in the mean time, in 
 purfuance of his promife, having repaired to 
 
 St.
 
 272 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 ?ART St. Germains, found the queen in all the 
 T_~,- 2 ^ exacerbations of the moft furious rage 
 J 74 againft lord Lovat. He immediately engaged 
 the cardinal de Noailles ; the late duke de 
 Noailles his brother, a great favourite of the 
 king ; and the marmal de Coeuvre, to fpeak 
 to his moft Chriftian majefty in favour of 
 lord Lovat. Thefe noblemen undertook the 
 caufe, and exprelTed themfelves to the king 
 'with all poffible ardour. The marmal de 
 Coeuvre, who had worked fo long with 
 lord Lovat, had the goodnefs to fay upon 
 this occafion to the king his mafter, that 
 the queen of England beftowed an ill re- 
 ward upon the zeal and fidelity that lord 
 Lovat had difplayed in the caufe of her fon ; 
 that he knew him for a moft honourable 
 man ; and that, if his majefty would 
 confent to accept his furety, he would 
 anfwer, body for body, for his perfeve- 
 rance in the interefts of France, and his 
 loyalty to the king of England. The king 
 replied, that he was precifely of the 
 marfhal's opinion, and that M. de Coeuvre 
 did him a great pleafure, in confirming 
 the thoughts he had always entertained of 
 lord Lovat. 
 
 Scarcely,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 47$ 
 
 Scarcely had this converfation pafTed, 
 "when the queen of England arrived, in 
 order to requeft the commitment of lord 
 Lovat to the Baftile; The king made no 
 other reply, than by telling her, he was 
 firmly perfuaded of the zeal and fidelity of 
 that nobleman, and that in confederation of 
 this, her majefty ought to pardon a failure 
 of refpecl, which originated only in the 
 thoughtlefTnefs of youth, and the fervency 
 of his zeal for the king her fon. The queen 
 returned repeatedly to the charge, without 
 being able to obtain for lord Lovat the 
 punimment me defired. 
 
 Some months after, cardinal Gualterio 
 did lord Lovat the honour of obferving to 
 him, that his ftory had the air of being a 
 perfect romance ; that he ought to be eter- 
 nally grateful to the king of France; and 
 that his majefty had to his eminency's certain 
 knowledge done more for him, than he had 
 probably ever done for any peer of France, 
 in refitting for fo long a time, not only the 
 intreaties, but even the tears of the queen 
 of England, who demanded with the ex- 
 tremeft earneftnefs, his commitment to the 
 Baftile, This circumftance gave lord Lovat 
 
 T fo
 
 274 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART fo high an idea of the natural equity and 
 JJ; J^ juftice of the king's difpofition, and exci- 
 1704- ted in his boibm fo lively a gratitude for his 
 perfevering goodnefs, that he refolved from 
 that moment, let the confequences be what 
 they might, not to quit France without a 
 complete and perfect] unification of his con- 
 duct, or without the confent of the moft 
 Chriftian king. 
 
 Lord Middleton, perceiving that all his 
 efforts were not fumcient to ruin lord Lovat 
 at the court of France, invented at this 
 time a new calumny, which in the end over- 
 whelmed him with the utmoft confufion. 
 He faw that Mr. John Murray, the envoy 
 of the court of France to the loyal Scots, 
 was not yet returned j and he knew by his 
 correfpondents that he had fet out from 
 Scotland four months before. Since in 
 all this time he had not been fo much 
 as, heard of, he concluded, according to all 
 human appearance, that he was either lofl 
 at fea, or had perifhed amidft the various 
 dangers of his journey. This was the bafis 
 he chofe for his impofture. Supported 
 by the evidence of his creature and that re- 
 probate villain, James Murray, he inform- 
 ed
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 275 
 
 ed the court of France, that, however they p A R 
 might think proper to entertain a good opi- v_ ^ j 
 nion of lord Lovat, he could allure them, 
 he had caufed their envoy, Mr. John 
 Murray, to be afiarTinated in Scotland, in 
 order to prevent his report of the treafon- 
 able proceedings of lord Lovat in that 
 country. 
 
 This accufation was of fo terrible a 
 nature, that none of the friends of lord 
 Lovat could perfuade themfelves to mention 
 it to that nobleman. In the mean time 
 Mr. John Murray did not return. Lord 
 Lovat perceived a degree of coldnefs and 
 referve in the countenances of his friends, 
 which he particularly remarked in cardinal 
 Gualterio, and was extremely afflicted by it; 
 this illuftrious character having always lived 
 with him upon the footing of a bro~ 
 ther. 
 
 The afperiion of lord Middleton conti- 
 nued to gain credit. In the mean time the 
 queen was incefTant in her importunitiesivith 
 the king of France ; and lord Lovat on his 
 part delivered to the French adminiflration 
 memorials, conceived in terms of confide- 
 
 T 2 rable
 
 276 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 A R T rable afperity, againft the court of St. Ger- 
 
 jljli mains. Tired out with the complaints 
 
 i74- that poured in upon him from every fide, 
 
 ' Louis lamented with fome earneftnefs to 
 
 cardinal Gualterio and the marquis de 
 
 Torcy, the two patrons of lord Lovat, the 
 
 unpleafant fituation in which he was placed. 
 
 Thus circumftanced, thefe noblemen re- 
 
 folved to fend lord Lovat to Bourges, to 
 
 refide with two of their particular friends, 
 
 the archbifhop, who was fon to the duke 
 
 of Gevre, a man of ability and merit, and 
 
 much efteemed at the courts of France and 
 
 Rome ; and M. de Roujeault, at that time 
 
 intendant of Bourges. 
 
 The cardinal at lafl intimated to lord 
 -, Lovat, that the king and the marquis de 
 Torcy wifhed him to refide at Bourges, till 
 Mr. John Murray mould arrive in France, 
 in order to quiet the mind of the queen of 
 England. He added, that he might depend 
 as much as ever upon the refolution of the 
 moft Chriftian king to execute the project, 
 and upon his being called upon to conduct 
 it. Lord Lovat replied, that he was ready 
 to go wherever the king pleafed, provided 
 he had wherewith to fubfift, and to pay his 
 
 little
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 277 
 
 little debts at Paris ; adding, that he was 
 unwilling to leave that metropolis in a dif- 
 honourable manner, after having fpent in 1704 
 it fuch considerable fums of his own money 
 for the intereils of his king, without having 
 in his life touched a fingle penny from the 
 court of St. Germains. The cardinal an- 
 fwered, that what he defired was reafon- 
 able, and he would mention it to the mar- 
 quis de Torcy, 
 
 In a fhort time after, his eminence ac- 
 quainted lord Lovat, that the king had 
 granted him for his fubliftence at Bourges 
 a hundred crowns * per month, which was 
 the ordinary penfion of a major general, 
 and was equal to four times as much at 
 Bourges as at Paris ; that the marquis 
 d'Argenfon, lieutenant-general of the po- 
 lice, had orders to take an account of 
 his debts, which his majefty was deter- 
 mined to pay; as alfo to give him fuch a fum 
 of money as was requifite for his journey. 
 Accordingly the marquis de Torcy fome 
 days after paid into lord Lovat's hands a 
 
 * i?.l. IDS. or three thoufand fix hundred livres per 
 annum. This does not exactly coincide with p. 256. 
 
 T i thoufand
 
 278 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 'ART thoufand crowns ~j- for his journey from 
 r - v llL, Paris to Bourges, which was but fifty 
 J /4- leagues, and which might be made at the 
 expence of fifteen piftoles *. 
 
 Lord Lovat, having received this money, 
 and bought every thing neceffary for him, 
 prepared to fet out. He went to receive 
 the commands of cardinal Guaherio, and to 
 know of him the day, in which it was 
 proper he. mould leave Paris. 
 
 In this interval Mr. John Murray arrived 
 from Scotland, having been near five months 
 in his journey. As he carried with him 
 the written engagements of the loyal Scots 
 to take arms for their king and for France, 
 he was afraid of being taken in his journey, 
 and was obliged to pafs from Scotland into 
 Norway, from thence to Dantzic and Ham- 
 burgh, and fo acrofs the whole German em- 
 pire, with much fatigue, and great hazard 
 .of his life. The arrival of this gentleman 
 agreably furprized the court of France, 
 who began to believe that he had actually 
 perifhed. 
 
 t 125!. * 13]. 2s. 6d. 
 
 In 
 j
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 279 
 
 In giving an account of his journey and PART 
 his negociations to the king and the marquis ^,1^1^ 
 de Torcy, Mr. Murray fully juftified lord 74- 
 Lovat, and related a thoufand circumftan- 
 ces much to his advantage. He made the 
 fame narrative to cardinal Gualterio, who, 
 on account of his great friendmip for lord 
 Lovat, and zeal for the affairs of the king 
 of England, was extremely delighted with 
 it. His eminence had fcarcely received this 
 narration, when lord Lovat entered his 
 apartment. 
 
 As foon as he faw him, he leaped upon 
 his neck, and embraced him with ex- 
 traordinary marks of friendfhip, crying 
 out, " My dear lord, you had no need of 
 " being juftified in my opinion, in the 
 " opinion of the marquis de Torcy, or 
 " even in that of the moft Chriftian king. 
 " But Mr. John Murray is arrived moft op- 
 " portunely to confound and aftonim your 
 *' enemies, who were bafe enough to fug- 
 " geft that you had caufed him to be affaf- 
 " finated in Scotland. He has already given 
 " an account of himfelf to the king and the 
 " marquis de Torcy, and has faid things a 
 ft hundred times more favourable of you 
 T 4 " and
 
 2 8o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART " and your fervices, than all the malice of 
 ^ _ y ^ " your enemies could induce you to advance 
 '74- <f of yourfelf." The cardinal added, that he 
 would himfelf conduct Mr. Murray to St. 
 Gerrnains, before it was poflible for lord 
 Lovat to fee him, in order that he might 
 repeat to the queen, in his prefence, all he 
 had faid to the court of France of the fide- 
 lity and fervices of lord Lovat, and then, 
 his eminence would intreat the queen to 
 4o juftice to lord Lovat with thp king of 
 France. 
 
 Mr. John Murray went the next day 
 with the cardinal to St. Gerrnains, and 
 made the fame favourable report, that 
 he had done the day before to the court 
 of France, affirming, that, by his clan, 
 the intermarriages of his family, and his 
 perfonaj credit, lord Lovat was the great 
 fupport of his majefty's affairs in the north 
 of Scotland, The queen was fo much af- 
 fected with Mr. Murray's reprefentations, 
 that me admitted, me could no longer 
 doubt of lord Lovat's loyalty -, but added, 
 fhe could never forget his perfonal difrefpect 
 ^nd infolence : and thefe words me re- 
 peated the next day to the kin? of France. 
 
 * ' ' ? 
 
 Cardinal
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 281 
 
 Cardinal Gualterio was highly pleafed PART 
 with what Mr. John Murray had reported ^^_^j 
 to the two courts. He told lord Lovat /~4* 
 trjat he muft no longer think of going to 
 Bourges ; that on the contrary it behov^ 
 ed him to ftay at court, and triumph over 
 his enemies ; and he would fpeak for that 
 purpofe to the marquis de Torcy. Lord 
 Lovat replied, he was ready to do every 
 thing the court of France and his eminence 
 fjiould think proper. 
 
 In two days after this converfation the 
 cardinal told lord Lovat, that, upon his 
 reprefentations to M. de Torcy, the mar- 
 quis obferved, that it was true, Mr. John 
 Murray having fully juftified lord Lovat, it 
 was no longer juft that he fhould go to 
 Bourges ; but that if he did not go, not only 
 the queen of England, but poffibly the king 
 his mafter would reflect upon him : that 
 the queen had renewed her charges of the ill 
 treatment of lord Lovat at Marli, and had 
 complained that he was ftill at Paris, vent- 
 ing calumnies againft her, and menacing to 
 return into Scotland to ruin her affairs ; to 
 which the king had replied in a very cold 
 manner, " Madam, it is a month ago fince 
 
 " Ior4
 
 282 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART lord Lovat was at Bourges, M. de Torcy 
 
 ^__ l^l 2 ^. " has told me fo;" that the contrary would 
 
 *74- appear if lord Lovat remained at Paris, and 
 
 might caufe M. de Torcy confiderable un- 
 
 eafinefs. 
 
 Lord Lovat replied, that he would go 
 not only to Bourges, but into Spain, rather 
 than caufe a moment's pain to the marquis 
 de Torcy, who had always treated him 
 with fo much attention. He now took leave 
 of cardinal Gualterio with the moft pungent 
 grief, at feeing himfelf upon the point of 
 being feparated from a man, who had dif- 
 tinguimed him by fo generous a friendship, 
 and for whom he entertained fo profound 
 and tender a refpect. 
 
 The cardinal embraced lord Lovat, inte- 
 mating that he mould not flay at Bourges 
 above a month at the utmoft, and proteft- 
 ing that at all times, and in all places, he 
 mould find in him a brother, rather than a 
 friend. Lord Lovat penetrated with gra- 
 titude, could only anfwer the cardinal with 
 his tears. And his emotion was not with- 
 out reafon ; for from that time he. has ne- 
 ver feen, and according to all appearances 
 
 never
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 283 
 never mall fee again, this excellent noble- PART 
 
 1 f a 
 
 man, his patron, his fupport, and his bed i_ r ~lt 
 and mod intimate friend. J 7 4- 
 
 Lord Lovat fet out next morning for 
 Bourges, in oppofition to the opinion of his 
 brother, and of major Frafer his couiin, 
 who exerted their utmoft efforts, to engage 
 him to return into Scotland, or to repair 
 to the court of Hanover. They enlarged 
 upon the unfuitable reward and unworthy 
 treatment he had received from the court 
 of St. Gcrmains. They obferved, that 
 his honour was more than vindicated in 
 France, by the return of Mr. John Mur- 
 ray, and the juilice that was done him 
 by that gentleman^ Lord Lovat however 
 could not come to the refolution of quit- 
 ting France, without the confent of the 
 moft Chriftian king, and in contradiction 
 to the fentiments of cardinal Gualterio and 
 the marquis de Torcy, after having expe- 
 rienced fo much condefcenfion from the 
 king, and fo much friendship from thefe 
 poblemen. 
 
 Major Frafer feemed overcome at this 
 parting with his chief, and wept like a child. 
 
 It
 
 2 8 4 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART It feemed as if this brave lad forefaw, that 
 ^ '-^l 2 ^, he ihould never again behold the head of 
 his family, and his relation, whom he fo 
 tenderly loved. In fadt the poor major was 
 * 1707. afterwards killed at the fiege of Lerida *, 
 by the laft mufket-fhot that was fired at 
 that place, after having given the moft extra- 
 ordinary proofs of his valour. He was uni- 
 verfally regretted by the French and Irifh 
 officers who knew him, being efteemed, not 
 only for his gallant behaviour, but alfo as 
 one of the bed officers of foot in the army 
 jn which he ferved. He bequeathed all of 
 which he died pollened, and his arrears 
 from the regiment, to lord Lovat, who 
 however never received a farthing of it. 
 
 Major Frafer contributed extremely to 
 the prefervation of the city of Cremona to 
 the French, in that furprifing and almoft 
 miraculous action which covered the whole 
 * 1702. nation with immortal glory *. It was he 
 who gave orders for breaking down the 
 bridge of Cremona, over which prince 
 Thomas of Vaudemont mufl neceflarily 
 pafs with a large body of cavalry, which, 
 together with the forces that had already 
 made themfelves rnafters of the town, 
 
 would
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 285 
 
 would infallibly have cut in pieces every p A R ' 
 Frenchman and Irifhman in the place : 
 fuch was the account I received from the 
 major, and afTuredly he was not a man to 
 varnifh his conduct with a deceitful luftre. 
 After having thus flopped the progrefs of 
 the prince of Vaudemont, he aflembled a 
 body of Irim in a large baftiori on the fide 
 of the bridge, and caufed the cannon of the 
 baftion to be pointed upon the cuiraffiers of 
 the emperor, who were drawn up at a 
 fmall diftance. The fhot had their entire 
 effect. The enemy were thrown into dif- 
 order, and the major, immediately caufing 
 his Irim to fally from the baftion, attacked 
 the imperialists fword in hand with fo much 
 fpirit, that he cleared that quarter of the 
 town of them in a moment. Such was his 
 fhare in the glorious day of Cremona. 
 
 He alfo very much diftinguimed himfelf 
 at the head of his regiment, in the various 
 fieges and battles gained by the French, 
 under the command of the celebrated mar- 
 fhal Catinat, and the gallant duke de Ven- 
 dome, in Savoy, in Piedmont and in Italy, 
 during the two wars of 1688 and 1701. 
 The juftice I have done to his memory is 
 
 richly
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART richly due to a man, who, at that time a 
 v.^-U captain in the regiment of general Vahope, 
 followed the fortunes of his king into 
 France and into Ireland, and who conti- 
 nued to ferve his native fovereign, and to 
 advance the interefts of France with cou- 
 rage, diftinction and fidelity, for twenty 
 years, down to the moment that he was 
 killed by a mufket-mot in the head, at the 
 fiege of Lerida, at the time the duke of 
 Orleans made this celebrated conquefL 
 
 1704. I return to lord Lovat, whom we left 
 travelling poft to Bourges. Before his ar- 
 rival M. de Roujeault, intendant of Bourges, 
 received a letter from the marquis de Tor- 
 cy, requeuing him to render to lord Lovat, 
 who was about to fpend fome time in that 
 city, every fervice in his power; adding, 
 that this nobleman was the head of an an- 
 eient and confiderable family in Scotland, 
 celebrated for loyalty to their prince, and 
 attachment to the French nation. In a 
 word, this great minifler fpoke in the moil 
 flattering manner of the family, the perfon 
 and the merits of lord Lovat. 
 
 M. de Roujeault, being prepared by this 
 letter, received lord Lovat in the mod 
 
 obliging
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 287 
 
 obliging manner, and procured for him PART 
 
 II 
 every gratification he could wiili in his 
 
 prefent fituation. From that time there 
 commenced a moft ftric~t and affectionate 
 friendship between lord Lovat and this fa- 
 mous intendant, fo that M. de Roujeault is 
 to be confidered as one of the beft friends 
 lord Lovat has in the world. This cir- 
 cumftance induces me to fay a word of the 
 character of that gentleman, who is at the 
 prefent moment intendant of the generality 
 of Rouen. 
 
 He was defcended from a good family 
 of the profeffion of the law at Paris, and 
 nearly related to marmal Catinat. When 
 very young he was promoted to the ap- 
 pointments of counfellor to the parliament 
 of Paris and matter of requefts. Being 
 known for a man of underftanding and ex- 
 cellent fenfe, he was raifed to the office of 
 intendant of the generality of Bourges. In 
 this capacity, inftead of opprefling and 
 trampling upon the people, as other inten- 
 dants do, he commenced his adminiftra- 
 tion by relieving the poor peafants, and 
 thus putting his province in a better con- 
 dition for ferving their prince. From 
 
 that
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART that time he acquired, and with juftice 
 preferved in all his intendancies, the ap- 
 pellation of father of the nobility, of the 
 people, and the poor. From Bonrges he 
 was called to the intendancy of Maubeuge 
 and of the army on that iide. The pro- 
 vince of Berry lamented his departure with 
 tears, and are not yet confoled for his lofs* 
 At Maubeuge, he attracted in a parti- 
 cular degree the efteem of the elector of 
 Bavaria, the duke de Vendome, and all the 
 officers of the army. He was at this time 
 the intimate friend of that great minifler 
 M. de Bergheic *, and he engaged in all 
 the intrigues of war and ftate on that 
 iide. He alfo entered, from the com> 
 mencement of his friendship with lord Lo*- 
 vat, deeply into the affairs of England. 
 
 After the difaflers of Flanders he quitted 
 Maubeuge, to the great regret of the nobili- 
 ty, and the officers of the army. He was now 
 appointed intendant of the extenfive gene- 
 rality of Poitou, It was there that I faw 
 
 * Superintendant of the Spanifh revenues in Flan- 
 ders, and the Catholic king's chief minifler in that 
 country. 
 
 ?, him
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 289 
 
 him in 1709 not only fave the province PART 
 from a general revolt, but render corn in 
 every part of it almofl abundant, at a time 
 in which the reft of France fufrered ex- 
 tremely, and the people died in the high 
 roads and in the towns by a moft terrible 
 famine. 
 
 The city of Rouen was to a proverb the 
 rock, which gave occafion to the ruin of 
 the intendants of France. Two of thefe 
 gentlemen had juft been treated in a very 
 uncivil manner within a ihort time of each 
 other. M. Deimarets * obferved to his 
 majefty, that he did not know what intend- 
 ant to fend to thefe hot-headed and un- 
 traftable Normans. The king replied, that 
 he knew what would exactly fit them ; all 
 that was neceffary was to fend them M. dc 
 Roujeault, who would attach the Normans 
 as warmly to his perfon, as he had done 
 the other provincials among whom he had 
 prefided. 
 
 When it was known that M. de Rou- 
 jeault had orders to fet out for Rouen, the 
 
 * Appointed comptroller-general of the finances in 
 1708 in the room of M. Chamillard, who had for fome 
 years united that and the war department in his own 
 perfon, 
 
 U Poitevins
 
 290 MEMOIRS OF THE LIF& 
 
 PART Poitevins were ftruck with the deepeft con- 
 fternation. They offered to increafe the 
 taxes of the government, if his majefty 
 would permit M. de Roujeault to remain 
 among them. It was neceiTary however to 
 conform himfelf to orders that did him the 
 higheft honour. I was at Poitiers when 
 he fet out from that place. Every thing 
 wore the face of a murmur, almoft of a gene- 
 ral revolt through the whole province. Men 
 and women, the old and the young, drowned 
 in tears, exclaimed aloud, that they loft their 
 father, their protector. For fome days be- 
 fore his departure, whenever he left his 
 houfe, he was in a manner overwhelmed 
 with a croud of the lower people and the 
 poor, weeping, and crying, that they would 
 follow him wherever he went : they could 
 not live without their father. 
 
 As he went through Paris in order to re- 
 ceive the orders of the king, his majefty 
 faid to him in the moft gracious manner, 
 " You have been loved and regretted at 
 " Bourges, at Maubeuge, at Poitiers : the 
 " fame thing will happen to you at Rouen -, 
 " I am perfuaded of it. Ee not offended 
 " that I think proper to draw you a little 
 " nearer to Verfailles." From Paris M. de 
 
 Rou-
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 291 
 Roujeault went {trait to Rouen j and what p ^ R T 
 
 ll. . 2* 
 
 is entirely without example, he is as much 
 beloved in his prefent government as the 
 mofl rafcally intendant was ever hated. 
 
 After this fhort fketch of his hi/lory, it is 
 fcarcely necefTary to add, that he was a man 
 of uncommon merit. His abilities were fo- 
 lid ; he was much given to reflection ; he 
 was penetrating, collected, fertile in expe- 
 dients, and capable of affairs, the greateft 
 and the moft arduous. But what is pecu- 
 liar to him beyond every man of his 
 rank I ever knew, is, that while other 
 intendants and people in places of truft, 
 not only in France, but over the whole 
 face of the earth, have no other object 
 than that of enriching their families, and 
 elevating themfelves to the higheft digni- 
 ties, the purpofe and policy of all the ac- 
 tions of M. de Roujeaultj his fingle fludy 
 from morning to night, was to do good 
 and contribute to the gratification of others. 
 He could never fay, like the celebrated 
 Roman emperor, " I have loft a day;" 
 the day never patted over the head of 
 M. de Roujeault, in which he did not 
 contribute to the happinefs, or confer im- 
 
 U 2 portant
 
 292 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PART portant benefit upon fome of his fellow- 
 
 II. . 2. r n 1-1 i 
 
 creatures : a circumitance, which ought 
 for ever to render his name immortal. 
 
 I have made this digreffion upon the fub- 
 jed: of M. de Roujeault, becaufe he was 
 the fupport, and the principal confolation 
 of lord Lovat, during the whole term 
 of his imprifonment and exile. It was to 
 him that he owed the extraordinary advan- 
 tage of being always paid his penfion in 
 money, while all France was paid in paper 
 at a very great lofs ; an indulgence, for 
 which lord Lovat and his friends can never 
 be fufficiently grateful to this gentleman, 
 and all thofe-who are connected with him. 
 
 That nobleman fpent his time in a very 
 agreeable manner at his prefent refidence. 
 He received every week letters from cardinal 
 Gualterio, and frequently from the marquis 
 de Torcy, the marquis de Callieres, and his 
 other friends. He had not been a month 
 at Bourges when he was informed, by car- 
 dinal Gualterio and from other hands, of 
 the great condefcenfion which the moft 
 Chriflian king had difplayed in his favour. 
 M. de Torcy being with the king at Marli, 
 
 his
 
 OF LO RD LOVAT. 293 
 
 his majefty faid, " You know, monfieur le p A R 
 ff marquis, that your friend lord Lovat has v-~ y -- 
 tf but a flender provifion in his refidence I7 4 * 
 " at Bourges. Send him four hundred 
 '* crowns* by way of addition to his pen- 
 " fion ; and tell him, that I granted him 
 " this without being folicited to it by any . 
 " body." The friends of lord Lovat feli- 
 citated him upon this generous and mofl 
 gracious action ; and obferved to him in 
 the moft agreable manner, that this grati- 
 fication, under the circumftances in which 
 it was given, ought to be more pleafing to 
 him, than if his friends had obtained for 
 him twenty times as much, 
 
 Lord Lovat was indeed fo highly de- 
 lighted with this aft of condefcenfion, 
 that, cardinal Gualterio having done him, 
 the honour to fend him immediate in- 
 telligence of the birth of the firft duke 
 4e Bretagne, he refolved to fpend four 
 or five hundred piftoles -f- of ready mo- 
 ney, to celebrate this illuflrious birth, 
 and to difplay his attachment .to France 
 in the moft magnificent manner. As 
 wine was very cheap in the province of 
 
 * 50!. t About 400!. 
 
 U 3 Berry,
 
 294 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 PART Berry, lord Lovat bought feveral tons, 
 which he caufed to be formed into 
 fountains, that ran during the whole 
 evening for all the populace of Bourges, 
 The fete was confidered as throughout fo 
 beautiful and fuperb by the inhabitants of 
 Bourges, that the people of the town cauf- 
 ed an account of it to be publimed. 
 
 Lord Lovat is ignorant whether the 
 queen of England were irritated, with his 
 having afTumed the air of giving magni- 
 ficent entertainments at a time, when her 
 majefty regarded him as difgraced and in 
 exile'. It is certain that lord Middleton 
 had conftantly his fpies upon him. He 
 marked the favour of the court of France 
 towards him, and he trembled with appre- 
 henfion, that lord Lovat would remain at 
 Bourges no longer, than till the period de- 
 flinedfor the execution of the Scottifh pro- 
 ject. Once more therefore he called all 
 his engines into play in order to bring this 
 project to a final termination. 
 
 He reprefented to the queen, that lord 
 Lovat was yet as formidable as ever ; that 
 he regarded all her difpleafure with con- 
 tempt,
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 295 
 
 tempt, and intended fhortly to pafs over PART 
 into Scotland, where he expected to re- 
 venge his dilgrace by the ruin of the 
 royal affairs in that kingdom. What had 
 yet been done againft him, he therefore 
 obferved, muft go for nothing; it was 
 abfolutely necefTary to proceed, till he 
 was reduced to a ftate of impotence. By 
 fuch arguments the queen was prevailed 
 upon to give the laft fatal blow, which 
 completed the ruin of lord Lovat, and the 
 entire and irretrievable deftruclion of the 
 affairs of her fon, of which that nobleman 
 was in the prefent cafe the principal and 
 eiTential fpring. After having experienced 
 multiplied refufals, llie at laft obtained 
 of the moil Chriftian king, an order for lord 
 Lovat to be arrefted andfent prifoner to one 
 of the royal caftles. The following was the 
 account that lord Lovat received fome 
 months after from an intimate friend, who 
 had undoubted knowledge of the tranf- 
 actions of the court of France at that time. 
 
 The queen, tutored by lord Middle- 
 ton, waited upon the king of France, 
 carrying with her the laft will of king 
 U 4 James
 
 296 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART James the fecond, and exprefTed her- 
 cJ~^LJ felf nearly in the following terms. " Mon- 
 1704. fj eur> I am well afTured, that lord Lovaf 
 '* is refolved to return immediately home., 
 " and that he threatens to ruin the affairs 
 " of my fon in Scotland. It muft be con- 
 " feiTed, that he is very capable of carry- 
 " ing this threat into execution, by the 
 " power he pofleffes in that country, and 
 " the perfect acquaintance he has with my 
 " fon's affairs. 1 am therefore at length 
 " obliged to acquaint your majefty, that 
 " I have here brought the lad will of my 
 " royal hufband, by which I am appointed 
 " to the regency during my fon's minority. 
 ". If you finally refufe to give orders for lord 
 1* Lovat's imprifonment, I muft beg leave to 
 " lay my commiffion at the foot of your moft 
 " Chriftian majefty, and to retire into the 
 '? convent of Chaillot for the refl of my 
 " days. Your majefty muft anfwer before 
 " God for the tremendous calamities which 
 , " I forefee will cnfue." 
 
 The king, though furprifed a,t a kn- 
 hich he did not at all expect, replied 
 with his ufual magnanimity ; " Madam, 
 
 " I am
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 297 
 
 *' I am as perfectly perfuaded at tjiis day, PART 
 " as I was at firft, of the zeal and fidelity 
 " of lord Lovat to your majefty's interefts. 
 " Since however you are pleafed to think 
 " that your fon's affairs will infallibly be 
 " ruined, if he be not thrown into prifon, 
 " I confent. I will fend him to one of my 
 " caftles, from which it will not be poffi- 
 " ble for him to efcapc." Next day his 
 majefty gave orders with regret to the 
 marquis de Torcy to fend lord Lovat to the 
 caftle of Angouleme - y but to aifure him of 
 his royal protection, and that his majefty 
 would not forget him when the project of 
 Scotland was ready for execution. Such 
 was the manner in which the fatal meafure 
 of the imprifonment of lord Lovat was at- 
 tained and adjuited. 
 
 For himfelf, ignorant of what was 
 tranfading, he expected every day to 
 be recalled. He was at dinner, on the 
 fourth day of Auguft, 1704, at the 
 houfe of M. le Roy, ftrocureur de police, 
 at which M. de Roujeault had fixed 
 him, as being the beft houfe in Bourges. 
 A grand prevot, accompanied by his lieu- 
 tenant and twenty-four archers, ilole into 
 
 the
 
 2 9 3 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART the drawing room, and feized lord Lovat, 
 !__/_! lj as if he had been an aflaffin, demanding 
 J 74' from him his fword in the king's name. 
 Lord Lovat delivered it with great tran- 
 quility, faying, that he had never de- 
 figned to draw it, -but in the caufe 
 of his king or for the interefts of 
 France, as he had always hitherto done. 
 They paid no attention to what he faid. 
 They took him by the arms and the legs, 
 and dragged him like a dog, from the faloon 
 in which he had dined, to his apartment 
 above flairs. Here the prevot pillaged him 
 in the moft inhuman manner of his papers, 
 of his purfe, his watches, his jewels, and 
 in a word, of every thing he had. It was 
 only by the greateft menaces on the part of 
 M. le Roy, a man of ability and merit, 
 and the moft incorruptible integrity, that 
 this brute of a prevot was induced to re- 
 turn to lord Lovat, juft what the rafcal 
 pleafed. 
 
 This ruffian, not contented with ha- 
 ving maltreated lord Lovat in his own 
 apartment, conducted him on fc-ot at 
 high noon through the middle of the 
 |own on a market day, hemmed in 
 
 with
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 299 
 
 with the files of his archers, and a whole PART 
 crowd of the populace, as if he had been 
 conducting to the gallows. In this man- 
 ner he was obliged to fubmit to all the 
 raillery of an infolent and uncivilifed mob, 
 while every refpedtable inhabitant of the 
 city, in which he was honoured and efteem- 
 ed, wept over his misfortune, and the 
 ignominy of his difgrace. 
 
 The villain of a prevot was fo obliging 
 as to attend lord Lovat with his archers all 
 the way to Angouleme. He had the luck 
 to procure a curfed little chaife, where 
 lord Lovat was in a manner buried alive 
 under the unwieldy bulk of this enormous 
 porpoife. Such a iituation, united with 
 the extreme heat of the feafon, had fo 
 dreadful an effect, that his lordmip was ap- 
 prehenfive of dying upon his route. The ill- 
 nefs however of this unfortunate nobleman, 
 and the various unplsafant circumftances 
 with which he was overwhelmed, were not 
 able in the fmalleft degree to. mollify the 
 barbarous manners of this rude officer, who 
 probably imagined, that a Britiin lord 
 was a kind of monfter in the fhupe of a 
 man. 
 
 Lord
 
 300 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PART Lord Lovat is not able precifely to deter-. 
 
 II. . 2. . , J . 
 
 *~.- v ~-j mine, whether it w ( ere through the gene- 
 I 74- rous recommendation of the humane pre- 
 vot, or rather through the malice of lord 
 Middleton and his enemies at the court of 
 St. Germains, that upon his arrival at the 
 caftle of Angouleme he was thruft into a 
 horrible dungeon, which had been from time 
 immemorial the unviolated habitation of 
 coiners and murderers. It was a gentle- 
 man of this laft clafs, whom the confider.a- 
 tion of lord Lovat's friends obliged to give 
 way to him in the prefent inftance. His 
 page, who was a young gentleman of the 
 Frafer clan, and the only perfon permitted 
 to witnefs his fufFerings, conceived fo 
 extreme a horror at this dungeon, as to 
 fall ill the firft night, and to be for fix 
 months given over by the phyficians. 
 
 Lord Lovat remained in this apartment, 
 {hut iip for thirtyrfive days in perfecfl dark- 
 nefs, where he every rnomentexpedted death, 
 and prepared to meet it with becoming 
 fortitude. As an exprefs prohibition had 
 been given, to communicate any thing to 
 him in writing, or even to utter a word 
 in his prefence ; and as he was unable 
 
 to
 
 OF LORD LO VAT, 301 
 
 to conceive the reafon of this barbarous PART 
 treatment, confcious of his entire innocence . 1 -'_ 
 of all that his adverfaries had laid to his 
 charge ; all that the enemies of France 
 have imputed of moft horrible to the French 
 government was continually pafling through 
 his mind. He liftened with eagernefs and 
 anxiety to every noife, and, when his door 
 creaked upon its hinges, he believed that it 
 was the executioner come to put an end to 
 his unfortunate days. 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 CINCE however lord Lovat perceived, PART 
 that the laft punimment continued to ^J^li, 
 be delayed, he thought proper to addrefs 74- 
 himfelf to a grim jailorefs, who came every 
 day to throw him fomething to eat, in the 
 fame filent and cautious manner in which 
 you would feed a mad dog. He intreated 
 her to have the goodnefs to give him paper, 
 pen and ink, in order to write a letter to 
 the minifter. She replied, it was more 
 than her life was worth to comply with his 
 requeft. Lord Lovat anfwered that he 
 would give her the letter open, that me 
 might fee he wrote nothing that could 
 
 have
 
 302 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART have any finifter confequence to her, or could 
 give offence to the court. He added, that to 
 reward her civility, he would put his purfe 
 in her hands that me might take what- 
 ever fhe thought proper. The clink of the 
 louis d'or fubdued the inexorable virtue of 
 the fair jailorefs. She furnimed lord Lovat 
 with the materials he wanted, and he im- 
 mediately wrote to cardinal Gualterio, the 
 marquis de Torcy, and the marchionefs de 
 la Frezeliere. 
 
 About twelve days after this tranfa&ion 
 M. de Bores, lieutenant of the town and 
 caflle of Angouleme, and who has ever 
 jQnce treated lord Lovat as his fon, came 
 himfelf to liberate him from his dungeon. 
 He conjured him to believe that he was in 
 the utmoft degree afBided that a man of his 
 rank had been thruft into that horrible 
 place ; it was the fault of a ftupid wretch 
 of a captain, who commanded at that time 
 in the caftle, while he was at his country 
 houfe, where he uiually fpent a good part 
 of his time. He added, that he had orders 
 from the marquis de Torcy to grant him 
 the entire liberty of the caftle, at the fame 
 time taking his parole of honour in writing, 
 2 that
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 303 
 
 that he would not leave France with- PART 
 out the confent of the king, which engage- L _ ^l 3 ], 
 ment he was to fend to the marquis de Tor- 74 
 cy. It was this interview, that firft con- 
 vinced lord Lovat, that the court of France 
 had no mare in producing the inhuman 
 treatment he had received. 
 
 His friends now began tocorrefpond with 
 him, and he received two days after a letter 
 from the marchionefs de la Frezeliere, inclo- 
 fing a copy of the marquis de Torcy's to 
 M. de Bores. The marchionefs informed 
 lord Lovat, that, when me went to fo- 
 licit his releafe from the marquis de 
 Torcy, this amiable minifter appeared ex- 
 tremely furprifed at the treatment lord 
 Lovat had received, and declared that it 
 was very much betide both the king's 
 intention and his own ; he had fent lord 
 Lovat to the caftle of Angouleme as a 
 friend. This caftle was in a manner an 
 open prifon, having an extenfive park in- 
 cluded within its walls, in which were 
 the pleafanteil walks of the city, where the 
 better fort of inhabitants reforted every day 
 to take the air, and whofe company M. de 
 Torcy conceived might be fome alleviation 
 
 to
 
 304 MEMOIRS OF THE LIF 
 PART to lord Lovat under his unfortunate 're- 
 
 1704. 
 
 Indeed the marquis's letter to the king's 
 lieutenant affords an unanfwerable proof of 
 what that nobleman had at firftfufpedted, that 
 his barbarous treatment had originated folely 
 in the enmity of the court of St. Germains. 
 The minifter wrote to the lieutenant of An- 
 gouleme, that he deferved to be cafliiered 
 for having in fo inhuman a manner mal- 
 treated a man of lord Lovat's quality ; that 
 he did not deferve to have a prifoner of 
 rank committed to his charge $ that lord 
 Lovat mould no longer be the prifoner of 
 of any king's lieutenant in France; but 
 that he mould be folely the king's prifoner 
 and his own, upon his parole of honour, 
 not to go out of the country without 
 the royal confent. The marquis com- 
 manded M. de Bores to take this parole of 
 lord Lovat in writing and fend it to him^ 
 and in the mean time to give him the liber- 
 ty of the cattle. 
 
 The king's lieutenant immediately exe- 
 cuted thefe orders ; and lord Lovat lived, 
 from that time, more agreably in the caflle 
 
 c of
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 305 
 
 of Angouleme, than he would have .done, PART 
 had he had the range of a province. He 
 was much refpected and beloved by the 
 moil confiderable perfons in the city and 
 neighbourhood, who united their endeavours 
 to foften to him his adveriities. Indeed I 
 have often heard him fay, that, if there 
 were a beautiful and enchanting prifon 
 in the world, it was the cattle of Angou- 
 leme. 
 
 A fliort time after, lord Lovat's corref- i;i 
 pondents informed him, that the k^ng was 
 refolved to execute the Scottish project ; 
 and for that purpofe had lent Mr. Hooke 
 and Mr. John Murray into Scotland, in or- 
 der to renew the engagements that had 
 been entered into by the nobility of that 
 country for the reftoration of their prince. 
 
 This Mr. Hooke was an Englifb gentle- 
 man, who had originally been deeply en- 
 gaged in the intrigues of the duke of Mon- 
 mouth, and, having been pardoned by the 
 late king James, in order the more fully to 
 demonstrate his fidelity and gratitude, fol- 
 lowed his majefty in his retreat into France. 
 He was there ftruck out of the lid of thofe 
 
 X perfons
 
 3 o6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART perfons who received penfions from the 
 i - r - 3 ^ court of St, Germains. Upon this event 
 J 75- he determined to enter into the fervice of 
 the king of Sweden j but, in his journey 
 for that purpofe, he met at Hamburgh 
 the count de Guifcard, who was returning 
 from an embafTy to the court of Stockholm. 
 The count had here feveral interviews with 
 Mr. Hooke, and, finding him a man of 
 ability, he prevailed upon him to abandon 
 his defign, and Brought him back to 
 France. 
 
 The count de Guifcard here recommend- 
 ed him to his intimate friends, the mar- 
 quis de Torcy, and the marquis de Cal- 
 lieres, as a man formed by nature for ri- 
 pening negociations and managing intrigues 
 of ftate. Soon after, M. de Torcy employ- 
 ed him in a fecret negociation in Holland, in 
 which he perfectly fucceeded, and exactly 
 carried into execution thedefigns of his em- 
 ployer. Upon his return the minifter ob- 
 tained for him a penfion of five hundred 
 francs * per month, and a brevet of fecond 
 colonel in the Swedifh regiment of count 
 Sparre. 
 
 * 20 1. 
 
 When
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 307 
 
 When lord Lovat, in conjunction with PART 
 the marquis de Callieres, digefted the pro- 
 ject of the Scottifh infurrection, the mar- 
 quis mentioned to him Mr. Hooke, as his 
 intimate friend, and begged lord Lovat to 
 permit him to introduce that gentleman in- 
 to the Scottim fecrets, as a man very capa- 
 ble of rendering efTential fervice to the pro- 
 ject. Lord Lovat, who had an infinite at- 
 tachment and refpect for the marquis de 
 Callieres, his generous friend, told him, 
 that he had not the honour to know Mr. 
 Hooke, and that he was by no means par- 
 tial to the idea of admitting an Englishman 
 into a Scottifh project - y notwithftanding 
 which he would receive with pleafure a man 
 who had the happinefs to be his friend, 
 and whom the marquis knew to be faithful 
 to the caufe of the king of England, and the 
 interefts of France. Mr. Hooke imme- 
 diately began to take his (hare in digefting 
 the Scottim affairs ; and from this period 
 commenced a moft intimate friendmip, and 
 cordial union between him and lord Lo- 
 vat. Mr. Hooke prefently difcovered, and 
 from his natural penetration and long expe- 
 rience faw further than any body, into the 
 impoftures and imbecility of the court of 
 St. Ge^mains. 
 
 X 2 This
 
 3 o8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART This gentleman was afterwards promoted 
 u -xr-Jj to the rank of a brigadier in the French fer- 
 1705 vice. He had the reputation of fome dif- 
 tinguifhed actions performed by him in 
 Flanders ; and to do him juflice it muft be 
 confeffed, that Mr. Hooke was a man of un- 
 queftionable courage, a penetrating genius, 
 a clear understanding, fagacious, judicious, 
 and capable of moulding to his purpofe the 
 moft inaufpicious events, whether in affairs 
 of flate, or the tranfactions of war. He 
 was extremely fhort-fighted, but his un- 
 common gallantry excellently fupplied this 
 defect upon all neceflary occafions. 
 
 I have fpoken thus at large of this gen- 
 tleman, becaufe he was the principal mover 
 in conducting, in the kingdom of Scotland, 
 the affairs of the unfortunate project, 
 which fo completely mifcarried in the year 
 1708. He paffed backward and forward fe- 
 veral times in order to prepare the minds 
 of the Scottilh nation for the execution of 
 the bufinefs. He had a confiderable inter- 
 courfe with the earl of Errol, earl Marifhal, 
 lord Athol, lord Stormont, and all the no- 
 bility of the lowlands who were loyal to 
 king James. In the laft place, a few 
 months before the French fleet, dcflined 
 
 for
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 309 
 
 for this enterprife, failed from Dunkirk, PART 
 Mr. Hooke made a tour of all Scotland, n - 3- 
 not excepting the moft inacceflible moun- 
 tains and remoteft iflands. He concerted 
 meafures with the lairds of the highland 
 clans for an univerfal riling, as foon as the 
 French army mould arrive in the vicinity of 
 Edinburgh. I am indeed perfuaded, that 
 this unfortunate project did not mifcarry in 
 the execution by any error or negle<t of 
 Mr. Hooke. Had his counfels been 
 uniformly followed, I am fully fatisfied, 
 that the king of England would have been 
 long ago reflored to his throne. 
 
 I refume the letters of lord Lovat's 
 correfpondents, acquainting him with the 
 progrefs of the affairs of the Scottim 
 project. They informed him, that lord 
 Middleton had infufed the largeft hopes 
 into the court of France, from the 
 favourable difpofitions of the duke of Ha- 
 milton, lord Athol, and many other no- 
 blemen of the lowlands of Scotland. He 
 affirmed, that they would rife in arms as 
 foon as a French fleet mould appear upon 
 the coaft ; and that they had concerted iig- 
 
 X 3 rials,
 
 3 io MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART nals, which they would make in fuch 
 ,_JJ!-?lj places as were proper for the debarkation 
 1 7$- of king James and his troops. 
 
 Lord Lovat however knew by experience 
 the unbounded avarice of the duke of Ha- 
 milton, which would infallibly prevent 
 him, as it had hitherto done, from 
 running the fmajlefb rifk for the royal 
 caufe. lie was perfectly acquainted with 
 the watry foul, the ingrained impof- 
 ture, and the fleady falfhood of lord Athol. 
 Upon thefe grounds he wrote his fenti- 
 ments in a very explicit manner to the 
 marquis de Torcy, and did not fail to pre- 
 dict to this minifter, with the moft literal 
 exactnefs, every thing that happened in 
 the execution of this unfortunate project. 
 
 Such was the. only crime that lord Lovat 
 committed againft the flate during his reii- 
 dence at Angouleme. Unlefs we mould be 
 difpofed to qualify with that title the con- 
 tinual offers he made for the fervice of his 
 native fovereign, in fpite of the frowns 
 , 70 g and prejudice of the queen. Or unlefs 
 we mould quarrel with the arrefl that was 
 made by his orders, at the caftle of An- 
 gouleme,
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 311 
 
 gouleme, of an Irifli prieft of the name of 
 O'Daly, whom the enemies of lord Lovat 
 had fent to furprife and betray him, dif- 
 guifed in the uniform of a captain of the 
 regiment of the duke of Berwick, with a 
 gold-laced coat and a feather in his hat. 
 
 This emifTary, having firft defired a pri- 
 vate interview with lord Lovat, and open- 
 ing himfclf in a very cautious manner, in^ 
 formed that nobleman, that he was gentle- 
 man of the bedchamber to the duke of 
 Modena, a prince, very deeply engaged in 
 the interefts of the emperor; that his maf- 
 ter had fent him into France to execute 
 fome fecret projects of the emperor and 
 queen Anne ; and that he expected in a fhort 
 time to receive a hundred thoufand crowns* 
 at Bourdeaux, in order to be distributed in 
 the Cevennes, and among the other French 
 religionaries. He added, that, if lord Lovat 
 would confent to efcape out of prifon and 
 accompany him in his return, he would 
 engage his mafter the duke of Modena to 
 interfere with the emperor, to obtain his 
 pardon from queen Anne, and his rein- 
 ftatement in all the property and eftates, 
 * 12,500!. 
 
 X 4 which
 
 3 i2 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART which he had fo idly loft in endeavouring to 
 ferve the mod ungrateful and ftupid court in 
 the univerfe. Captain Macartney (this was 
 his flyle) promiied, that he would in that 
 cafe tranfmit to him from Bourdeaux all the 
 mon^y he mould want till his complete re- 
 inftaternent. 
 
 The wretch however prefently perceived, 
 that lord Lovat would hear nothing againft 
 the queen at St. Germains, and gave little 
 attention to the fcheme he propofed for 
 his efcape, and his paflage into England. 
 Upon this he began to fpeak in the 
 moft difrefpeclful and infolent terms of the 
 mod Chriftian king. Lord Lovat, unac- 
 cuftomed to bear any injurious expreffions 
 againft a prince, to whom he was indebted 
 both for life and fubfiftence, and immedi- 
 ately fufpecling, that the villain was either 
 a fpy employed by the enemies of France, 
 or an emifTary on the part of his enemies at 
 the court of St. Germains, caufed him to 
 be arrefted by the commandant of the caf- 
 tle, who happened to be the very perfon, 
 to whom lord Lovat had been indebted for 
 his very rough treatment on his arrival at 
 the caftle of Angouleme. 
 
 When
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 313 
 
 While the captain difarmed him, this PAR 
 
 II. . 3. 
 importer endeavoured to fwallow a paper, u-~v 
 
 which the commandant wrenched out of his 17p6t 
 mouth, torn through the middle. This 
 paper contained a falfe route, which the 
 villain had employed under the name of 
 captain Macartney, and which was enough 
 to have hanged him, forgeries of this kind 
 being made capital in France. They now 
 proceeded to. examine the importer's port- 
 manteau ; the contents of which were 
 chiefly fuch things as a priert ufually car- 
 ries about with him, and being mown to 
 the prifoner, he confeffed himfelf to be a 
 prieft. 
 
 His brother, a cordelier who reflded 
 at Limoges, came to fee him fome days 
 after, and lamented that our adventurer, 
 imagining himfelf to be rendering the 
 moft important fervices to his king, her 
 majefty, and the intererts of religion, had 
 fufFered himfelf to be enticed by the ene- 
 mies of lord Lovat into fo dangerous and 
 unjuftifiable a proceeding. He was per- 
 fuaded however that the queen, who knew 
 the integrity of his intentions, would relieve 
 him from his prefent difgrace. The mar- 
 quis
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 . 
 
 PART quis de Torcy, as foon as he had received 
 ^J^lili an account of the tranfaction, returned 
 1706. l or d Lovat his thanks for the zeal and loy- 
 alty that had actuated him in the affair. 
 
 In the mean time this adventure, which 
 proved the fidelity of lord Lovat to her ma- 
 jefty and the moft Chriftian king, and which 
 was calculated in its own nature to have 
 given him the moft unimpeachable claim to 
 the reftoration of his liberty, was deftined 
 only to accumulate his misfortunes. He 
 was afterwards affured, that the queen 
 turned this unequivocal proof of his loy- 
 alty to his prejudice. She gave the court 
 of France to underftand, that this prieft 
 had written her a letter, by which it ap- 
 peared, that it had really been lord Lovat 
 who had employed the moft dishonourable 
 expreffions refpedling her and lord Middle- 
 ton, and who had endeavoured to efcape 
 into England. Upon her reprefentation 
 the wretch was let at liberty unpunifhed, 
 though he was taken with a falfe route in, 
 his pocket. 
 
 The marquis de Torcy may well recollect 
 the circumftances of this ftory. It made a 
 
 confidera-
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 31$ 
 
 confiderable noife at Angouleme, and gain- PART 
 ed lord Lovat much credit among the in^ ^Jl^J 
 habitants, at the fame time that it was ex- 1706. 
 tremely agreable to his friends. Such was all 
 the advantage that he ever reaped from this 
 diilinguifhed inftance of his loyalty and zeal. 
 
 He had now been two years in prifon. 
 The marquis de la Frezeliere was of all 
 lord Lovat's advocates the moft mortified at 
 this circumftance 5 and he refolved to do 
 every thing in his power to put an end to 
 fo difgraceful a reftraint. It is necefTary in 
 this place, to give fome account of the 
 origin of the marquis's extreme attachment 
 to lord Lovat, as well as to prefent the 
 reader with an idea of a perfon, who will 
 make fo confiderable a figure in the future 
 part of this hi/lory. 
 
 The houfe of Frezel or Frezeau de la 
 Frezeliere, is one of the moft ancient houfes 
 in France. It afcends by uninterrupted fi- 
 liation, and without any unequal alliance* 
 to the year 1030. It is able to eftablim by 
 a regular proof fixty-four quarterings in its 
 armorial bearings, and all noble. It has 
 titles of feven hundred years ftanding in the 
 
 abbey
 
 3 i6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART abbey of Notre Dame de Noyers in Tour- 
 raine. And it is certain, that, betide thefe 
 circumftances of inherent dignity, the houfe 
 de la Frezeliere is one of the bed allied in 
 the kingdom. It numbers among its ancef- 
 tors on the female fide daughters of the 
 families de Montmorenci, de Rieux, de 
 Rohan, de Bretagne, de la Savonniere, de la 
 Tremouille, de la Grandiere, and de St. 
 Germains. Through the houfes de Mont- 
 morenci, de Rieux, de Rohan, and de la 
 Tremouille, to which the marquis de la 
 Frezeliere is nearly allied, he can trace his 
 filiation through all the French monarchs, 
 up to Charlemagne, king of France, and 
 emperor of the Weil. Down again 
 through the various branches of the illuf- 
 trious houfe of France M. de la Frezeliere 
 may without impropriety affert his alliance 
 to all the royal houfes, and almpft all the 
 principal nobility of Europe. 
 
 It is demonilrated by various hiftorians, 
 by the tradition of the two families, and 
 from letters written from time to time from 
 one to the other, that the houfe of Frczcl 
 or Frezeau de la Frezeliere in France, and 
 the houfe of Frezel or Frafer in Scotland, 
 
 were
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 317 
 
 were of the fame origin, and derived from PART 
 the fame blood. The marquis de la Freze- J^A^J- 
 liere, the head and reprefentative of the 
 Frezels or Frezeaus in France, and lord 
 Lovat, the reprefentative of the Frezels or 
 Frafers in the north and the highlands of 
 Scotland, having happily encountered each 
 other at Paris, in the fecond journey that 
 lord Lovat made to France for the fervice 
 of his king"*, were therefore both of them * 1702. 
 highly gratified with the opportunity that 
 offered itfelf, of renewing their alliance, 
 and declaring their affinity, in a common 
 and authentic a6t of recognition, drawn up 
 for that purpofe. 
 
 This record was executed on the one part 
 by the marquis de la Frezeltere himfelf, by 
 the duke de Luxembourg, the duke de 
 Chatillon, and the prince de Tingrie, the 
 three worthy and illuftrious children of the 
 late marihal de Luxembourg Montmorenci, 
 whofe heroic exploits are not lefs glorious 
 and celebrated, than his defcent is ancient 
 and auguft. Several other lords of the 
 houfe of Montmorenci, the marquis de 
 Rieux, and many noblemen related by 
 blood and marriage to M. de la Frezeliere, 
 
 joined
 
 3 i8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART joined with th'c marquis in affixing their 
 J_ 1*1.^1 fignatures to this aft of recognition. On 
 the other part it was executed by Simon lord 
 Lovat, Mr. John Frafer his brother, and 
 Mr. George Henry Frafer, major of the 
 Irim regiment of Bourke in the French 
 fervice, for themfelves, in the name of 
 their whole family in Scotland. 
 
 By this deed the kindred of the two houfes 
 of the Frezels .or Frafers is placed out of 
 all poffible doubt. Accordingly from the 
 moment in which it was executed the mar- 
 quis de la Frezeliere regarded lord Lovat 
 rather as his brother and his child, than as 
 his remote relation ; and had his re-efta- 
 blifhment in Scotland nearer his heart than 
 his own elevation in France. 
 
 The houfe de la Frezeliere has always 
 followed the profeffion of war ; and has 
 ferved its king and the flate with a fmgu- 
 lar valour, which has fucceffively drawn 
 upon them marks of efteem and diftinction 
 from their fovereigns. Many marquifes 
 de la Frezeliere have been decorated with 
 the order of St. Michael and of the Holy 
 Ghoft. The marquis de la Frezeliere, who 
 
 renewed
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 319 
 
 renewed his kindred with lord Lovat by p A R T 
 the above act of recognition, was the fixth iJ-yL.J 
 lieutenant-general in the French fervice in 
 lineal defcent, almoft all of them having 
 been governors of towns or provinces. 
 
 If the father of the marquis de la Freze- 
 liere, who was one of the oldeft lieutenant* 
 generals in the French fervice, equally cele- 
 brated for his bravery and military {kill, 
 had lived three months longer than he did, 
 as he was much loved and efteemed by the 
 king, he would have been the firft upon the 
 lift of marmals of France in the great pro- 
 motion that was made in 1702. And it is 
 certain, that, if the marquis de la Freze- 
 liere himfelf had lived to the age of fifty 
 years, he would have illuflrated the anti- 
 quity and honours of his houfe, by obtain- 
 ing the firft dignities of the fword, the 
 duchy and the peerage. 
 
 He was an eagle in the concerns of war. 
 His greateft enemies, who loved not his au- 
 thoritative manners, hishauteur and his rapid 
 advancement, were however forced to ac- 
 knowledge, that, in regard of the fcience 
 I of
 
 $20 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART of artillery and tactical invention, which 
 L .- il^ were particularly his forte, as well as of 
 campaign war, the marquis de la Frezeliere 
 was one of the moft fkilful and beft inform- 
 ed officers of his age in Europe. 
 
 Marfhal de Boufflers informed the king 
 particularly of the actions performed by 
 the marquis, and the brilliant reputation 
 
 * 1708. he acquired at the fiege of Lifle *, and 
 
 * 1709. the battle of Malplaquet *. His majefly 
 
 declared publicly, upon more than one oc- 
 eafion, that the marquis de la Frezeliere 
 appeared at fo early an age to be the true 
 fon of his. father, and would infallibly ar- 
 rive at the firft degree of military excel- 
 lence. 
 
 1707. M. de la Frezeliere, upon his return 
 from the prefent campaign, battened to fo- 
 licit the court of France in behalf of lord 
 Lovat. He was anfwered, that the court 
 was as forry as he could be, to fee lord 
 Lovat in cuftody ; but that the king was 
 obliged to give this fatisfadtion to the queen 
 of England, who had abfolutely deter- 
 mined to abandon the affairs of her fon, 
 and totally to retire from the world, if flic 
 i had
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 321 
 
 had not obtained the punifhment of that no- PART 
 bleman. It was added, that, provided the ^l^J 
 queen would content to his releafe, the king 1707. 
 and his minifters would be extremely happy, 
 iince they wifhed for nothing more ar- 
 dently than to fee him at the head of the 
 Scottifh project, of which he had been the 
 original author; that therefore M. de la 
 Frezeliere had nothing to do, but to apply to 
 the court of St. Germains, if he would ob- 
 tain the liberty of lord Lovat, perfuaded that 
 the court of France would yield its con- 
 currence. 
 
 The marquis, having received this fa- 
 vourable anfwer, haftened to St. Germains. 
 He reprefented to the queen, that, as bear- 
 ing the fame name, and being derived from 
 the fame ftock with lord Lovat, he could not 
 fee him languim in prifon without intreat- 
 ingher majefty, either to fet him at liberty, 
 or to order his trial : if he were criminal, 
 he would be the firft to condemn him; but 
 if he were innocent, it was a niofl inaufpi- 
 cious cruelty, thus to opprefs and perfecute 
 him without reafon. He added, that, if her 
 majefty refufed him this requefl, he mould 
 be obliged, as the relation of lord Lovat, 
 to throw himfelf at the feet of his king, to 
 Y demand
 
 322 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 PART demand that from his moft Chriftian ma- 
 i^^-J-^J jefty which he had in vain intreated from 
 1 77- her. 
 
 The queen was extremely forry to find her- 
 felf afTailed by a man of fo haughty and en- 
 terprifing a character, and fo much efteemed 
 at the court of France. She demanded a 
 day to confider of his requeft. On the one 
 hand, {he faw herfelf urged by the untaint- 
 ed loyalty of lord Lovat, which, after all 
 the calumnies of lord Middleton and James 
 Murray, me had been obliged to acknow- 
 ledge to the French king and his minifters. 
 On the other, me was ftill more ftrongly 
 urged by the defire with which me was ani- 
 mated of revenging herfelf of lord Lovat for 
 the pretended difrefpect and infolence with 
 which he had treated her. Thus circum- 
 ftanced, her majefty thought proper to give 
 her anfwer to the marquis de la Frezeliere 
 the next day in writing, figned with her 
 own hand, and couhterfigned by lord Caryl 
 one of her principal fecretaries of ftate. 
 
 In this anfwer the queen declared, that 
 me had nothing to advance againft the fi- 
 delity of lord Lovat, that me was equally 
 
 fatisfied
 
 V 
 
 OF LOUD LOVAT., 323 
 
 fatisfied of his zeal and of his fervices, that PART 
 nevertheless fome political reafons refpecl- 
 ing Scotland, compelled her majefty to 
 detain him fome time longer in the caf- 
 tle of Angouleme j that, if he had patience, 
 he fhould fpeedily be received into favour, 
 and that then the juftice done him fhould 
 be as fignal, as the prejudices and partiality 
 of his enemies had been notorious. This 
 written anfwer is at this day in the hands 
 of the marchionefs de la Frezeliere, among 
 the other important papers of the late mar- 
 quis her hulband. And lord Lovat has an 
 authentic copy in the marquis's hand, who 
 triumphed in it exceedingly. 
 
 He carried it to the marquis de Torcy, 
 and mewed it to all lord Lovat's friends in 
 the French court, who were happy to find 
 the queen obliged to acknowledge under her 
 hand the loyalty and fervices of lord Lovat, 
 after his having been for two years calum- 
 niated and maltreated by the court of St. 
 Germain s. 
 
 At this incident the marquis de Torcy 
 intreated M. de la Frezeliere to write to' 
 lord Lovat to take courage; that the king 
 
 Y 2 was
 
 J? 
 
 324 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART was as refolute as ever to put in execution 
 i>_l^-lj the Scottifh project, that he had the fame 
 J 77 good opinion of lord Lovat, and that he was 
 determined to beftow upon him the (hare 
 he deferved in a fcheme, that had originat- 
 ed with him ; that for this purpofe the 
 king, without communicating his purpofe 
 to the court of St. Germains, would fend 
 him his orders to quit the cattle of An- 
 gouleme, and to come down to the coaft, 
 as foon as the expedition fhould be ready 
 to be executed. 
 
 Accordingly, a few months after, the 
 marquis de la Frezeliere obtained an order, 
 iigned by the moft Chriftian king, and 
 counterfigned by the marquis de Torcy, 
 who iigns mort *' Colbert". By this order 
 the king permits lord Lovat to quit the 
 caftle of Angouleme, and to repair to the 
 waters of Bourbon or Pougues, for the re- 
 itoration of his health. Four days after he 
 received a fecond order, by which his 
 majefty commands lord Lovat, after the re- 
 ftoration of his health by the waters of 
 Bourbon or Pougues, to repair to his town 
 of Saumur, till further orders, At the 
 i fame
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 325 
 
 fame time he was permitted to take with PART 
 him the chevalier Frezel of Lovat, his bro- _ - T - ^ 
 ther. Lord Lovat ftill preferves thefe or- 1 77 
 ders, figned as above, fealed with the royal 
 feal, and dated, one on the fecond of Au- 
 guft 1707, the other on the fourteenth of 
 the fame month. 
 
 It is uncommon, and perhaps unexam- 
 pled, that a ftate prifoner mould receive 
 an order, figned by the king and his mi- 
 nifter, and addrefled to himfelf, either to 
 leave his prifon for the reftoration of his 
 health, or to go and refide, in a manner in 
 garrifon, in a city which is by its fituation 
 one of the moft agreable in the kingdom. 
 But thefe orders were diftinguifhing marks 
 of the fentiments of the moft Chriftian 
 king and his minifter towards lord Lovat, 
 whom they feemed to regard, more as a ge- 
 neral officer in the French fervice, than as 
 a prifoner, accufed of crimes againft the 
 ftate. 
 
 I will here aflign the reafon, that oc- 
 cafioned the brother of lord Lovat's being 
 mentioned in the king's orders to that no- 
 bleman. When lord Lovat was arrefted at 
 Y 3 Bourges,
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART Bourges, his brother, who had been plac- 
 ^^i, ed by him with a doctor of the civil law,, 
 1 77- in order to learn the French language 
 and the profeffion of a civilian, was arrefl- 
 ed at the fame moment. The officers, ap- 
 parently gained by the enemies of lord Lo- 
 vat, would not fo much as allow this young 
 man, in fpite of his tears, to fee his bro- 
 ther, or to take leave of him, at a time that 
 the p'revot carried him off like a pirate, 
 and treated him like a banditti in his route 
 to Angouleme. 
 
 Lord Lovat was touched with the mofl 
 heart-felt concern at leaving his brother be- 
 hind him, like a criminal, in the hands of 
 thefe low-bred knaves, when he was in 
 reality young, innocent and inexperienced, 
 and had never had the fmalleft concern in 
 any affair of ftate. Regardlefs however of 
 his innocence, he was attended by this 
 kind of followers, till the interference 
 of M. de Roujeault, intendant of Bourges, 
 who not only reftored him to his liberty, 
 but obtained, from the generofity of the 
 marquis de Torcy a penfion from the go- 
 vernment, .fixed on his perfon fo long as he 
 
 refided in France. It was not however till 
 
 
 two
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 327 
 
 two years and ten months after this, that F TT A f RT 
 
 11 v 3* 
 
 ]ord Lovat obtained as a particular favour * ^, 
 from M. de Torcy, permiffion for his bro- 
 ther to come and refide with him at An- 
 gouleme. The chevalier Frafer had now 
 refided two months at that place, when this 
 nobleman received orders to quit Angou- 
 leme and repair to Saumur, in which the 
 chevalier was of courfe comprehended. 
 
 Behold then lord Lovat difmifTed from 
 his prifon with a degree of glory, refpecl:- 
 ability and triumph ; the queen of England 
 confefling his fidelity and fervices in fpite 
 of the malice of his enemies ; and the king 
 of France fending him his orders to ap- 
 proach the coaft, in order to his taking a 
 ihare in the pro] eel: of Scotland. During 
 the three years that he was imprifoned, in 
 fpite of the dungeon into which he was 
 thruft, and in fpite of his fufferings, the ma- 
 lice of his enemies dares not aflert, that he 
 wrote a word, or received a line from any 
 individual, relation or flranger, in Eng- 
 land, Scotland, or Ireland. It feems to 
 me, that he could not have exhibited a 
 more ftriking proof of his fubmiflion and 
 Y 4 inviolable
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART inviolable attachment to his king and to 
 
 " v 
 _^L France. 
 
 But before we quit Angouleme, it is 
 proper that I mould relate an incident of 
 the blackefl and mcft fhameful nature, il- 
 luftrative of the malice of lord Middle- 
 ton. Lord Lovat* had refided only a few 
 months in the caftle of Angouleme, when 
 he received advice from one of his inti- 
 mate friends in the French court, that 
 lord Middleton had influenced the queen, 
 to fpeak to the mofl Chriflian king to 
 take away his annuity. The queen ob- 
 ferved to his majefty, that the penfion, 
 which he was pleafed to beftow upon lord 
 Lovat, amounting to four thoufand francs J, 
 was the means of difcouraging her fubjects, 
 and particularly the loyal nobility refiding 
 at St. Germains ; that they complained, 
 that they were particularly unhappy, that 
 their penfions amounted to no more than 
 nine hundred francs per annum -fr, a fum, 
 fo extremely inadequate to the annuity of 
 lord Lovat, although he were actually im- 
 prifoned, and fufpected of difloyalty and 
 high treafon. The queen therefore in- 
 
 $ i661. 135. 4<1. t 37!. IDS. 
 
 treated
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 329 
 
 treated of Louis, to take away this fubjed: PART 
 of mortification, and to reduce lord Lovat 
 to the regular prifoner's allowance, which 
 is twenty fous per day * to the meaneft 
 peafant who is arrefted by order of the king 
 of France. 
 
 Lord Lovat's friend advifed him, that the 
 king replied in thefe words : " The nine 
 *' hundred francs, madam, that you give to 
 " your British .nobility at St. Germains ? 
 f * are douceurs that you are pleafed to ex- 
 <f tend to them out of the fix hundred 
 " thoufand francs -f-, which I allow you 
 f every year to djfpofe of as you think pro- 
 ?' per. But the four thoufand francs which 
 *' I give lord Lovat are not deducted from 
 ** your fix hundred thoufand francs : they 
 ' are paid out of my treafury, of which it 
 " is right that I fhould difpofe as I pleafe. 
 5' They are indeed lefs than what I have 
 *' promifed him, and lefs than his merits." 
 
 The queen, mortified at this very gene- 
 rous and dignified anfwer, never opened her 
 mouth a fecond time upon the fubjec"l. 
 Lovat held his penfion, which was re- 
 
 * Eight-pence. f 25,000!. 
 
 gularly
 
 330 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART gularly paid him for eleven years during'his 
 imprifonment and exile, up to the very mo- 
 ment that he left the kingdom of France. 
 
 It muft however be confe/Ted, that no 
 man ever pufhed the fpirit of hatred and 
 revenge, further than lord Middleton did in 
 this inflance. He was not contented with 
 having ruined the family, the clan, the 
 property, and, as far as it was in his power, 
 -the reputation and good name of lord Lo- 
 vat. He was not contented with having 
 thrufl his perfon into a dungeon, and held 
 him imprifoned for three years without the 
 fmalleft crime. He added to thefe injuries 
 the further exertion, of endeavouring to 
 deprive him of daily bread, and to caufe 
 him to die of pure hunger, in his prefent 
 humiliating and cruel fituation. Surely we 
 muft be a little furprifed, that the queen 
 could iloop to become the inflrument of 
 this laft inflance of his malice. She well 
 knew, that lord Lovat had expended very 
 large fums in her fervice without ever hav- 
 ing received a farthing in return. 
 
 In reality, befide the rents of the eftates 
 of which lord Lovat retained the poiTef- 
 
 fion,
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 331 
 
 fion, he was obliged at two feveral times ? A R T 
 to call upon his clan for a general contribu- _ - w - ^ 
 tion, after the manner of his country, for 
 his journey into France : and the laft time 
 his poor tenants gave him the half of their 
 little income, which reduced them to con- 
 fiderable diftrefs, and of which lord Lovat, 
 who had the tenderefl attachment to his clan, 
 has always entertained the extremefr, regret. 
 In the mean time neither lord ^oval's elder 
 brother, who contributed his whole eflate 
 to the fupport of lord Dundee and his forces 
 in the north, nor himfelf, who continually 
 expended large fums in the fervice of his 
 king, ever received a penny, either from 
 the late king James, or from the queen re- 
 gent, or from any perfon on the part of 
 the court of St. Germains. 
 
 Lord Lovat arrived at the city of Saumur 1707- 
 in the month of October 1707, having 
 fpent fome time upon his journey at the 
 very agreeable feat of the marquis de la 
 Frezeliere, which is nine leagues from 
 Saumur, and at which the reception he met, 
 was iuch as might have been expected, if 
 he had been matter of the houfe. It was to 
 give him this pleafure, and in order that 
 
 he
 
 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 PART he might repair as often as he pleafed to the 
 
 t.jjli feat of the marquis, that that nobleman ob- 
 
 X 77- tained the city of Saumur for his refidence 
 
 in preference to any other place, the court 
 
 of France having left that circumflance to 
 
 the marquis's choice. 
 
 ?7o3. Lord Lovat had not long rcfided at Sau-r 
 mur, before he received frequent letters 
 from M. de la Frezeliere, informing him, 
 that the court of France was as much deter- 
 mined as ever upon the Scottim project, 
 and was preparing every thing for its imme- 
 diate execution. In the mean time his in- 
 timate friends at the courts of France and 
 St. Germains, wrote him regular accounts 
 of all that Mr. Hooke and Mr. John Mur- 
 ray had done in Scotland, and of the mag- 
 nificent promifes with which they were 
 charged to the two courts, on the part of the 
 duke of Hamilton and lord Athol. 
 
 Lord Lovat thought himfelf obliged by 
 this circumftance to write repeatedly from 
 Saumur to the marquis de Torcy, ftating 
 his real fentiments refpecting the Scottim 
 project. Only a fhort time elapfed before 
 he appeared too true a prophet. Indeed the 
 
 very
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 
 
 very principles from which he deduced PART 
 its failure, were the circumflances, that 
 in reality proved its ignominious overthrow 
 and final deftru<ftion. He knew full well 
 the timidity, the hypocrify, the tergiverfa- 
 tion of lord Middleton. He knew that the 
 duke of Hamilton and lord Athol, in 
 whom fo much confidence was injudiciouily 
 placed, had never appeared favourable to 
 the interefts of the king, but with a view 
 of playing upon the fears of the reigning 
 government, in order to fwell their pen- 
 fions and accumulate their civil employ- 
 ments. 
 
 On a fudden however it was generally 
 publifhed at the court and at Paris, that 
 king James was upon the point of fetting 
 out for his dominions. The marquis de la 
 Frezeliere was at that time at Paris, and 
 perceived with regret that lord Lovat was 
 not thought of in this expedition. He haf- 
 tened immediately to wait upon the exiled 
 king, to whom he was well known; and 
 the interview took place precifely two days 
 before his majefty fet out from St. Ger- 
 mains to Dunkirk. 
 
 The
 
 334 
 
 The marquis, having wifhed the king a 
 happy voyage and fuccefs, intreated him in 
 1708. a very earneft manner, to permit lord Lovat 
 to attend and hazard his life with him in 
 the execution of an enterprife, the firfl 
 idea of which had originated from his lord- 
 fhip. The king replied, that it was pain- 
 ful to him to think, that he mould refufe 
 the firft favour the marquis de la Frezeliere 
 .had ever demanded of him ; but that he 
 was fo far from being ready to permit lord 
 Lovat to accompany him in the expedition, 
 that, if he were not already in prifon, it 
 fhould be his firft requeft to the king of 
 France to throw him into one. 
 
 The marquis replied, that the king's 
 decifion gave him extreme pain, but that he 
 would ftill take the liberty to intreat him, 
 fince he did not think proper to employ 
 , lord Lovat, that he would at leaft have the 
 humanity to re-eftablifh him in his property 
 and eftates, which he had loft for his fer- 
 vice. " Of that," faid the king, " I will 
 " think when I am in Scotland, and will 
 " do what ihall feem moft conducive to my 
 " interefts," 
 
 Mr,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 335 
 
 Mr. Gordon O'Neil accompanied the PART 
 marquis de la Frezeliere, in order to join 
 with him in'foliciting the king of England 
 in favour of lord Lovat. This gentleman 
 was the head and repre Tentative of the illuf- 
 trious houfe of O'Neil in the kingdom of 
 Ireland. He was a man of honour and 
 probity, who had loft his eftate, and fhed 
 his blood for the king his mafter. The 
 Irifh however in general, as appears by the 
 terrible complaints and reiterated remon- 
 ftrances which they prefented as a body to 
 the king and queen, were extremely ill 
 treated by the court of St. Germains ; and 
 Mr. O'Neil partook in the ingratitude that 
 was extended to his countrymen. 
 
 Mr. Gordon O'Neil, commonly called 
 prince O'Neil, was coufm-german to the 
 prefent duke of Gordon, and on that ac- 
 count remotely related to lord Lovat. A 
 marriage had been propofed, foon after lord 
 Lovat's arrival in France, between this no- 
 bleman and mademoifelle O'Neil, daughter 
 
 ' o 
 
 to this gallant veteran. From that time 
 Mr. O'Neil acled the part of a faithful, 
 an intimate, and a fpirited friend to lord 
 Lovat. 
 
 * I This
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 This gentleman> as well as the marquis 
 de la Frezeliere, wrote lord Lovat that very 
 1708. day from St. Germains the words of the 
 king's refufal. They united to conjure him 
 to fet out immediately for his own country; 
 to think no longer but of reftoring the prof- 
 perity of his family and clan ; not of de- 
 ftroying himfelf as he had done, by a head- 
 long zeal, for a court fo unjuft, fo ungrateful 
 and fo barbarous. When lord Lovat read 
 thefe letters he was diftracted. He worked 
 himfelf up to a refolution of fetting out 
 without a moment's delay, of endeavouring 
 at all adventures to gain the coaft of Scot- 
 land, and of convincing the king, at the 
 head of his clan, by dear bought experience, 
 how much he miftook his true intereft,- 
 when he refufed his fervice and trampled 
 upon his confcious integrity. 
 
 The fame courier however brought him 
 a fecond letter from M. de la Frezeliere, 
 which he now opened, and which was da- 
 ted from Versailles, In this letter the mar- 
 quis obferved, that he fent him life in the 
 evening from Verfailles, after having an- 
 nounced to him death in the morning from 
 St. Germains. The marquis de Torcy he 
 
 faid
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 337 
 
 faid, had afTured him, that the moft Chrif- PART 
 tian king, together with himfelf, and the ^jJ^J 
 other friends of lord Lovat at the court of J 7 8 - 
 France, were ftil-1 more offended than Fre- 
 zeliere could be, that the queen and king 
 of England peremptorily refufed their con- 
 fent to lord Lovat's being employed. He 
 added, that this however ought not to give 
 him much pain ; and he intreated M. de 
 la Frezeliere to inform lord Lovat, on the 
 part of the moft Chriftian king, that, as 
 foon as the king of England had fet his foot 
 upon the Scottish more, his majefty would 
 fend a fecond army, larger than the firft, to 
 fupport him ; that with this embarkation 
 the king would commiffion lord Lovat, as a 
 general officer in the French fervice, and 
 would thus reduce his own fovereign to an 
 abfolute necefiity of receiving him in a gra- 
 cious and honourable manner. 
 
 Lord Lovat has all thefe letters flill in 
 his pofTeffion, and they fhould have been 
 inferted verbatim in this place, if fuch a 
 proceeding would not have had too great a 
 tendency to fwell the work, and to make 
 a voluminous performance of what was 
 fimply intended for a memoir, or a very 
 Z curfory
 
 338 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART curfory hiftory of a few years of the life of 
 ^J^l^ lord Lovat : a work that I thought myfelf 
 :8. obliged, as his relation and intimate friend, 
 to undertake for his justification. 
 
 The letter of the marquis de la Freze- 
 liere written from Verfailles, affuring lord 
 Lovat of the protection of the moft Chrii- 
 tian king, and that he fhould be fent into 
 Scotland with an early' opportunity, as his 
 majefty's general officer, confoled him ex- 
 tremely under his prefent adverlity. He 
 immediately difpatched his brother poft to 
 Paris, in order, that, having firft conferred 
 with M. de la Frezeliere, he might fet out 
 for Scotland to place himfelf at the head of 
 his- clan, while lord Lovat expeded at Sau- 
 mur the orders of the court of France. 
 The chevalier Frafer had however been only 
 four days at Paris, when news arrived, that 
 the king of England was upon his return 
 to Dunkirk, after the entire failure of his 
 unfortunate enterprife. 
 
 This event obliged the marquis to alter 
 his meafures. He exerted all his talents to 
 endeavour to mitigate the refentmentof the 
 queen. Finding her as inflexible as ever, 
 
 he
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 33? 
 
 lie wrote to lord Lovat, peremptorily advi- PART 
 ling his return to his own country, in order ^^^j 
 to make his peace with queen Anne. Lord 1 ~ 8> 
 .Lovat replied, that he was upon the 
 worft terms with that princefs, having 
 done every thing in his power to overturn 
 her throne; that the duke of Hamilton and 
 lord Athol, his perfonal and inveterate ene- 
 mies, were her particular favourites ; and 
 that for thefe reafons he could not hope for 
 juilice, either in England or Scotland, dur- 
 ing her life. 
 
 The marquis was not fatisfied with thefe 
 reafons. He wrote lord Lovat continual let- 
 ters to convince him that his ruin in France 
 was irretrievable ; that indeed the court of 
 France was fufficiently well difpofed towards - 
 him, but that flie would always regulate her 
 conduct in his regard in conformity to the 
 inclinations of the court of St. Germains, 
 and that, during the life of the queen and 
 lord Middleton, he had nothing to look 
 for in that country, but uninterrupted dif- 
 appointments, and eternal difgrace. " You 
 " ought therefore," added the marquis, " to 
 " apply without delay to all your relations 
 " and friends, to procure you a favourable 
 
 Z 2 " re-
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 " reception from the court of London. 
 " In a word, with the permiffion or with- 
 1708. out the permiffion of that court, you can 
 " no longer be excufed from throwing 
 " yourfelf at once upon your clan and your 
 " family, and living or dying like a brave 
 " and an honourable man, and in a manner 
 " worthy of your defcent -, rather than to 
 " remain in France with the character of a 
 " criminal, and to languim in prifon like a 
 " traitor. I therefore conjure you, as your 
 " relation and friend, to fummon a firm re- 
 " folution, toefcapeout of the hands of your 
 " enemies, and to employ the remainder of 
 " your days in reftoring the profperity and 
 " credit of a clan and an ancient houfe, 
 " which, both in honour and confcience, 
 " you are obliged to fupport. You have 
 " nothing to do but to apply to my ftew- 
 " ard for any fums of money neceflary for 
 " the execution of this undertaking." 
 
 Lord Lovat now thought himfelf oblig- 
 ed to review the objections he had made, 
 and to bellow a deliberate examination up- 
 on the propofal of his friend. He knew, 
 that whatever the marquis de la Frezeliere 
 had the goodnefs to fuggeft, was the fi tu- 
 ple
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 341 
 
 pie truth, and the pure effeft of his affec- P A R T 
 tionate attachment to lord Lovat and his i~- v ^J 
 houfe, which indeed he confidered as his 
 own. He faw the malice of his enemies 
 in the adminiftration of St. Germains, and 
 the afcendancy of the duke of Hamilton, 
 lord Athol, and Mackenzie of Preftonhal, 
 their creature and the ufurper of lord Lo- . 
 vat's eflate *, in that unjuft and ungrateful 
 
 court. 
 
 * The late marquis of Athol being difappointed in 
 his fcheme of marrying the eldeft daughter of Hugh lord 
 Lovar, who by his direction had afiumed the title of 
 baronefs Lovat, with lord Salton's fon, propofed to match 
 her with Alexander Mackenzie, fon of lord Prefionhal, 
 then one of the judges in the court of feflion in Scot- 
 land. His lordfhip and his fon readily accepted the pro- 
 pofal, and a marriage fettlement was executed, by which 
 Mr. Mackenzie was to aflume the title of Fraferdale, 
 and the children of the marriage were to bear the name 
 of Frafcr. The eftate of Lovat was fettled upon" Fra- 
 ferdale, during his life, with remainder to the heirs of 
 the marriage; of which there was iflue a fon, named 
 Hugh Frafer, who in right of his mother claimed the 
 honours and title of Lovat, and feveral other children. 
 Fraferdale was engaged in the rebellion of 1715; and 
 being attainted and his eftate forfeited, lord Lovat got 
 poffeffion of it by a gift from the crown, during the life 
 of Fraferdale. A fuit was now commenced between Si- 
 mon, the hero of the prefent memoirs, and Hugh Fra- 
 fer, Fraferdale's eldeft fon, who both of them clajmed 
 the title of lord Lovat; the fuit was awarded in favour 
 of Simon. A fecond fuit was inftituted in order to try 
 
 Z 3 the
 
 342 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART court. He was in a manner diffracted^ 
 
 L r lj when he recollected, that he -had ever haz- 
 
 J 7 8 - arded his life, that he had ever facrifked 
 
 his property and eftate in the fervice of that 
 
 unfortunate court, which had treated him 
 
 with the utmoft inhumanity, and as if he 
 
 had been the bafeft and inofb contemptible 
 
 of the human race. 
 
 From this moment he refolved to exert 
 every faculty he pofTefTed, in order to effect 
 his return to his own country, and to 
 abandon the interefts of a court, which 
 had employed all the artifices that hell 
 could invent, to take from him his life, 
 and what was dearer to him than life, 
 his reputation. The fole object of his at- 
 tention, and what was neareft to his heart, 
 was now to return to his beloved clan, and 
 
 the right of Hugh Frafer in the reverfion of the Lovat 
 eftate. This fuit was at length compromifed in confide- 
 ration of a fum of money paid by lord Lovat; and thus 
 about the year 1732 a termination was put to difputcs 
 which had for fo Jong a time fubfifted. Vide Memoirs 
 of the Life of Lord Lovat , a pamphlet printed in the year 
 1746; which in matters of heraldry and genealogy is 
 tolerably accurate, but in every other refpecl: exhibits a 
 tiflue of the moft impudent and ridiculous lies that 
 ever were published. 
 
 '9
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 343 
 
 to live and die in the midft of them. Thus p A R T 
 circumftanced he would not merely have * v " > 
 inlifted himfelf in the party of the houfe I7 8 ' 
 of Hanover, which was called to the crowns 
 of Scotland, England and Ireland by all the 
 ftates of the kingdom ; he would have 
 united himfelf to any foreign prince in the 
 univerfe, who would have aflifted him in 
 the attainment of his juft and laudable de- 
 fign, of re-eftablifhing his family, and pro- 
 claiming to all Scotland the barbarous cru- 
 elty of the court of St. Germains. 
 
 He was however unwilling to do any 
 thing, which might be conftrued into in- 
 gratitude and difrefpet to the moft Chriftian 
 king, or afford a plauiible handle to the court 
 of St. Germains to ruin him beyond redemp- 
 tion at the court of France, He contented 
 
 to 
 
 himfelf for the prefent with applying to 
 the marquis de Torcy, for permiffion, 
 either to return to his own country, or 
 to ferve in the armies of France, He 
 told the minifter, that he could no lon- 
 ger paffively fubmit to the calumnies and 
 perfecution of the court of St. Germains; 
 that he mnft beg leave humbly to de- 
 mand that 'an end be put to his difgrace; 
 
 Z 4 and
 
 344 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART anc [ that, if this requeft were not granted, 
 he was unalterably refolved to return into 
 his own country. 
 
 To this letter he received no anfwer. 
 The marquis de la Frezeliere however wrote 
 him repeatedly, that M. de Torcy had 
 told him, that lord Lovat would do well 
 to return home ; that the court of France 
 would not be offended at his taking that 
 flep, but that fhe would never aft ib di- 
 rectly in oppofition to the queen and court 
 of St. Germains, as to grant him a formal 
 difmiffion; that his departure was a thing 
 to be done and not to be talked of. This 
 notice was perfectly fatisfadtory to lord 
 Lovat; and, being acquainted with the ideas 
 of the court of France, he thought no lon- 
 ger but of making his efcape, and over- 
 looking all the rifks of his journey, in order 
 to arrive with his brother at his own 
 eftate, 
 
 In the interim however a misfortune 
 happened to the marquis de la Frezeliere, 
 which prevented the execution of his de- 
 fign. The marquis was a man of the mofl 
 cpmprehenfxve aod infatiahle ambition. He 
 
 was
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 345 . 
 
 was already at the head of the artillery, of PART 
 which he was hereditary firft lieutenant ge- ^Ji^j 
 neral, and commander in chief, wherever 
 the grand mafter of the ordnance was not 
 prefent. This degree of promotion how- 
 ever did not fatisfy him. He believed he 
 could not fo foon arrive at the truncheon 
 of marmal of France by that path, as he 
 might do by commanding as a general of- 
 ficer in the line of battle. He was now in 
 the army of marmal Villars, and, being 
 much efteemed by that nobleman, he ob- 
 tained from him permiffion to command 
 the artillery of his army, and to take rank 
 in the line of battle at the fame time,* * 1707. 
 
 The talents and the fuperior genius of 
 M. de la Frezeliere had excited againft him 
 many enemies in the corps of general of- 
 ficers. They accordingly made their com- 
 plaint to the king and the duke de Maine, 
 grand mafter of the ordnance, refpeding 
 this unufual indulgence. In compli- 
 ance with their reprefentations the king 
 wrote to marmal Villars, to prohibit the 
 marquis from taking rank as a general offir 
 cer in the line of battle; obferving at the 
 fame time, that it was unprecedented, and 
 
 pre-
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART prejudicial to his fervice, it being impoffible 
 for M. dc la Frezeliere to be at once at the 
 head of the artillery and in the line of battle, 
 and to give 'the necefTary orders in thefe 
 different departments. Marfhal Villars, 
 notwithstanding his particular friendship 
 and efteem for the marquis, was obliged to 
 Jagnify to him the orders of the king; and, 
 in confequence of this prohibition, M. de 
 la Frezeliere withdrew to his own eftate 
 under pretence of ficknefs. 
 
 This incident happened in the campaign 
 of 1707. The marquis feemed to intend to 
 have no concern in the enfuing campaign, 
 unlefs he were permitted to afiume ranl$ 
 in the line, as well as in the artillery. To 
 this indulgence the duke de Maine, grand- 
 mafier of the ordnance, particularly oppofed 
 himfelf. He was however perfectly fenfible 
 how effential it was to the feryice of France, 
 that M. de la Frezeliere mould be employ- 
 ed. He knew, that the artillery had never 
 been fo well ferved as by the marquis, who 
 fupported the glory and reputation of the 
 corps, as well by the fertility of his ge- 
 nius and his extreme fkill in the fcience, 
 as 'by the very expenfive and magnificent 
 manner in which he always appeared. 
 
 The
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 347 
 
 The duke therefore took fom.e pains to PART 
 reprefent to him that his father had ad- 
 yanced very quickly in the road of promo- 
 lion, and that he would infallibly do the 
 fame; that his taking rank in the line 
 would in reality only obftrucl: his advance- 
 ment ; that he might depend upon his good 
 offices 3 and that he would give him his 
 word that he would pum him forward, and 
 carry his affair, provided he remained quiet 
 at the head of the artillery. 
 
 The marquis however, who had once 
 ferved in the line, had it too much at heart 
 to give it up. He believed that the 
 officers would regard him as difgraced, by 
 the affront he would fuftain in being dri- 
 ven from his ftation by the order of his fo- 
 vereign. Befide, M. de la Frezeliere was 
 of a high and elevated fpirit. He did not 
 pretend to be ignorant of the fuperior ta- 
 lents he pofTefTed in every part of the fci- 
 ence of war. And he could ill brook the 
 being obliged to receive orders from a 
 young brigadier, or fometimes a young co- 
 lonel, frefli from the moufquetaires or the 
 academy, to whom he might be fubjed:, as 
 commandant of the artillery, in marches 
 and detachments. 
 
 i Induced
 
 348 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART Induced by all thefe confiderations, he 
 ^fl jl 3 ^, infreated the king, and the grand- mafter, 
 1708. to permit him to ferve at the head of the 
 artillery and in the line at the fame time. 
 He engaged to forfeit his head if the king's 
 fervice fuffered the fmalleft difafter in con- 
 fequence of this permiffion, or in cafe he 
 did not perfectly difcharge the duties of 
 both departments. If however the king 
 and the duke were of a different opinion, 
 he folicited them to permit him to ferve 
 only in the line of battle, and to beftow the 
 artillery upon any perfon whom they fhould 
 think qualified for the command. The 
 duke de Maine replied positively, on the 
 part of the king, that he would grant nei- 
 ther the one nor the other; but that it was 
 necefTary, that he mould ferve at the head 
 of the artillery, as his father and he had 
 always done. 
 
 To this decifion the marquis anfwered, 
 that he had rather quit the fervice altoge- 
 ther, and retire to his own eflate for the 
 reft of his life, than not continue to ferve 
 in the line of battle. The grand-mafter, 
 ftedfaft to his purpofe, exerted his utmoft 
 
 rhetoric
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 349 
 
 rhetoric to convince him of his error, and PART 
 to perfuade him to recede ; obferving, at 
 the fame time, that the king would be great- 
 ly difpleafed, if the marquis talked of retir- 
 ing in the commencement of a campaign, 
 and in the midft of a moft exteniive and 
 deftrudtive war. M. de la Frezeliere re- 
 mained inflexible. He refolved, with fome- 
 what too haughty a firmnefs, to abide by 
 his dilemma, and either renounce the fcr- 
 vice, or have his poft in the line confirm- 
 ed to him. 
 
 The duke de Maine, underftanding that 
 the equipage of the artillery was ready to 
 march for the Rhine, and perceiving that 
 he gained no ground in his endeavour to 
 fubdue the hauteur of the marquis, became 
 ferioufly offended. He fent the fecretary of 
 the ordnance to tell M. de la Frezeliere, that 
 he allowed him only twenty-four hours to 
 form his refolution, to afTume the command 
 of the artillery, or to refufe it ; bidding him 
 at the fame time take care what he did. The 
 marquis, piqued at an order couched in 
 fuch precife and menacing language, was 
 led to an action, bold beyond all example, 
 5
 
 S5 o MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 'ART and bordering upon infanity. By way of 
 [V^Jj anfwer to the duke's meilage, he inclofed 
 1708. in a letter his commiffion of commandant 
 of the artillery, and fent it by a courier. 
 
 The duke de Maine conceived himfelf 
 to be infulted by this ftep, and haftened 
 inftantly to complain of it to the king. 
 His majefty confidered the offence as done 
 to himfelf, and his fervice treated with 
 contempt by this unheard of proceeding, 
 M. de la Frezeliere was the next day thrown 
 into the Baftile, to the aftonifhment of the 
 whole kingdom of France. 
 
 The court, the minifters, the matmals 
 of France, and in a word every per- 
 fon of diftinction at Verfailles and at Paris,- 
 took part with the marquis, on account of 
 his birth, his reputation, his own impor- 
 tant fervices, and thofe of his father and his 
 houfe. Many perfons of the firft rank fo- 
 li.cited the king and the grand-mafter for 
 his liberty. But the one and the other ap- 
 peared inflexible, and the friends of M. de 
 la Frezeliere gave him up for loft. He 
 himfelf became appreheniive of the worft. 
 
 The
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 3 Ji 
 
 The brother of lord Lovat had refided at PART 
 the marquis's houfe at the arfenal, ever fince * 
 
 the king of England had fet out for Dun- 
 kirk. In his prefent iituation the marquis 
 thought proper to fend for him incognito 
 to his apartment in the Baftile, and fpoke 
 to him in the following manner. " You 
 tf know, my dear chevalier, that I have ex- 
 " tremely p re fled my lord your brother, to 
 " return to his own country, perfuaded 
 " that he was irretrievably ruined in 
 " France. I have even given you an order 
 " upon my fteward in Anjou for whatever 
 " money lord Lovat may want for the pro- 
 " fecution of his journey. 
 
 tf The tables are now turned upon me. 
 " You fee in what a fituation I am. The 
 " king is abfolute matter in France, and 
 " there is nothing I have not reafon to 
 " fear. If then your brother quit France 
 " in the prefent crifis, my enemies will 
 *' not fail to tell the king, that it is in con- 
 " cert with me, that he is fet out to join our 
 " enemies. I (hall then be ruined without 
 " refource. My houfes and plantations 
 " will be rafed, and my family for ever 
 " annihilated. For thefc reafons I muft 
 
 " intreat
 
 352 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 " intreat you, my dear chevalier, to fet out 
 " immediately for your brother at Saumur, 
 1708. t < to te ji hi m> if he fet any value upon me as 
 
 " his relation and friend, or if he retain any 
 " regard for my family and children, who 
 " bear the fame name, and are derived from 
 " one common flock with himfelf, that I 
 *' conjure him, by our mutual intercourfe, 
 " and all the engagements between us, not 
 " to leave France till my fate be de- 
 " cided. In the mean time he may ufe my 
 " feat as his own, and depend upon my 
 " iharing with him every thing I have to 
 " the laft farthing." 
 
 The brother of lord Lovat and the mar- 
 quis now took leave of each other, with 
 tears on both fides. The chevalier Frafer 
 made all poffible diligence to reach his bro- 
 ther at Saumur, as he knew that he was 
 preparing for immediate efcape. 
 
 In reality lord Lovat had propofed to fet 
 out that very week. There were at that time 
 at Saumur feveral Englishmen, who had been 
 taken prifoners at the battle of Almanza. 
 Among them lord Lovat had found a fubal- 
 tern officer in general Hervey's regiment of 
 
 horfe,
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 353 
 
 horfe, of the name of Jones, a man of good PART 
 fenfe, refolution and enterprife. To this man ^^'^ 
 lord Lovat communicated the design he had J7 8 - 
 formed of efcaping from France, and throw- 
 ing himfelf at the feet of the dukes of 
 Marlborough and Argyle, to intreat them 
 to interpofe in his favour with queen 
 Anne. 
 
 Mr. Jones approved of his intention, and 
 promifed to accompany him at the haz- 
 ard of his life. Apprehenfive in the mean 
 time of a difcovery, lord Lovat feared that 
 every poft might bring an order from 
 court> to throw him once more into 
 the dungeon from which he had been 
 fo happily delivered. He therefore con- 
 cealed himfelf every poil-day in Mr. 
 Jones's apartments in the fuburbs, in or- 
 der to avoid a furprife. At the fame time 
 he gained an intimate friend of the lieu- 
 tenant, to give him early intelligence of the 
 orders the principal received from Ver- 
 failles. 
 
 Lord Lovat was thus upon the eve of 
 fetting out for England, and had provided 
 againft every hazard that might attend his 
 
 A a under-
 
 354 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART undertaking. He was therefore extremely 
 ifj^li, aftonimed, when he faw his brother, whom 
 i7 8 - he expected to join at Paris, arrive at Sau- 
 mur. Little had he expected fuch a letter 
 as was now put into his hands from M. de 
 la Frezeliere; dated from the Baftile, ac- 
 quainting him with the great misfortune 
 that had befallen him, and conjuring him 
 not to quit France, till the king, moved by 
 the interceffion of his numerous friends, 
 fhould grant him his liberty; adding, that, 
 if lord Lovat purfued his purpofe in the 
 prefent conjuncture, his perfon and family 
 would be the victims of his unkindnefs, 
 and the name of Frezel be extinguished in 
 France. 
 
 Lord Lovat was extremely affected, to 
 learn the very unexpected misfortune of 
 M. de la Frezeliere. He loved him as his 
 brother; his requeft and his fituation led 
 him therefore to the total alteration of his 
 defign. He now refolved, rather to en- 
 counter all the calamities that could over- 
 take him in France, than by his flight to 
 bring on the ruin of the marquis and his 
 houfe. He wrote immediately to the 
 marquis, intreating him to be perfect- 
 
 *
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 355 
 
 ly eafy on his account, alluring him, that PART 
 he was refolved rather to die in a dun- _ I:'- 3 
 geon in France* than attempt to make his 
 efcape, till he was reftored to his liberty 
 and former fituation. 
 
 Lord Lovat, being thus obliged to depart 
 from his original plan, when the Englifli 
 prifoners at Saumur were exchanged, gave 
 to his confident Mr. Jones letters for the 
 duke of Argyle and fome other of his rela- 
 tions and friends. He informed them of 
 the perfecutions he had experienced on the 
 part of the court of St. Germains. He de- 
 clared himfelf unalterably refolved to aban* 
 don the interefts of that court. For thefe 
 reafons he intreated them to make his peace 
 with queen Anne $ adding, that for the 
 reft of his life it was his firm intention, to 
 live peaceably in his own country, and to 
 demean himfelf like a good and faithful 
 fubjecl: to her majefty. 
 
 Mr. Jones promifed to deliver thefe let- 
 ters faithfully according to their addrefs, 
 and at the fame time to give an account to 
 the dukes of Marlborough and Argyle, of 
 the eflential fervices lord Lovat had render- 
 A a 2 ed
 
 356 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART ed to the Engliili prifoners, during their 
 refidence at Sacmur. Such was the firft 
 correfpondence of any kind, or with any 
 individual, that lord Lovat had entered in- 
 to in the Britifh kingdoms iince the com- 
 mencement of his imprifonment and exile. 
 
 The marquis de la Frezeliere remained 
 only three months in the Baftile, when his 
 moil Chriftian majefly, and the whole 
 kingdom of France found occafion for his 
 perfonal fervices. After the unfortunate 
 day of Oudenarde, the generals of the al- 
 lies villbly threatened to befiege the rich, 
 beautiful and important city of Lifle. As 
 marfhal BoufBers was governor of French 
 Fknders and the city of Lifle, he refolved 
 to repair in perfon to the defence of the ca- 
 pital of his province. His intimate friends 
 allured him, that M. de la Frezeliere was 
 the firft man in the world for the attack 
 and defence of places, and had even im- 
 proved in thefe refpe&s upon the difcoveries 
 of Vauban. Marfhal Boufflers had himfelf 
 been the intimate friend of the marquis's 
 father, and was acquainted with the finr 
 gular valour and extenfive capacity of the 
 ion. 
 
 Imme-
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 357 
 
 
 Immediately therejpre upon the prefent PAR! 
 
 occurrence, he hairened to wait upon the II -^-3' 
 
 king, of whom he was the favourite, and 1708. 
 
 who had always mown a very fingular 
 
 efteem for his perfon. " Your majefty," 
 
 faid M. de BoufHers, " has favoured me 
 
 " with your permiffion to have the honour 
 
 (t of defending the city of Lifle in perfon. 
 
 " Permit me then moft humbly to in treat 
 
 " you to give me for a fecond in this enter- 
 
 " prife M. de la Frezeliere. He is not 
 
 " only one of the beft engineers in France, 
 
 " but alfo the firft man in the univerfe in 
 
 (t the conduct of artillery, and a moft brave 
 
 " and excellent officer in the affairs of war 
 
 " in general." 
 
 The king had been [importuned by all 
 the madhals of France and almoft every 
 perfon in his court in favour of the mar- 
 quis de la Frezeliere. He was himfelf 
 perfectly acquainted with the reality of his 
 merits. His majefty was therefore by no 
 means difpleafed at the prefent occafion's 
 being afforded him to receive him once more 
 into favour. He readily granted marfhal 
 Boufflers's requcft. A few days after, an 
 order was fent to the marquis at the Baftile, 
 A a 3 to
 
 358 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 'ART to repair with all diligence to the city of 
 
 J-J^J Lifle, and to difcharge his duty under mar- 
 
 1708. fazi Boufflers, as firft lieutenant-general of 
 
 the artillery, and major-general in the 
 
 army*. 
 
 This order gave the extremeft pleafure to 
 the marquis ; and fo much the more, as it 
 had never been feen in France, that any 
 perfon, whatever were his rank, mould be 
 liberated from the Baftile by an order to go 
 and command in the armies or cities of the 
 king's dominions, except in the cafe of the 
 immortal marmal Luxembourg, and that 
 of the marquis de la Frezeliere. Having 
 received the order of the king in the clofe 
 of the evening, he did not leave the Baftile ; 
 but ordered his poftchaife to the gate early 
 the next morning ; and, without once en^ 
 tering his houfe at the arfenal, which was 
 but a mufket-mot from the prifon, he fet 
 out {trait for Lifle, where he arrived in 
 two days, 
 
 * This is probably a mere expreffion of form, and 
 implies titular rank, without including a<Stual permiflioa 
 to ferve in the line. It appears from what follows, that 
 it did not imply the Cdnceflion of M. de la Frezeliere's 
 original demand. 
 
 The
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 359 
 
 The day after his arrival he wrote a letter PART 
 
 TT r . 
 
 to lord Lovat, acquainting him with the v^-~i 
 glorious manner, in which he had been li- I7 8 ' 
 berated from the Baftile, and reftored to the 
 good graces of his fovereign. He inform- 
 ed him that the enemy appeared to have 
 the defign of inverting the place, but 
 that, for himfelf, he regarded this enter- 
 prife as the mod ram and inconfiderate that 
 had ever been formed ; that by all the rules 
 of war the allies muft perim in the attempt. 
 At the fame time he obferved, that lord 
 Lovat was now at liberty to refume his de- 
 fign j that however, if he were willing to 
 wait 'the termination of the fiege, he hoped 
 to render fuch eflential fervices to his king, 
 as mould give him a right to expect and to 
 obtain for that nobleman his return to 
 the court, and the termination of his dif- 
 grace. Lord Lovat the more willingly con- 
 fen ted to wait the event, as he had yet 
 heard no news of the letters he had in- 
 trufted to Mr. Jones for the duke of Argyle 
 and his other friends. 
 
 M. de la Frezeliere acquired immortal 
 
 glory in this affair. The admirable defence 
 
 of Lifle turned chiefly upon him, as well 
 
 A a 4 in
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART J n confequenceof his extraordinary capacity* 
 ^~^~L> as by the great confidence placed in him by 
 I 7 8 -- M. de Boufflers. The fiege being finimed, 
 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant 
 general in the king's fervice, previous to 
 Jiis accompanying marfhal Boufflers in en- 
 tering the citadel for the defence of that ex^ 
 cellent fortrefs. 
 
 The citadel being at length, as well as 
 the town, furrendered to the enemy, after 
 the moft obftinate and incomparable defence 
 that has ever been made in our days, M. 
 de Boufflers returned to court to give an ac- 
 count of his truft to the fovereign. He had 
 the goodnefs to obferve to the king that he 
 was entirely indebted for this admirable de- 
 fence to M. de la Frezeliere, and that now 
 he had the honour to affure his majefly, 
 that the marquis was one of the heft gene- 
 rals in his fervice, and that not lefs in cam- 
 paign war, than in the attack and defence 
 of fortrefles. The king, having fo much 
 reafon to befatisfied with the character that 
 marfhal Boufflers gave of the marquis, be- 
 ftowed upon him, as a mark of his appro- 
 bation, the favour, for the claim of which 
 he had fome months before been, thrown 
 
 into
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 361 
 
 into the Baftile. He gave him his orders PART 
 for the enfuing campaign, to command in ^J^'^ 
 chief the artillery in Flanders, and to take I 79- 
 adual rank as lieutenant general in the line 
 of battle. 
 
 In this campaign he perfedly did his du- 
 ty in both departments. This was particular- 
 ly confpicuous at the battle of Malplaquet, 
 where the artillery was entirely well con- 
 d lifted, at the fame time that the marquis 
 diftinguifhed himfelf in the moft honoura- 
 ble manner, in his pofr, on the left wing in 
 the line of battle. He had the happinefs 
 to have under his orders the brigade of Na- 
 varre, commanded by M. de Gaffion, ne- 
 phew to the lieutenant general of that 
 name, and heir to his valour ; and the royal 
 regiment of infantry, commanded by the 
 count d'Aubigne, now infpeftor general 
 and governor of Saumur, a young officer, 
 whofe courage and merit are not lefs dif- 
 tinguimed than his birth. M. de laFreze^ 
 liere, with thefe five battalions, attacked 
 in fo vigorous a manner a large column of 
 the allies, as entirely to defeat it, purfuing 
 them with great carnage far beyond their 
 jntrenchments. 
 
 The
 
 362 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 The fuccefs he obtained would have 
 
 chained vi<ftory to the wheels of the French, 
 
 1709. if, almoft at the fame time, the allies had 
 not penetrated into the centre of the line, 
 where the regiment of French guards gave 
 way in a very difgraceful manner. It was 
 this circumftance, which completed in fa- 
 vour of the allies a glorious, though it muft 
 be confefled a moft destructive victory. 
 
 They had already gained a confldera- 
 ble advantage over the right wing of the 
 king's army, commanded by marfhal Villars 
 in perfon. The brave duke of Argyle, at 
 the head of the Englifh and Scottim infan- 
 try, entirely defeated all the infantry of 
 this wing, driving them back into the 
 woods which covered their flank. Marfhal 
 Villars rallied his men feveral times, always 
 to no purpofe ; and having expofed himfelf 
 too much, he received that dangerous 
 wound in his knee, which decided the fate 
 of the engagement on that fide. 
 
 The action of M. de la Frezeliere, at the 
 head of the brigade of Navarre, having made 
 a great deal of noife, added confiderably to 
 his reputation, and to the efteem which the 
 
 whole
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 363 
 
 whole army had for him. The chevalier PART 
 de St. George, in order to diffipate the 
 mortification he had experienced in the mif- 
 carriage of the Scottifh enterprife, and at 
 the fame time to learn the fcience of war, 
 made the campaign of Malplaquet in Vil- 
 Jars's army. He was the firfl to exprefs his 
 refpect for the marquis, and the high opi- 
 nion he had of his conduct in that day. 
 M. de la Frezeliere, on his fide, made his 
 court in the moll affiduous manner to the 
 chevalier and his minister, lord Middleton, 
 Jie had always kept one of the bell tables 
 in the army, and he now entertained thefe 
 diftinguifhed perfons fcveral times .in the 
 moil fuinptuous manner. 
 
 His defign in all this was to turn the 
 efteem of the chevalier to the immediate 
 advantage of lord Lovat. He addreffed 
 himfelf indifferently to lord Middleton 
 and to his mafter. But he found both the 
 one and the other perfectly inexorable upon 
 this head. He wrote immediately to lord 
 Lovat, alluring him that he muft at no 
 time expedt any thing from the court of 
 St. Germains, but mortification, unworthy 
 treatment and difgrace; and recommending 
 
 to
 
 364 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART to him, once more in good earneft to think 
 
 i_ '- yJli of bidding a final adieu to France. 
 1709. 
 
 Lord Lovat was fatisfied, by the intelli- 
 gence he received from M. de la Frezeliere 
 and his other friends at the court of St. 
 Germains, that the chevalier de St. George, 
 the queen and lord Middleton had fo decid- 
 ed a preference for the duke of Hamilton 
 and lord Athol, that he had nothing to 
 hope for from that court, during the life of 
 thefe two noblemen, of the queen or her 
 minifter, all of them his declared enemies, 
 but oppreffion and difgrace. He recurred 
 therefore to the refolution he had formed 
 more than twelve months before, of en- 
 tirely abandoning, and furely with fufficient 
 reafon, the interefts of this unjuft and un- 
 grateful court, and of returning to his own 
 country at all adventures. 
 
 Not that the difficulties were not very 
 great on this fide. The enemies of lord 
 Lovat had much influence at the court of 
 London, as well as at St. Germains. Their 
 honour was not lefs engaged than their in- 
 tereft, to prevent by every means in their 
 power the return of this nobleman., their ca- 
 pital
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 365 
 
 pital and perfonal enemy. Lord Lovat how- p A R T 
 ever was confcious, that his authority and , II '_^_ 3 ' 1 
 credit in the north of Scotland could fcarcely 1-09. 
 be regarded as an object of contempt. He 
 knew, that he could be ufeful in times of 
 \var to any king or queen of England who 
 fhould be able to engage his fervices. In 
 fine, he was refolved to try every poffible 
 method to make his peace with queen Anne, 
 and for that purpofe to addrefs himfeif to 
 the great nobility who directed the affairs 
 of her government. 
 
 Lord Lovat believed that he had met 
 with a happy occafion for this purpofe. 
 There were fix officers of the regiment of 
 the Englifh guards, by name meffieurs 
 Saubergue, Brady, Bradbury, Pulteney, Ha- 
 milton and Fogg, who had been taken pri- 
 foner at the battle of Almanza, and were 
 confined at the town of Loudun, feven 
 leagues from Saumur. Thefe officers had 
 the liberty of paffing from one of thefe 
 places to the other, and vifiting their pri- 
 vates who were confined at Saumur. 
 
 Lord Lovat conftantly paid to thefe 
 gentlemen, every poffible degree of at- 
 tention,
 
 MEMOIRS OF T & E LIFE 
 
 PART tention, and exerted in their behalf a 
 i_ VJj power, which was in many refpeds by 
 1 79' no means ufelefs to them. M, de la 
 Frezeliere's beautiful houfe of Anglers 
 was only one league from Loudun, and 
 the marchionefs redding there at that 
 time, lord Lovat was in a manner the child 
 of the houfe. He engaged this lady, whofe 
 manners were by nature extremely polite 
 and affable, frequently to receive thefe fix 
 Englim. officers at her feat, and to entertain 
 them in a very elegant manner. 
 
 There happened about this time an acci- 
 dent to thefe gentlemen, which ferves to 
 mew the friendfhip and generofity of lord 
 Lovat, at the fame time that it was extreme- 
 ly ill requited in the fequel. Mr. Hamil- 
 ton, for a quarrel of a ftraw, killed his 
 companion, captain Bradbury. Some peo- 
 ple faid he was to blame in the affair -, 
 others that he was innocent. Be that as it 
 will, Mr. Hamilton received a very confi- 
 derable wound in his arm, the fword having 
 pierced as far as the moulder. Covered 
 with blood, and purfued by the archers of 
 the prevot and judges of the town of Lou- 
 dun, where he had killed Bradbury, he
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 367 
 
 fled directly to Anglers. He had fpent the PART 
 preceding evening there in company with u-A^i 
 lord Lovat, whom he called his coufin, be- *79* 
 ing, as he faid, the fon of Mr. Hamilton of 
 HufTey, and by his mother nearly related 
 to lord Mar, to whom lord Lovat was alfo 
 allied on the mother's fide. 
 
 As foon as he arrived, he defired lord 
 Lovat to be called out of the caftle to fpeak 
 with him. Mr. Hamilton now threw 
 himfelf into his arms, crying, " My lord, 
 *' I am come to afk my life of you. I have 
 " had the misfortune to kill my comrade, 
 " captain Bradbury; I am myfelf fevere- 
 <f ly wounded; and I am purfued by the 
 ''judges and prevot of Loudun with their 
 " archers. If I am taken, i fhall infallibly 
 " lofe my life. Let me befeech you then, 
 " my dear lord, to take pity upon me, and 
 " protect me in my prefent diflrefs." Lord 
 Lovat replied, that he would do for him, 
 as he would for his brother in his fitua- 
 tion. 
 
 Having faid this he vanimed in a mo- 
 ment. He flew immediately to the mar- 
 chionefs, and related to her the melan- 
 choly
 
 368 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFfi 
 
 PART choly tale. He intreated her, if me had 
 k^^-^J any regard for him, to receive his relation 
 *7 C 9- and friend info her houfe, and to protect 
 him in his prefent deplorable condition from 
 falling into the hands of his purfuers. The 
 marchionefs was at firft terrified at the 
 propofal, fearing the laws of France, and 
 the ordinances of .the king, which are ex- 
 tremely fevere in the cafe of duels. Her 
 natural temper however overflowed with 
 generofity and compaffion. She had a very 
 high friend {hip for lord Lovat. She re- 
 plied, that indeed me rifked much in har- 
 bouring a man, who had killed his antago- 
 jiift in a duel ; there was nothing however 
 that me could refufe to lord Lovat ; he 
 might therefore introduce Mr. Hamilton, 
 and (he would order her people immediate^- 
 ly to prepare for him a proper apart- 
 ment. 
 
 Lord Lovat inflantly left the marchio- 
 nefs. He brought Mr, Hamilton into the 
 caftle of Anglers. He fent with all diligence 
 for the iieur de la Tour, furgeon to the fa- 
 mily, and a manofgreatfkill in his profeffion. 
 That gentleman came upon the firft fummons 
 and drefled Mr. Hamilton; and pronounced 
 ? his
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 369 
 
 nis wound to be very dangerous. Lord 
 Lovat obliged him not to leave the houfe 
 till the convalefcence of his patient. 1 79- 
 
 The prevot and his archers conjectured 
 that Mr. Hamilton had taken refuge with 
 the marchionefs de la Frezeliere, and did not 
 adventure to enter the caftle in fearch 
 of him. They returned to Loudun ta 
 draw up a verbal procefs upon the dead 
 body of captain Bradbury. Mr. Hamilton, 
 in the mean time was meltered and nurfed 
 for two months in the caftle of the mar- 
 quis de la Frezelierej as if he had been, 
 with his own father. Lord Lovat did ridt 
 quit him till he was perfectly recovered. 
 
 During this period the friends of the mar- 
 chionefs gave her repeated information^ that 
 the prevot and judges of Loudun threatened 
 to advertife the court, that me harboured in 
 her caftle Mr* Hamilton who had killed his 
 man in a duel. Lord Lovat therefore at the 
 end of this term was obliged to conduct Mr. 
 Hamilton during the night, to the refidence 
 of a man of rank of his acquaintance. This 
 perfon was the marquis de Borflel, who re- 
 fided about three leagues from Anglers. He 
 B b was
 
 370 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PA R T was aman of much politenefs and generofity, 
 _ v-^j full of merit and good fenfe, and extremely 
 1709 partial to foreigners - 3 becaufe his father 
 was defcended from a noble houfe in Ger- 
 many, and had been ambafTador from the 
 elector Palatine, king of Bohemia. 
 
 M. de Borftel was the intimate friend of 
 lord Lovat, and from affection to him, at the 
 hazard of his life and property, he received 
 Mr. Hamilton, in defiance of the fevere 
 laws of France againft duelling. Mr. Ha- 
 milton refided two months longer with the 
 marquis as if he had been the child of 
 the houfe. 
 
 The feat of this nobleman was one league 
 from Loudun, where Mr. Hamilton had 
 a miftrefs. In going frequently to fee her 
 without fufficient precaution, he was at 
 laft difcovered and taken by the prevot, and 
 thrown into prifon at Loudun, where he was 
 in muchapprehenfion for his life. The mo- 
 ment lord Lovat had intelligence of his 
 misfortune, he went to fee and confole 
 him. He immediately interefted his friends 
 at the court of France in his behalf, and 
 obtained an order to remove Mr. Hamilton 
 
 from
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 371 
 from the horrible prifon of Loudun to the P TT A , RT 
 
 * 11. ; ?. 
 
 agreeable cattle of Saumur. 
 
 As lord Lovat refided in perfon at Saumurj 
 he was continually rendering Mr. Hamilton 
 confiderable fervices, not only there, but 
 by his friends at court ; till, contrary to 
 his own hopes, this gentleman was fet at li- 
 berty, and exchanged with the other offi- 
 cers of his regiment. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton appeared extremely fenfi- 
 ble of the fervices lord Lovat had done him. 
 He often fvvore, that he mould always be 
 ready to hazard his life for the perfon and 
 intereil: of that nobleman ; and, as he was 
 about to fet out for England, he earneftly 
 prefled to be employed in doing fome 
 fervice for him in that country. Lord Lo- 
 vat placed an entire confidence in him, as 
 his relation, and a man who owed -to him 
 his life. He communicated to him his in- 
 tention, tired out as he was with the barba- 
 rous and unremitted perfecution of the court 
 of St. Germains, of quitting France; and 
 gave him letters to the dukes of Marlbo- 
 rough, Argyle and Queenfberry, and to 
 the earls of Wemys and Leven, his friends 
 and relations. 
 
 B b 2 In
 
 37 2 
 
 PART In thefe letters lord Lovat extolled in 
 f high terms the condefcenfion and goodnefs 
 of the court of France towards him. He 
 bitterly complained of the ingratitude and 
 injuftice of the court of St. Germains. And 
 he moft humbly intreated thefe noblemen 
 to make his peace with queen Anne, iince 
 he defircd nothing with more ardour, than 
 to return, to reftor-e his family and clan, 
 and to live peaceably upon his own eftate, 
 as her majefty's mofl faithful fubject. 
 
 Lord Lovat delivered thefe letters open 
 to Mr. Hamilton, and intreated him to 
 communicate them to the marquis de la 
 Frezeliere, who commanded at that time 
 at Valenciennes, through which Mr. Ha- 
 milton's route lay. Lord Lovat was defi- 
 rous, not to do any thing, without having 
 firft taken the advice of the marquis, who 
 knew the intentions of the court of France 
 refpedling him. Accordingly he requefted 
 Mr. Hamilton to leave thefe letters with 
 M. de la Frezeliere $ or to burn them, in 
 cafe that nobleman difapproved of their be- 
 ing fent to the lords to whom they were 
 addrdled. 
 
 Mr.
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 373 
 
 Mr. Hamilton look his leave with a thou- PART 
 fand protections of friendfhip and un- v_ ' ^ J 
 alterable gratitude. When he arrived in 
 Paris, he waited upon the marchionefs de la 
 Frezeliere, who received him with her 
 ufual politenefs, and gave him a letter for 
 her hufband at Valenciennes. But, in fpite 
 of his feveral promifes to the marchionefs 
 and to lord Lovat, he pafled into the con- 
 quered Netherlands without feeing M. de 
 la Frezeliere, 
 
 Upon his arrival, his friends acquitted 
 him, by a favourable court martial, of the 
 death of captain Bradbury. He afterwards 
 panned into England; but, in the room of 
 delivering lord Lovat's letters according 
 to their addrefs, he carried them to the 
 duke of Hamilton and lord Athol, his per~ 
 fonal and declared enemies. Previoufly 
 to his arrival the Englifh adminiftration 
 had been changed:* the duke of MarU 1710. 
 borough and the friends of lord Lovat had 
 begun to lofe their credit with queen Anne. 
 The country party had been called into 
 power. The duke of Hamilton and lord 
 Athol were already among the greateft fa- 
 vourites. Mr. Hamilton knew that he 
 B b 3 could
 
 374 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART could not better make his court to thefe 
 
 _ _ *.' 3 J_. noblemen, than by delivering up lord Lo- 
 
 vat to be ruined by them in France; and 
 
 he believed, that by this infamous piece 
 
 x>f treachery he ihoujd make his fortune. 
 
 The duke of Hamilton and lord Athol, 
 conceiving that they had now met with an 
 opportunity of rendering it impoffible for 
 lord Lovat ever again to become formidable 
 to them, carried his letters to the earl of 
 Mar, at that time fecretary of ftate for 
 Scotland. The earl was aflailed with the 
 united felicitations of the duke of Ha-r 
 milton, lord Athol, and Mackenzie of 
 Prefionhal, who enjoyed the eftate of lord 
 Lovat, and who gave himfelf out for a zea- 
 lous Jacobite, the better to ruin the inte- 
 refts of lord Lovat at the court of St. Ger- 
 mains. In compliance with their intrea-- 
 ties, the earl of Mar tranfmitted the letters 
 to the court of St. Germains, by his near 
 relation, Mr. Erfkine. 
 
 This meafure had nearly its entire efFecl:, 
 The queen no fooner received the intel- 
 ligence than fhe fent it by lord Middle- 
 ton to the marquis de Torcy, by this .means 
 
 to
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 375 
 
 to eftablifh the treafon of lord Lovat againft PART 
 his fovereign, and induce the king to con- 
 fign him to a perpetual imprifonment. It 
 was only, to the credit of the marquis de 
 la Frezeliere, and to the natural generoiity 
 of M. de Torcy, that lord Lovat was in- 
 debted for his not being fhut up between 
 four walls for the reft of his life. 
 
 Mr. Hamilton had been indebted in a 
 moft fingular manner for his life to lord 
 Lovat; he had promifed a juft return for 
 this fervice, and an unalterable gratitude. 
 In the inftance I have related he did every 
 thing that depended upon him, to deftroy 
 lord Lovat, and to take away the life of the 
 man to whom he owed his own. I leave 
 it to the univerfe to decide upon the black- 
 nefs of this treachery, and the character 
 that is due to this monfter of ingratitude. 
 
 The friends of lord Lovat faved him from 
 the misfortune of a perpetual imprifonment, 
 upon this occafion. It muft not however be 
 imagined that the treachery of Mr. Hamilton 
 had not the moft unfavourable efFedt upon 
 the future events of his ftory. From that 
 moment thefvvorn enmity of the court of St. 
 B b 4 Ger-
 
 3?6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART Germains feerned to acquire new energy, 
 and to kindle with new hopes. The court 
 of France, which till this occurrence had 
 always protected lord Lovat, after having 
 feen his own letters, began to believe, that 
 there was fome truth in the crimes of 
 tergiverfation and treafon, which the court 
 of St. Germains had all along charged upon 
 him. 
 
 He was now ruined at the courts of St. 
 Germains and Verfailles. For himfelf he 
 faw more than ever the neceffity of efcaping 
 as he could, with his honour and his life 
 out of the kingdom of France. Still how- 
 ever he would do nothing without confult- 
 , ipg the marquis de la Frezeliere, whom he 
 regarded as his father in that country. The 
 1709. marquis found his reputation and credit 
 daily increaling at the court of France, and 
 he was in a perfectly good underftanding 
 with the king of England. He underftood 
 from his friends at Verfailles, that the 
 defign of a Scottifh infurrection was re- 
 vived. Upon thefe circumftances he took 
 it in his head to build the plan of a new 
 .project for Scotland, and to engage the 
 courts of France and St. Germains to name 
 
 him,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 377 
 turn commander in chief and generaliilimo PART 
 
 II. . 3* 
 
 of the expedition. \^v 
 
 1709. 
 
 Full of this defign, he advifed lord Lo- 
 vat to defer returning to his own country 
 till he had the pleafureof feeing him; add- 
 ing, that as foon as the campaign was ter- 
 minated he would come to Saumur ex- 
 prefsly for that purpofe. Lord Lovat 
 therefore waited his arrival with impa- 
 tience. 
 
 About the latter end of November the 
 marquis de la Frezeliere, with his mar- 
 chionefs and family, arrived at Saumur. 
 Lord Lovat went fome leagues to meet 
 him, and they encountered each other 
 with marks of inexpreffible friendship and 
 tendernefs on both fides. The marquis 
 was received at Saumur with a falute of 
 cannon, and every teftimony of honour and 
 celebrity. After having remained fome 
 days in this city, he conducted lord Lovat 
 and his brother to the pleafant caflle of 
 Anglers, where all of them pafled the win- 
 ter together. 
 
 It was here that M. de la Frezeliere, dif- 
 tlofed to lord Lovat the ideas he had in- 
 dulged.
 
 37* MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART dulged. He knew the credit and influence 
 ji. .3. 
 
 that nobleman pofiefTed in Scotland. He 
 was fatisfied, that he was more intimately 
 acquainted with the affairs of that country^ 
 and with all that regarded the court of St. 
 Germains, than thofe that were mod active 
 in its concerns. He therefore endeavoured 
 to engage lord Lovat to co-operate in di- 
 gefting a new pro j eel: for Scotland. But it 
 was not eafy to overcome the repugnance 
 of his friend, to lead him to fufpend the 
 very different ideas and defigns he had form- 
 ed, and to induce him to take a mare in 
 any fcheme, that concerned and involved 
 the interefls of his perfecutors. 
 
 To his objections the marquis anfwered 
 by protefling, that his grand object was the 
 reiloration of lord Lovat to his clan in the 
 moft honourable manner 3 that, if the king 
 of France approved of his fcheme, he would 
 himfelf be named to conduct the enter- 
 priie j and that the court of St. Germains 
 would be well pleafed with the appoint- 
 ment, fince he was upon better terms with 
 the king of England than any lieutenant 
 general in thefervice; that, when the enter- 
 prife fliould be executed, lord Lovat might 
 
 depend
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 379 
 
 depend upon being employed as a general PART 
 officer of France, and next to himfelf in \_J-^- 
 conducting the expedition, and in all the ! 79* 
 honours and advantages that could refult 
 from it. 
 
 Induced by the reprefentations and the 
 wimes of M. de la Frezeliere, lord Lovat 
 confented to lay afide the difguft and re- 
 fentment, that had been excited in his 
 breaft by the ill ufage of the court of St. 
 Germains. He entered afrefli upon the de- 
 tail of the information, fubfervient to a 
 Scottifh project, He was won over by his 
 perfect perfuafion of the fincerity of the 
 marquis's friendship and affection to him, 
 and by the character he bore with all the 
 world of being one of the ablefl generals 
 exiftin. 
 
 o' 
 
 Lord lovat ftated in a very accurate and 
 particular manner all that might be expected 
 from the Highlanders of Scotland, from the 
 loyal inhabitants of the lowlands, and from 
 feveral diftricts in the north of England, 
 He gave a precife defcription, of the fitua- 
 tion and nature of the whole country from, 
 {he remoteft mountains of Scotland to the 
 
 Tweed;
 
 380 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 T Tweed ; of the degrees of fubfiftence this 
 country could furnifh to an army ; and of all 
 the paflages and defiles that fuch an army 
 might feize, in order to hinder the enemy 
 from entering into their faftnefTes, and to 
 guard themfelves from the danger of a fur- 
 prife. 
 
 Lord Lovat gave a copy of the project he 
 had delineated to M. de laFrezeliere; who 
 had a particular talent at digefting plans for 
 a campaign. He therefore took as much 
 from that nobleman's plan as he judged pro- 
 per, and formed, from all the documents 
 in his hands, a general project for the en- 
 terprife, containing an excellent enumera- 
 tion of every thing that was neceflary for 
 the expedition, what troops, officers, arms, 
 money, ammunition and provifions. He 
 added to this a detail of what the king 
 of England might do after his arrival 
 in the north of Scotland, in fpite of the 
 refiftance of his enemies ; and of the pro- 
 per routes for an army to purfue, from the 
 highlands to Edinburgh, and from Edin-* 
 burgh to London. 
 
 1710. This plan, which was extremely beautiful 
 and well digefted, the marquis carried to court; 
 
 and,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 and, it being firfl approved by the minifter, PAR 
 it was afterwards mown to the moft Chrif- 
 tian king. His majefty was much pleafed 1 7 10 - 
 with it. He ordered his fervants, to labour 
 inceflantly at completing the neceffary pre- 
 parations, which was accordingly done with 
 great diligence. Indeed had the enemy de- 
 layed for ten days the fiege of Douay, the 
 king of England would have failed a fecond 
 time for his dominions. 
 
 It feemed however as if this prince had 
 always been followed by an unfortunate 
 jftar. Marfhal Villars had confented to 
 fpare fix thoufand men, and 1,600,000 
 francs *, from what had been ftipulated 
 between him and the administration for the 
 enfuing campaign in Flanders ; fo great 
 was his partiality to the interefts of the 
 king of England. In a very fhort time 
 however before that which was fixed upon 
 for the expedition, he received a courier 
 from the frontiers, with intelligence of the 
 inveftiture of Douay, which entirely over- 
 threw'the project of Scotland. He was now 
 obliged to employ the troops and money 
 deftined for this enterprife, in forming an 
 
 66,6661. 
 
 army
 
 382 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART army with all fpeed in Flanders, to endea- 
 
 H- 3- vour to raife the fiege. And fuch was the 
 
 1710. unfortunate fuccefs of the arms of his maf- 
 
 ter in this and the following campaign, that 
 
 the court of France were no longer able to 
 
 think of a Scottifh infurrection. 
 
 '7 11 - At the time that the enemy advanced to 
 form the fiege of Bouchain, the marquis de la 
 Frezeliere commanded a feparate camp of 
 about thirty thoufand men. He made a 
 rapid march to arrive before them to the 
 paflage of a river a few leagues from Bou- 
 chain. Being arrived with his whole ar- 
 my, before the enemy had been able to pafs 
 more than a fmall part of their troops, and 
 coiiceiving that he had met with a valuable 
 opportunity for cutting them in pieces, he 
 immediately drew up his forces in order of 
 battle, and advanced to attack them* At 
 this moment two aides de camp arrived one 
 after the other from marfhal Villars, with 
 orders to M. de la Frezeliere not to attack 
 the enemy. 
 
 The marquis, who faw victory within 
 his grafp, and was prefented with a favour- 
 able occaiion for annihilating the allied 
 i army,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 385 
 
 army, inftantly difpached a general officer to PART 
 marfhal Villars, to tell him, that he could ^ ^ 
 not undertake to anfvver with his head, as i? 1 *- 
 a good fervant of the king, the not attack- 
 ing the enemy with fo manifeft an advan- 
 tage. Villars, who was perfectly acquaint- 
 ed with the merit and enterprife of M. de 
 la Frezeliere, and convinced that he would 
 not fail to beat the enemy, came himfelf 
 upon a full gallop to prevent the encounter. 
 
 The marquis was in the utmoft degree 
 enraged at fo great a'difappointment. He 
 had fpent the four preceding days without 
 fleep, almoft without food, in a conftant 
 march towards the enemy. Being at once 
 opprefied by fatigue and agitated with dif- 
 appointment, he fell dangeroufly ill. 
 
 Not only the whole army, but all Francs 
 cried out upon marfhal Villars for having 
 failed to improve fo admirable an o.calion, 
 of ruining the allied army* They knew 
 not that he had fecret orders, not to at- 
 tack the enemy at whatever advantage, peace 
 being already privately concluded between 
 Louis XIV. and queen Anne. This indeed 
 appeared in the moft indubitable manner 
 
 in
 
 384 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART in the fequel of the prefent campaign, and 
 ^1^1^, in the campaign of Denain that follow- 
 1711* ed it. 
 
 The marquis de la Frezeliere died 
 of the diflemper he contracted in the 
 neighbourhood of Bouchain. He was 
 extremely regretted, not only by the king, 
 who publicly declared that he had loft in 
 him one of the beft officers in his fervice, 
 but alfo by the whole court. The marfhals 
 of France, the army, and indeed the whole 
 kingdom, were afflicted with the lofs of an 
 officer, equally diftinguimed by his ikill 
 in campaign war, by the fertility of his 
 genius, and his knowledge in the fcience of 
 artillery. 
 
 By his death lord Lovat loft his fuppoft, 
 his confolation under misfortunes, and all 
 the hopes he indulged of living either agre- 
 ably or honourably in the kingdom of 
 France. M. de la Frezeliere indeed be- 
 queathed him as a mark of his affection* 
 his daughter in marriage, with aconfidera- 
 ble part of his eftate as a portion. But the 
 lady being extremely young, lord Lovat re- 
 garded the marriage as impracticable. He 
 
 had
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 385 
 
 Jiad loft every thing, that had hithertobound PART 
 
 him to France and fufpended his refolutions, ^jLj 
 
 and he thought no longer but of returning '7 1 *. 
 to his own country. 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 T T was the countefs de la Roche Mil- PART 
 laye, widow of the coufm-german of ^^i^j 
 M. de laFrezeliere, who announced to him 7 11 - 
 the marquis's death. In this melancholy 
 letter {he had the goodnefs to offer to lord 
 Lovat, as he had loft a relation who had 
 loved him with the affection of a brother, 
 to put herfelf in the place of the marquis, 
 and to render that nobleman every fervice in. 
 her power, as his good friend and relation 
 by marriage. 
 
 Lord Lovat fhed many tears when he receiv- 
 ed this letter, and the death of the marquis fo 
 greatly overwhelmed him, that from forrow 
 and dejection it almoft feemed as if he 
 would not have furvived his friend. He 
 \vas indeed extremely ill for feveral weeks. 
 
 When he recovered, he wrote to ma- 
 dame de la Roche Millaye to conjure her 
 
 C c to
 
 386 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART to grant him her frrendfhip and good offices 
 at the courts of France and St. Germains -, 
 adding, that he had now no longer any 
 other relation in France, and that (he was 
 the only perfon capable of doing him fer- 
 vice at court. U-pon the receipt of this ; 
 letter the countefs allured lord Lovat anew, 
 that he might abfolutely depend upon her 
 friendfhip. 
 
 In reality from that time the countefs de 
 la Roche acted towards lord Lovat as 
 if he had been her brother, rather than 
 her friend and relation by marriage. She was 
 indeed extremely capable of rendering him 
 the moft eflential fervices. She was not 
 only upon good terms with the minifters, 
 but alfo with all the princes and princeffes 
 of the blood. She had been born and 
 educated in the houfe of the grand Conde $ 
 and had ferved for more than twenty 
 years as lady of honour to the princefs 
 de Conti, daughter of that hero. 
 
 Affuredly the countefs de la Roche was 
 perfectly qualified to be near the perfon of 
 a queen or a princefs of the blood. She was 
 endowed by nature with a mafculine and fpi- 
 
 rited
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 387 
 
 rlted character-, and was capable of affairs of PART 
 the firft order. She had but one paffion : it 
 Was that of ambition. And (he would have 
 arrived at thegreateft honours, if her ilarhad 
 been as happy, as her genius was admirable. 
 
 She had an acute and penetrating under- 
 flanding ; me had read much, and was en* 
 dowed with an aftoniming memory. She 
 was particularly acquainted with the con- 
 duct of fuits at law, and the fcience of an 
 advocate, in which me did not fall fhort 
 of thofe, who had been regularly admitted 
 in the parliament of Paris. It was this cir- 
 cumftance, which made her the heroine of 
 the great fuit between the duke de Bourbon 
 Conde, and his three filters, the princefs 
 de Conti, and the duchefTes de Vendome> 
 and de Maine. 
 
 To thefe rare accomplimments me united 
 a difpofition, bold, politic and infi- 
 nuating, which frequently engaged her in 
 the mofl delicate and hazardous intrigues of 
 the court. But what rendered her agree- 
 able to all the world, was an eafy and afto- 
 nifhing eloquence, which captivated all 
 who had the honour to know her, and was 
 C c 2 the
 
 388 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART thealmoft infallible instrument of her attain- 
 i^^lj ing thofe points, which (he ferioufly and 
 perfeveringly purfued. 
 
 1712. Lord Lovat had need of an advocate and 
 friend not lefs able and fincere than Madam 
 de la Roche. Peace being made public be- 
 tween France and England, the king named 
 the duke d'Aumont for his ambafiador ex- 
 traordinary to the court of London : queen. 
 Anne on her (ide appointed the duke of 
 Hamilton to reprefent her to the moft 
 Chriftian king. 
 
 The duke, as being brother in law to lord 
 Athol, had become one of the moft invete- 
 rate enemies of lord Lovat. He was confi- 
 dered as the leader of the tory party, and 
 was in perfed: good underftanding with the 
 court of St. Germains, who believed him 
 ftrenuous in his exertions for their reflora- 
 tion. Lord Lovat was with reafon appre- 
 henfive of the arrival of the new ambafTa- 
 dor at the court of Verfailles. He believed, 
 that, by uniting his efforts to the intrigues 
 of the court of St. Germains, the duke 
 would at length obtain of the court of 
 France the great object of which his ene- 
 mies
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 389 
 
 mies never loft fight, his imprifonment PART 
 
 for life. JLi, 
 
 1712. 
 
 Agitated by thefe apprehenfions, lord Lovat 
 wrote his fentiments upon the fubjed: to the 
 countefs de la Roche, affuring her, that he 
 was refolved to make his efcape from France 
 with whatever danger, rather than fpend 
 the remainder of his life in a prifon j 
 and intreating her to obtain for him 
 certain intelligence of the fentiments of the 
 court of France in his behalf. 
 
 The countefs failed not to found the ad- 
 rmniftration, and talked very ferioufly re- 
 fpecting him to the mihiftcr. She wrote 
 to lord Lovat, as the refult of her confe- 
 rence, that he had nothing to fear from the 
 arrival of the duke of Hamilton ; that, 
 mould the ambaiTador demand it, the 
 court of France would never commit lord 
 Lovat to a clofe imprifonment ; that, 
 on the contrary, the minifter had promifed 
 to exert the influence he flattered him- 
 felf he pofTefled with the duke of Hamilton, 
 to reconcile him to lord Lovat; and that 
 neither me nor M. de Torcy entertained 
 doubt refpe<fting their fuccefs. This 
 C c 3 advice
 
 390 MEMOIRS QF THE LIFE 
 
 PART advice afforded fome degree of confolation 
 Ji. . 4. 
 < v \ to lord Lovat, but his fears were not entire- 
 
 17IZ * ly diffipated, till the public papers announ- 
 ced the fatal duel, fought at London be- 
 tween the duke of Hamilton and lord 
 Mohun. 
 
 In the perfon of the duke of Hamilton 
 lord Lovat faw the deftruclion of his moft 
 formidable enemy ; but he was both touched 
 and afflicted at his death. The duke was a man 
 of high courage, and his perfonal qualities 
 were fuch, that he might naturally have 
 adorned the annals of his country, and been 
 refpedted as a perfon of a fuperior order to 
 the lateft pofterity. But his unparalleled 
 avarice debafed his character, annihilated all 
 the fine qualities of his mind, and rendered 
 him fo unpopular with the whole body 
 of his countrymen, and eve"n with his per- 
 fonal friends, that there was nothing but 
 the tragical manner of his death, which 
 could have rendered his memory lamented 
 in Scotland. 
 
 171.3- After the death of the duke of Hamilton, 
 lord Lovat believed that Athol would have 
 lefs credit with the court of St. Germains. 
 He therefore fuppofed he might eafily 
 
 make
 
 . OF LORD LOVA-T. 391 
 
 make his peace with that court, or at leaft P jj A r R 
 obtain permiiilon to return to his own - -- 
 country. With this view he made frefli 
 application to the court of France, in whole 
 breaft it was, to detain him in prifon, or to 
 fet him at full liberty. 
 
 He employed in this bufinefs a perfon 
 for whom the marquis de Torcy, in whofe 
 hands he had always been, and who had 
 given him fucceffive proofs of his goodnefs, 
 had much regard and efteem. It was abbe 
 Pouget, a prieft of the oratory, and the fa- 
 vourite and friend of M. Colbert, bimop of 
 Montpelier and brother to M. de Torcy. 
 The abbe was a man of extenfive learning, 
 but better qualified to correcl: and new mo- 
 del breviaries, a bufinefs in which he met 
 with great fuccefs, than to diredt and ma- 
 nage intrigues of ftate. Though he were a 
 man of integrity, and by his labours very 
 ufeful to his fraternity, he was at the fame 
 time fo full of himfelf and his books, that 
 he often preferred the applaufes of thofe 
 who flattered his publications to his own 
 interefts, always to thofe of his friends. 
 
 C c 4 Lord
 
 392 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 Lord Lovat had the misfortune to employ 
 abbePouget, being drawn in by the boafts 
 that he made of his extraordinary influence 
 over the marquis de Torcy, In the room 
 however of rendering any good offices to 
 lord Lovat with that minifter, he preju- 
 diced him more in his good opinion, than, 
 the court of St. Germains had been able to 
 do in the courfe of its perfevering efforts. 
 And this happened more from imbecility 
 than malice : for lord Lovat has always be-r 
 lievcd, that the abbe was incapable of per- 
 petrating a malicious adtion. His letters 
 however, all of which are ftill in being, 
 proved but too unqueftionably how weakly 
 he conducted himfelf in this affair. 
 
 Soon after his arrival at Paris M. Pouget 
 wrote to lord Lovat, that he had an audience 
 of the marquis de Torcy upon his account $ 
 that the minifter had declared, he was 
 perfuaded of his innocence, and of his 
 good and faithful fervices to his own 
 king and to France, that this had en- 
 gaged him conftantly to enlift himfelf 
 among his friends, that his misfortunes 
 originated folely in the court of St. Ger- 
 that, if that court were reconciled 
 
 tQ
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 393 
 
 to him, the court of France would be will- PART 
 ing and ready to give him his liberty and s _ f l v l^ J 
 promote his interefts, and that M. Pouget J 7 J 3- 
 ought himfelf to wait upon the queen's ad- 
 miniftration, to learn decidedly what they 
 had to alledge againft lord Lovat ; adding, 
 that, if they could not prove fomething 
 eflential againft him, he would apply to the 
 king his mafter, to releafe him from pri- 
 fon, and recal him to court. 
 
 To this letter lord Lovat returned an im- 
 mediate anfwer. He thanked abbe Pouget 
 for the favour he had done him in fpeak- 
 ing to M. de Torcyj obferving at the fame 
 time, that he was extremely mortified, that 
 the marquis had made any thing that he 
 fhould do in his behalf, turn upon his be- 
 ing firfr, juftified by his inveterate enemies 
 at the court of St. Germains. He told M. 
 Pouget, that he was perfuaded of his zeal, 
 and imprerTed with the warmed fenfe of his 
 exertions ; buthe intreated him not to expofe 
 himfelf, byinterpofing in his behalf with that 
 court, till lord Lovat had firft endeavoured 
 to foften the averfion of the queen and her 
 cninifter, by the ccuntefs de la Roche Mil- 
 lay e,
 
 394 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART lave, and his other friends at the court of 
 li. . 4. ^ 
 L v~ ' r ranee. 
 
 1713- 
 
 He obferved, that, if this previous flep 
 were not taken, he would be obliged to 
 hear an infinity of falfhoods and calumnies 
 againft him ; that indeed he did not fear 
 their making any impreffion upon a man of 
 his underftanding and penetration, but that 
 it might be injudicious, to reduce himfelf 
 to the neceffity of repeating to the marquis 
 de Torcy, the fictions of lord Middleton 
 and his creatures. 
 
 This reafoning made no impreffion upon 
 M. Pouget. He replied, that his vifit to 
 the court of St. Germains would be of the 
 utmofl ufe to lord Lovat; that for his own 
 part, he did not entertain the fmallefl: 
 doubt of bringing over lord Middleton and 
 his other enemies, and of making his peace 
 with the queen ; that in all events he had 
 no mifchievous confequences to apprehend 
 from this ftep, fince the marquis de Torcy 
 was already convinced of his loyalty and 
 innocence. He therefore begged pardon of 
 lord Lovat, for deviating in this inftance 
 from his inflruclions, and refolutely taking 
 
 a ftep,
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 395 
 
 a flep, which could produce nothing but PART 
 benefit. The truth is, the good abbe was ( 4? 
 fo full of his own judgment and penetra- 
 tion, and fo impatient of any delay in the 
 pleafure he propofed to himfelf of prefenting 
 his catechifm of Montpelier, lately pub- 
 limed, and which had fo great fuccefs in 
 the world, to lord Perth and lord Middle- 
 ton, that all the remonstrances lord Lovat 
 could make were incapable of diverting him, 
 from his purpofe. 
 
 His vifit produced all theillefFe&s that lord 
 Lovat expected from it. Such was his agent's 
 imbecility, that he wa.s fmitten in the extre- 
 ineft degree with the great compliments and 
 high applaufes, thatlord Perth and lord Mid- 
 dleton beftowed upon his performance and 
 abilities. In return, he could not refufe to 
 give implicit credit, to the calumnies they 
 repeated to him againft lord Lovat. Ac- 
 cordingly, he felt himfelf obliged to take 
 a fecond ftep, more fimple and more inju- 
 rious than the former. He haftened 
 to the marquis de Torcy, to repeat to 
 him, as facts, the evidence of which was 
 undoubted, the deteftable fictions that had 
 juil been communicated to him. That this 
 
 was
 
 39 6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART was the cafe, is unquefKonably certain 
 
 L 1: - 1, from the letter abbe Pouget wrote to lord 
 
 1 7 1 3* Lovat after his return from St. Germains. 
 
 Hetoldhiscorrefpondent, thathehad been 
 received in the mofl polite manner by lord 
 Perth and lord Middleten; that he had found 
 thefe two noblemen equally accomplifhed 
 in fcience and good breeding -, that they 
 had beftowed unbounded commendations 
 upon his performance, and had loaded his 
 perfon with instances of their con- 
 defcenfion. He obferved, that in the mean 
 time he was -extremely forry to be obliged 
 to tell lord Lovat, that he had heard and 
 feen various things relating to him, which 
 condemned him in the mofl unanfwerable 
 manner, but the particulars of which he 
 was not at liberty to difcover, as they 
 related to flate affairs. He added, that 
 he was flill further mortified to be obliged 
 to inform him, that, having waited upon 
 the marquis de Torcy immediately after his 
 return from St. Germains, he had found 
 the opinion of the minifter totally altered j 
 M. de Torcy had afTured him, that he 
 was now perfectly fatisfied of the guilt of 
 lord Lovat, and abfolutely refolved to have 
 
 frothing more to do with his affairs. 
 
 The
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 397 
 
 The abbe concluded, that he was au de- PART 
 fefpoir to tell him, that, as he now law 
 him ruined withput redemption, and for 
 ever at the two courts, he muft beg leave 
 to decline any further concern, either di- 
 rectly or indiredtly, in his affairs : that, 
 as his friend, he thought himfelf obliged 
 to obferve, that lord Lovat had no other 
 choice left, v than to enter into a convent for 
 life. Upon this fubject the abbe made 
 a fermon, and with this moral wound up 
 his letter. 
 
 Lord Lovat preferves this epiftle as one of 
 the choiceft morfels that all his adventures 
 have afforded him. In the mean time it 
 may be remarked, that fourteen days 
 had not elapfed between the date of this 
 letter, and that which M. Pouget had writ- 
 ten, to tell lord Lovat, that the marquis 
 de Torcy was convinced of his loyalty and 
 innocence. And in this fortnight, in 
 which fo great an alteration had taken place 
 in the fentiments of M. de Torcy, it does 
 not appear that any perfon had fpoken to 
 him in relation to lord Lovat, except abbe 
 
 Pouget. 
 
 Lord
 
 393 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Lord Lovat was extremely afflicted with 
 the ill conduct of the. abbe, and particularly 
 mortified to perceive, that by his blunders he 
 had loft the friendship and good opinion of 
 M. de Torcy. With regret he wrote upon 
 the fubject to the marquis ; at the fame time 
 addreffing a fecond letter to the countefs dela 
 Roche Millaye, intreating her to endeavour 
 to recover for him the acquittal and appro* 
 bation, that had hitherto belonged to him 
 in the judgment of M. de Torcy* He ob- 
 ferved to the countefs, that me was ac^ 
 quainted witlj the real ftate of every part of 
 his conduct, and that the marquis ought 
 rather to give credit to her reprefentations 
 on the part of lord Lovat, than to what 
 had been reported to him by the reverend 
 father Pouget, who only retailed the accu- 
 fations of lord Middleton, his declared 
 enemy. 
 
 The countefs in return to this lettef 
 blamed lord Lovat for having trufted his 
 affairs in the hands of an ecclenaftic, who 
 was more fit to fuperintend the difcipline 
 of a convent, than to conduct an intrigue 
 of ilate. At the fame time me intreated 
 him not to be difcouraged by his ill fuccefs, 
 
 as
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 399 
 
 as fliedid not doubt thatfhe fhould be able to 
 reflore things to their former condition with 
 refped: to the marquis de Torcy. This ami- 
 ranee afforded fome confolation to lord Lo- 
 vat -, but he was ftill in the higheft degree 
 anxious about his fate, and he longed with 
 the extremeft ardour to return to his own 
 country. 
 
 About this time the king beftowed the 
 abbey de St. Florent near Saumur, upon 
 monfeigneur de Crillon, bishop of Vence, 
 and now archbiihop of Vienne in Dauphine. 
 His reverence was therefore obliged to take 
 a journey to Saumur, in order to be in- 
 ductea into his appointment. Lord Lovat 
 profited of this occaiion to make his court 
 to this great prelate. He took the liberty 
 to offer him his carriage, the bifhop having 
 come by water to Saumur, and confequently 
 havingbrought no equipage along with him. 
 M. de Crillon received lord Lovat with all 
 poiTible politenefs, and manifcfted great ref- 
 pecc for him during fome months that he 
 fpent at Saumur. 
 
 All who have the honour to be acquaint- 
 ed with the archbifhop of Vienne, know that 
 3 he
 
 400 
 
 PART he is not lefs diftinguifhed by his perfonal 
 v_ -^^ merit, than by his illuftrious birth. He is ac- 
 I 7 I 3 knowledged by the whole kingdom, not 
 more for a good theologian, than for an 
 intelligent politician, and an able courtier* 
 Lord Lovat knew that this prelate was 
 the intimate friend of the marquis de 
 Torcy, and of his firft fecretary, M. Adam. 
 He had conducted the king's affairs in the 
 ftates of Provence for many years, and this 
 province being in the department of M. de 
 Torcy, that circumftance gave occafion to a 
 great intimacy between the minifterand the 
 bifhop of Vence< 
 
 Lord Lovat, acquainted with thefe cir- 
 cumftances, and being offered by this 
 amiable prelate his good offices with M. 
 de Torcy, earneftly intreated him, when 
 he returned to Paris, to folicit his recal to 
 court, or the minifter's permiflion for him 
 to return into his own country. The 
 bifhop of Vence promifed to exert him- 
 felf for that purpofe 5 and indeed, from 
 the period of his refidence at Saumur, he 
 has always continued the fincere and gene- 
 rous friend of lord Lovat. He fpoke fo 
 often, and in fo fpirited a manner in his 
 3 favour
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 401 
 
 favour to the marquis de Torcy, that the PART 
 
 minifter at length replied, "If lordLovathas 
 
 tf property and relations in Scotland, as he 
 
 " fays he has ; why, in the devil's name, 
 
 " does he not go thither ? He will never 
 
 " experience any thing but difgrace and 
 
 " perfecution on the part of the court of St. 
 
 " Germains, and the court of France will at 
 
 " no time be able to ferve him, in oppofi- 
 
 " tion to the king and queen of England, 
 
 " and their minifter." 
 
 As the bifliop of Vence did not think 
 proper to write this laft reply of M. de 
 Torcy, he commiffioned a gentleman of 
 diftia&ion, who lived at Saumur, and was 
 then at Paris, to relate it by word of 
 mouth. 
 
 The perfon intruded with this com- 
 million was M. de Valliere, lieutenant to 
 the marflials of France, and .who had a 
 very noble houfe in Saumur. Fie had done 
 the king diftinguiihed fervice, and had been 
 governor of the town and caftle of Annecy 
 in Savoy during the laft war. His brother, 
 major general de Valliere, had been one of 
 the bed officers of foot in France, and was 
 D d com-
 
 402 
 
 PART commander in chief of the forces in Savoy 
 ^_.-Ll^j for many years. Upon his death he left 
 1713- one hundred thoufand crowns * to the go- 
 vernor of Annecy, and this legacy placed him 
 in a condition to doperfe<5tly well the honours 
 of Saumur. He was extremely hofpitable 
 both to Frenchmen and foreigners, and he 
 was the firft perfon that took notice of lord 
 Lovat upon his arrival. He afterwards 
 rendered him eflential fervices, and conti- ' 
 nued his fincere and intimate friend during 
 the whole period of his exile. 
 
 As he was alfo the friend of the bimop 
 of Vence, who knew him for a man of 
 honour and probity, this prelate did not 
 hefitate, to intreat him to perfuade lord 
 Lovat to follow the advice of the marquis 
 de Torcy. M. de Valliere faithfully dif- 
 charged his commiffion, and as he was a 
 man of great fenfe and ingenuity, and lord 
 Lovat was well fatisfied of his good-will to- 
 wards him, he was able fully to perfuade 
 that nobleman to make a final effort, to ef- 
 cape from France, and be no longer the 
 victim of an unjuft and inexorable court. 
 
 * 12,500!. 
 
 The
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 
 
 The countefs de la Roche in the mean PART 
 
 , . i H. -4- 
 
 time wrote to him to have patience ; that \ '-.. .j 
 
 (he was taking meafures to gain over the I7 ' 3i 
 queen of England ; and that he ought by 
 no means to think of quitting France, 
 without the permiffion of the court of St* 
 Germains, at a time when queen Anne was 
 refolved, and was taking every necefTary 
 meafure to reftore her brother to his throne. 
 She added, that all the world believed, that 
 the king would let out without delay for 
 Scotland, where every thing was prepared 
 to receive him; and that in fuch a moment 
 to pafs into that country without his per- 
 miffion, muft certainly produce irretriev- 
 able ruin. 
 
 In deference to the reprefentations of fo 
 refpeftable a friend, lord Lovat thought 
 himfelf obliged to delay his departure for a 
 fhort time* Meanwhile he refolved to fend 
 Mr. John Frafer, his brother, immediately 
 into Scotland, to put himfelf at the head of 
 his clan, and to act for lord Lovat's inte- 
 refls, whatever might be the fituation of 
 the kingdom. 
 
 In purfuance of this determination he 
 
 wrote an account of his defign to the court 
 
 D d 2 of
 
 404 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART O f France. His brother at the fame time 
 c v ^ wrote to lord Perth, that, having been ill 
 1713 treated in France fpr ten years, he was at 
 length refolved, whatever were the confe- 
 quences, to return to his own country, and 
 to fupport the rights of his birth and his 
 family againft every one who fhould oppofe 
 them. Lord Lovat received no anfwer 
 from the court of France. He therefore 
 embarked his brother on board a veffel 
 bound from the port of Nantes to Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Soon after Mr. John Frafer's departure, 
 the countefs de la Roche advifed lord Lo- 
 vat, that fhe intended to pafs the winter at 
 her caftle of Gigieux near Saumur ; that 
 {he hoped he would fpend fome time with 
 her in that place, and that then they 
 would confult together refpec~ling what was 
 proper to be done in his affairs. 
 
 At the very time this letter came to 
 lord Lovat's hands, cardinal Gualterio, his 
 great friend and patron, arrived from Italy; 
 and a report was propagated, that he had 
 come to France to receive the appointment 
 of prime minifler to the mod Chriftian
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 405 
 
 king. This intelligence gave new life to PART 
 the hopes of lord Lovat. Sure he was, 
 that, if cardinal Gualterio, his intimate 
 friend and moft unfailing protector, were 
 declared prime minifter of the kingdom, his 
 recal to court would fpeedily follow, and 
 he mould infallibly make a brilliant for- 
 tune in France. 
 
 Animated by thefe hopes, he difpatched 
 memorials ilating the innocence of his con- 
 duct, and the barbarity of his enemies, to 
 the countefs de la Roche and the marquis 
 de Callieres, intreating thefe two generous 
 friends to addrefs the cardinal in his fa- 
 vour, and to put into his own hands a copy 
 of his memorial. 
 
 In this paper lord Lovat took cardi- 
 nal Gualterio himfelf to witnefs the redti- 
 tude of his moft efTential actions, from the 
 day that he co-operated with his eminence 
 in the project of Scotland, to the period of 
 his difgrace and imprifonment; and conclu- 
 ded with intreating the cardinal to obtain 
 for him one of three things ; his reconci- 
 liation with the court of St. Germains, the 
 confent of the king of France to his ferving 
 P d 3 in
 
 PART in one of his armies, or, laftly, permiffion 
 uJii to return into his own country and 
 J7J3- make his peace with the reigning govern- 
 ment. 
 
 M-. de Callieres, who was indisputably 
 the beft friend in the world, fpoke in a 
 very earner! manner to cardinal Gualterio 
 in favour of lord Lovat. He wrote by 
 Madame de la Roche, who came into An- 
 jou, that his eminence had promifcd him, 
 to go to Bar-le-duc, and to make a ftrong re- 
 prefentation to the king of England, in. or- 
 der to obtain the recal of his lordmip. 
 
 The countefs de la Roche Millaye no 
 fooner arrived at her caflle of Gigieux, 
 than lord Lovat haftened to pay his refpecl:s 
 to her; and me received him as if me had 
 been his fitter, rather than his friend. As 
 fhe had an infinite deal of wit and good 
 fenfe, her company was the greateft confo-^ 
 lation lord Lovat could experience in the 
 melancholy lituation of his affairs, 
 
 Madame de la Roche now acquainted 
 him in detail with her efforts in his 
 favour at the court of St. Germains. 
 
 She
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 407 
 
 She had engaged her friend, father PAR! 
 Chamillard of the fociety of Jefus, to ^-^v-i 
 gain over father Ruga, confeflbr to the 1 7 I 3- 
 queen, to exert himfelf to reftore lord Lo- 
 vat to her majefty's favour. At the fame 
 time me employed father Chamillard, to 
 give a copy of lord Lovat's memorial to fa- 
 ther Ruga, in order to have it prefented 
 to the queen, and to learn her majefty's 
 fentiments refpedting it. 
 
 Father Chamillard, indeed, who was 
 coufm-german to the minifter of that name, 
 and a man of perfect politenefs and good 
 breeding, had written to lord Lovat, that he 
 was extremely happy to have had this op- 
 portunity of mowing his efteem for him; 
 that he had given his memorial to father 
 Ruga, with a proper recommendation and 
 explanations, and that a few days after, that 
 father told him, he had perfectly difcharg- 
 ed his commiffion in the afrair. He add- 
 ed, that her majefty had anfwered, that 
 lord Lovat need only to have a little pa- 
 tience, that he was detained merely for po- 
 litical reafons, and that every thing mould 
 fhortly be done for him that he could pof- 
 fibly wim. 
 
 D d 4 This
 
 4 o8 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 This anfvver afforded but ilender confoh- 
 tion to lord Lovat, the queen having em- 
 ployed nearly the fame words in writing to 
 the marquis de la Frezeliere (ix years be- 
 fore, without lord Lovat's having ever ex- 
 
 o 
 
 perienced any good effects from it. 
 
 To the account of her very friendly ex- 
 ertions in this affair, the countefs de la 
 Roche added a long and clear explanation 
 of the defigns of queen Anne and her mi- 
 nifters, and above all of Harley earl of Ox- 
 ford, to reftore the young king of England 
 to his throne. She obferved that no perfon 
 doubted of the aufpicioufnefs of the event, 
 unlefs fome fudden misfortune mould hap- 
 pen to queen Anne, or her minifter ; and 
 that therefore lord Lovat would be an idiot 
 to declare himfelf againfl this prince, at a 
 time when all the world regarded his refto- 
 ration as certain. 
 
 It was nearly at the fame time that lord 
 Lovat received many letters from a gentle- 
 man of his clan in London, to inform him, 
 that, though his enemies were very power- 
 ful in the court of queen Anne, yet if he 
 
 were
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 409 
 
 were willing to diftribute a thoufand crowns PART 
 * among the fecretaries of the earl of Ox- 
 ford and lord Bolingbroke, he might, by 
 their means, and by the management and 
 intrigues of one Bromfield, a famous quaker, 
 who had followed king James into France, 
 and who was in a perfect undemanding with 
 lords Oxford and Bolingbroke, obtain his 
 pardon. He ailerted, that thefe minifters 
 were endeavouring to enlift in their party 
 the mod powerful nobility in Scotland, to 
 fupport the great defign they had in hand ; 
 and that they would, of confequence, be 
 extremely glad to engage lord Lovat in their 
 favour, who was the head of one of the 
 moft confiderable clans in Scotland. 
 
 Lord Lovat replied, that, however fa- 
 vourable the fituation of affairs might ap- 
 pear, he was well affured, that his enemies 
 were fo powerful in the court of queen. 
 Anne, that it would be vain to attempt any 
 thing of the kind. In the mean time he 
 added, that, if his relation thought money 
 would effect the bulinefs, he was ready to give, 
 not one, but two or three thoufand crowns, 
 whenever it mould be completed, in order 
 
 * 1-5 1 - 
 
 to
 
 4 io MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART to convince his clan that he fpared nothing, 
 i^l, lj to return to his country, and to put him- 
 1714. felf at their head. 
 
 Some time after lord Lovat's relation 
 advifed him, that Mr. Bromfield had fpoken 
 in an urgent manner to lord Bolingbroke ; 
 that the minifter had replied, that lord Lo- 
 vat was confidered as fo ill difpofed towards 
 the court of St. Germains, that he could 
 not be trufted -, but that, if he were deli- 
 rous of obtaining his pardon and the friend- 
 fhip of the Englim miniftry, he could not 
 do better than to put himfelf without delay 
 at the head of his clan, and be the firfl to 
 appear for his young fovereign, in which 
 cafe juftice would infallibly be done him. 
 
 During this petty tranfaclion lord Lovat 
 received information from Mr. John Fra- 
 fer his brother in the north of Scotland, 
 that the lairds of the highland clans, 
 and the other friends of the pretender, 
 were holding various meetings ; that 
 they had received, and diftributed among 
 them arms and ammunition; that they 
 were preparing to embody themfelves ; and 
 that they expected with impatience the arri- 
 val of the pretender in the north, in order to 
 
 range
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 411 
 
 range themfelves under his ftandard. He re- PART 
 lated, that his clan had earneftly prefled him 
 to inform lord Lovat, that they were extreme- 
 ly alarmed at all thefe movements in their 
 neighbours, while they were yet unin- 
 ftrudted what party to take ; and that they 
 mod earneftly befought him to come and 
 place himfelf at their head, now that they 
 were upon the eve of a period when the 
 whole kingdom would be full of war and 
 confufion. 
 
 Till lord Lovat mould arrive, his brother 
 intreated his directions in regard to the con- 
 duct he mould hold, fince he found that the 
 duke of Gordon, lord Athol, lord Mar, and 
 other noblemen of the party of the preten- 
 der, and who had much influence at thecourt 
 of queen Anne, had declared themfelves his 
 enemies, and hadgiven orders to all the troops 
 in Scotland to take him, dead or alive, believ- 
 ing that he was inlifted in the party of 
 Hanover, and had been fent thither to fup- 
 port that intereft. 
 
 Lord Lovat advifed his brother, fince 
 thefe noblemen perfecuted him in fo 
 cruel and unjuft a manner, to throw 
 
 himfelf
 
 412 MEMOIRS OF THE, LIFE 
 
 PART himfelf immediately upon the duke of Ar- 
 ^..i-^l gyle. There had been, he obferved, 
 J 7H' from the earlieft periods of hiflory, a ftrict 
 alliance between the houfes of Argyle and 
 Lovat : the only conduct therefore that was 
 proper in the prefentfituation, was to call upon 
 thedukeof Argyle to protect him and hisclan; 
 alluring him, in the name of their chieftain, 
 that they would at all times be ready to hazard 
 their lives with him, as their anceftors had 
 fo often done with his. He declared, he 
 was well fatisfied, that the duke of Ar- 
 gyle, who was a nobleman of ftrong un- 
 derftanding, great bravery and acknowledg- 
 ed merit, would not refufe, in confidera- 
 tion of the efiential fervices, which they 
 had rendered to his anceftors, and were ca- 
 pable of rendering to himfelf in this dan- 
 gerous conjuncture, to take the family of 
 Lovat and the clan of the Frafers under 
 his protection. 
 
 He concluded, that his brother ought 
 not to be difcouraged, that the times would 
 foon be mod favourable for them, that he 
 would without fail haften to join him, as 
 foon as he could do it with the leaft ap- 
 pearance of fafety, and that he therefore 
 earneftly intreated rnm a to defend with 
 
 firmnefs
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 413 
 
 firmnefs and refolution his country and his PART 
 
 clan till his arrival. II. . 4. 
 
 ^ "i/" >+ 
 1714. 
 
 While lord Lovat was in this extreme 
 agitation, he employed an officer of the 
 royal light horfe, his intimate friend, and 
 to whom he had been firft introduced by 
 the countefs de la Roche, to watch the re- 
 turn of cardinal Gualterio from Bar-le-duc, 
 and to put into his hands a letter from lord 
 Lovat, intreating his eminence to com- 
 municate to the bearer the final decifion of 
 that court refpecting him. The name of 
 this officer was M. de Grange Rouge, a 
 man of courage and good fenfe. 
 
 As foon as this gentleman knew that the 
 cardinal was returning to court, and was 
 allured that he would immediately fet out 
 for Italy, he repaired without delay to the 
 royal apartments at Fontainebleau. Having 
 found the cardinal, he took the liberty 
 to requeft a moment's audience. His 
 eminence going afide with him, M. de 
 Grange Rouge put into his hands lord Lo- 
 vat's letter, and faid as much as the fhort 
 time would permit in his favour. 
 
 The
 
 414 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 The cardinal whifpered the officer* 
 that he muft beg of him to aflure lord Lo- 
 vat, that he was as much his friend as ever, 
 that no man knew better than he the in- 
 juftice that was done him, that he had 
 fpoken in ilrong terms to the king of Eng- 
 land at Bar-le-duc in his favour, but that 
 things were not yet ripe for the reconcilia- 
 ation he fo ardently defired. He obferved, 
 that he was extremely forry not to be able 
 to write to lord Lovat, but that the queen 
 of England had preffed and obliged him to 
 promife that he would not. He however 
 intreated the officer to give lord Lovat a 
 verbal afiurance, that his eminence would 
 not forget him, that he begged him to have 
 patience, that he would not fail to protect 
 him, and that he would make his peace 
 with the king and queen of England, when 
 things fhould be fufficiently ripe for that 
 purpofe. 
 
 The officer replied, that he was told, his 
 eminence was upon the point of fetting out 
 for Italy, and that then he would be at 
 too great a diftance to be able to ferve 
 lord Lovat. The cardinal faid, it was 
 true he was going to Rome, but that he 
 
 mould
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 415 
 
 ftiould be equally, in Italy and in France, PART 
 the minifter of the king of England -, and ^^ij 
 that it would not be lefs eafy for him to '7*4- 
 reftore the affairs of lord Lovat when ab- 
 fent, than when prefent. His eminence 
 then in treated him to make him a thoufand 
 compliments on his part, and took leave of 
 the officer with that complacent and affable 
 manner which was natural to him. 
 
 M. de Grange Rouge, having received 
 this anfwer from cardinal Gualterio, came 
 by an ordinary leave of abfence to his eftate 
 in Tourraine. From thence he haftened 
 to wait upon the countefs de la Roche at 
 her caftle of Gigieux, where he met lord 
 Lovat and the marquis de Sache, the coun- 
 tefs's fon, who was upon a vifit to his own 
 eftates in Anjou and Tourraine. 
 
 This gentleman had no fooner given 
 an account of his commiffion, than lord 
 Lovat was perfectly convinced, that, 
 iince cardinal Gualterio had not been 
 able to effecl: his reftoration, he had no- 
 thing hereafter to hope from the courts of 
 France, St. Germains and Bar-le-duc. He 
 therefore endeavoured to perfuade madarne 
 5 de
 
 4'6 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART de la Roche, that there was nothing left 
 ifllj^ for him, but to return immediately into 
 1714. the highlands, whatever were the confe- 
 quence. The countefs, who had much 
 affection and regard for lord Lovat, fet her- 
 felf to oppofe this defign with much ener- 
 gy. She faid, with fome heat, that it would 
 be the extreme of madnefs to precipitate 
 himfelf into Scotland in the midfl of dan- 
 ger, without having firft obtained the con- 
 tent, either of the court of France, or the 
 king of England. 
 
 M. de Callieres now wrote to madame 
 de la Roche, that, notwithftanding his fin- 
 cere efforts, he was not able at this time to 
 obtain for lord Lovat, either his reconcili- 
 ation with the court of St. Germains, per- 
 miflion to ferve in the armies of the king 
 of France, or leave to return into his own 
 country -, that there was therefore no other 
 part for him to take, but to wait with pa- 
 tience the decifion of the fate of the king 
 of England. 
 
 The countefs put this letter into the 
 hands of lord Lovat, and, confidering it as 
 a new reinforcement of her own fentiments, 
 
 5 foe
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 417 
 
 Ihe repeated, that it was impoffible to PAR! 
 think of any other conduct, at a time <_J v -lL 
 when nobody doubted of his majefty's 1 7 1 ^ 
 fpeedy reftoration ; adding, that, if he 
 would yet remain a fhort time in France, 
 fhe was perfuaded that (he fliould be able 
 completely to reflore him to the favour of 
 both courts* 
 
 Lord Lovat permitted himfelf to be in- 
 fluenced by the reafoning, and governed by 
 the counfels of madame de la Roche. He 
 fpent a great part of his time at her feat 
 till {he fet out upon her return to Paris, in 
 Eafter week, 1714. Some days after her 
 arrival, apprehenfive perhaps that lord Lo- 
 vat might yet recur to his own ideas, (he 
 urged him by letter- to have patience, 
 and that {he had no doubt but every 
 thing would terminate in the moil aufpi- 
 cious manner* 
 
 Lord Lovat was llill agitated by the mofl 
 tragical apprehenfions on thefide of Scotland, 
 and with very feeble and glimmering hopes 
 on the part of the two courts of France 
 and St. Germains. In this fituation he 
 
 E e was
 
 PART was moft agreably furprifed to fee one of 
 .^v^li the principal gentlemen of his clan, with a 
 1714, Frafer, his attendant, arrive at Saumur 
 about the beginning of July 1714. To 
 have with him a man of courage and un- 
 derftanding, who had been conftantly with 
 the Frafers from the beginning of their 
 troubles, and who could give him an exadt 
 and particular account of every thing that 
 reipected them, was a circumftance, as 
 happy, as it had been totally unforefeen by 
 him. 
 
 The gentleman in queftion was James 
 Frafer of Caflle Lader, fon of Malcoln 
 Frafer of Culduthel, the head of a very 
 confickrable branch of the houfe of Lovat, 
 which was competed of ibme of the braveft 
 gentlemen in the world, and had uniformly 
 diftinguimed itfelf, during the whole period 
 of their prefent adverfity, by a zeal for the 
 perfon and intereft of lord Lovat. In this 
 cauie theyhad loft their property, and were 
 continually in danger of their lives. In 
 fpite however of thefe difcouragements, 
 and of the rigorous and unremitted ill treat- 
 ment of lord Athol and Mackenzie of Pref- 
 tonhal, the ufurper of their clanfhip, they 
 
 uniformly
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 419 
 
 tiniformly perfevered in their original fen- PART 
 
 timents. JIl^Jj 
 
 1714. 
 
 Mr. James Frafer brought lord Lovat a 
 letter from Mr. John Frafer his brother, 
 and the principal gentlemen of his clan; 
 repeating anew their confirmation at his 
 abfence, the fierce threats that were thrown 
 out againil them by the highland lairds of 
 the Jacobite party, and their daily expecta- 
 tion of the arrival of their king from 
 France. 
 
 James Frafer obferved to lord Lovat, that 
 it was the opinion of the principal perfons 
 of his clan, and of his other relations and 
 friends, that he fhould join himfelf to the 
 duke of Argyle, in confideration of the 
 ancient friendship between their houfes; 
 fince, as the duke of Argyle was one of the 
 firfl nobility in Scotland, and a general of 
 high courage and reputation, there was no 
 doubt he would always have a ftrong party 
 with him, and would be able to make good 
 conditions for himfelf and his followers, 
 whatever might be the revolutions of the 
 government of the two kingdoms. 
 
 E e 2 James
 
 420 MEMOIRS OF TH LIFE 
 
 James Frafer added, that in paffing 
 through London he had feen fir James 
 *7'4- Campbel of Arkinglafs and Mr. John 
 Forbes of Culloden, both of them members 
 of the parliament of Great-Britain, and 
 moft affectionately attached to lord Lovat 
 and his houfe. They protefled to James 
 Frafer, that his chief had not in the world 
 any other meafure to adopt, than that of 
 coming into that country without delay, 
 to hold himfelf and his clan ready for the 
 fervice of the duke of Argyle, who was the 
 only man in Great Britain, capable of fup- 
 porting him againft all his enemies. They 
 propofed to him to wait upon the duke : 
 to which James Frafer replied, that, though 
 he had no inflruclions for that purpofe, he 
 (hould be happy to pay his duty to his 
 grace, or to receive from their mouths his 
 grace's fentiments on the fubjeft of his 
 chief, previous to his journey into France 
 to attend him. 
 
 Sir James Campbel and Mr. Forbes of 
 Culloden accordingly fpoke to the duke of 
 Argyle. They reported to James Frafer 
 the words of this nobleman, who intreated 
 him to allure lord Lovat, that he was per- 
 fectly
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 421 
 
 fectly difpofed to render fervice to him and 
 his clan; that, the enemies of lord Lovat 
 and the houfe of Argyle being the fame, 
 he could not do better than join hirnfelf to 
 his party j and that, if he were willing fe- 
 rioufly to refolvc to hazard his life and for- 
 tune with him, he protefted upon the ho- 
 nour of a gentleman, that he would be 
 equally faithful in return. Sir James Camp- 
 bel and Mr. Forbes defired Mr. Frafer 
 to report this mefTage to his chief, and 
 warmly preffed him to perfuade lord Lovat 
 to take that party. 
 
 Lord Lovat replied to the long and accu- 
 rate detail of his conlin, that he was fatis- 
 fied, the meafure recommended to him 
 by his clan, by his friends in Scotland, and 
 at London, was the befl he could adopt, 
 He obferved, however, that the execution 
 was extremely difficult; that he was a pri- 
 foner in France, and could not leave it but 
 at the imminent rifk of his life; that the 
 court of St. Germains was inexorable to- 
 wards him ; and that the court of France 
 would never grant him permiffion to return, 
 without the confent of St. Germains, 
 
 E e ? Mr
 
 422 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Mr. Frafer obferved to this, that he had 
 found numbers, both Engliih and Scots, 
 who were continually going into Britain 
 by order of the court of St. Germains and 
 with the confent of queen Anne -, that lord 
 Lovat ought therefore to try that court for 
 the laft time, and know, whether, after four- 
 teen years exile and irnprifonment, he 
 might not at length be permitted to return 
 to his own country. He added, that, if 
 he pleafed, he would carry his letters for that 
 purpofe to lord Perth, and his other friends 
 and relations in France, 
 
 Lord Lovat confented to the propofal, 
 He was willing, that his clan and his rela- 
 tions might have nothing with which to 
 reproach him. He however begged his 
 eoufm to have patience, till he had pre- 
 vioufly acquainted with his intention the 
 marquis de Torcy, thecountefs de la Roche 
 Millaye, the marquis de Callieres, fecreta- 
 ry of the clofet to the moft Chriftian king, 
 and M. de Roujeault, intendant of Rouen, 
 his intimate friends, who were all at that 
 time at Paris. He accordingly wrote by 
 the firft poft after the arrival of Mr. Frafer, 
 informing them of that event, and that he 
 
 was
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 423 
 
 was going to fend him immediately to court PART 
 to acquaint the administration with the ftate J^_^Jj 
 of affairs in Scotland, and to endeavour to 1714- 
 obtain leave to return to his clan, who de- 
 manded him with groans and tears. 
 
 In ten days, the countefs de la R.cche 
 difpatched M. de Grange Rouge poll to 
 Saumur, not daring to commit her fenti- 
 ments to paper. She deiired this officer to 
 prevail on lord Lovat, by no means to fend 
 his relation to court : to reprefent to him, 
 that the good underftanding between the 
 king of France and queen Anne was now at 
 fo high a pitch, that, if the court found 
 any individual, that dared to move a finger 
 to the injury of this harmony, or to excite 
 troubles in Scotland, they would ruin that 
 individual without redemption ; that, if he 
 had any regard for his life, his liberty or 
 the repofe of his friends, he mult by all 
 means keep himfelf eafy and quiet, and 
 fend back his relation to Scotland with- 
 out vifiting the courts of France and St. Ger- 
 inains ; that, if he ventured upon a itep fo 
 pregnant with calamity, (he 0111(1 from th:it 
 moment drop all correfpondence with him, 
 and beg him to return all her letters. 
 
 E e 4 Lord
 
 424 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 'ART Lord Lovat was greatly alarmed at thi$ 
 _^~Jj meffage. He faw hirnfelf in palpable dan- 
 J 7'4- geron whatever iide he turned. Since how- 
 ever he. had advertifed the marquis de Tor- 
 cy and his other friends, that he was upon 
 the point of fending to them his relation 
 juft arrived from Scotland, he refolved at 
 all events not to fail of his purpofe. Nor 
 was this his only motive. He was willing, 
 that his relation (liould be an eye-witnefs of 
 the barbarous injuftice of the court of St. 
 Germains, and fhould be able to give an 
 exact account and an unqueftionable tefti- 
 mony upon the fubject, when he Lhould 
 return to Scotland. He therefore prepared 
 the neceffary letters, and immediately difr 
 patched Mr. James Frafer to Paris. 
 
 Mr. Frafer waited according to his 
 jnftructions upon the marquis de Callieres, 
 and delivered his difpatches. At the 
 fame time he thanked him, in the name 
 of the whole clan of the Frafers, for the 
 generous and perfevering fervices that the 
 marquis had rendered to their chief during 
 his difgrace, imprifonment and exile. 
 M. de Callieres replied, that he was, and 
 always had been the faithful friend -of l.ortf 
 
 Lovat $
 
 O F L O R D L O V A T. 455 
 
 Lovat 5 that he perfedly knew his inno- p A R 1 
 cence, ancj the fervices he had rendered to JI - 4 
 his king and the court of France; and that 1714. 
 nothing but opportunity had been wanting, 
 to fhew the fmcerity of his affedtion by the 
 moft eflential lervices. 
 
 Having perufed lord Lovat'sdifpatches, he 
 added, that nothing could be done for his 
 chief but by the motion and confent of St. 
 Germains ; but that he would give him a 
 letter to his friend lord Perth, defiring that 
 nobleman to write to the queen, who was 
 at this time in the convent of Chaillot, and 
 upon whom every thing depended for the 
 releafe and re-cftablimment of lord Lovat, 
 
 Mr. Frafer having received this letter, re- 
 paired to St. Germains, where he was ex- 
 tremely well received by the nobleman to 
 whom it was addreiled. Lord Perth, hav- 
 ing read the letters of lord Lovat and M. de 
 Callieres, protetfed that he had at all times 
 been lord Lovat's friend ; that he had fuffer- 
 ed a great deal upon his account; but that 
 that lord had taken fuch accumulated fteps 
 againft the interefts of the king his mafter, 
 that it was now too late, to think of under- 
 taking to juftify him. 
 
 3 Mr.
 
 ( 
 
 425 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Mr. Frafer replied, that lord Perth ought 
 by no means to give credit to the enemies of 
 lord Lovat, that nothing was moreeafy than 
 to invent athoufand calumnies againft him, 
 and that it was not very difficult to gain 
 them a pretty general belief, while that no- 
 bleman was out of a condition to reply to 
 them. " All this is true," faid lord Perth, 
 " but the proofs I fpeak of, fo un- 
 
 queftionably eftablifb his uniform trea- 
 " chery to his king, and his rooted attach - 
 " ment to the party of Hanover, that no 
 " loyal fubjec~l acquainted with them, 
 " will ever dare to fay a word in his fa- 
 '* vour. But J will make yourfelf the, 
 " judge." 
 
 At thefe words, he turned to a bureau, 
 and took out of one of the drawers two or 
 three letters. Holding them in his hand, 
 " Mr. Frafer," faid he, " we have had but 
 " too many proofs of the determination of 
 " lord Lovat to defert the party of the king, 
 " Hereis the lad, andthemoftunanfwerable. 
 " It is a letter that his beft friend and near 
 " relation, the earl of Leven, who married 
 " his coufin, the fifter of the earl of Wemys, 
 " has thought himfelf obliged to fend me, 
 
 " figned
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 427 
 
 ff figned by his own hand, with advice of PART 
 
 " the tergiverfation of your chief; in order y_ *ltl 
 
 ** that, by giving notice of it to the king, I 7 1 4* 
 * f I might prevent its fatal confequences. 
 
 " Lord Leven has forefeen every objec- 
 <( tion ; and has therefore inclofed a copy, 
 " word for word, in French and Englim, and 
 " written with his own hand, of the letter 
 *' lord Lovat fent him by his brother, 
 " conceiving lord Leven to be flill attached 
 " to the interefts of Hanover, as he was 
 *' when he left Britain *. In this letter 
 
 "he 
 
 * The following is an extract of Macpherfon's Original 
 Papers. The letter of lord Lovat correfponds in fq 
 many circumftances, that it has been thought proper 
 to infert it. It is there faid to have been " inter-? 
 " cepted and returned to St. Germains." 
 
 ** The earl of Middleton to the marquis de Torcy" 
 , ( TRANSLATION. ) 
 
 March the 8th, 1711. 
 
 " It is long fince my fentiments of the pretended lord 
 " Lovat were known to you. An original letter, writ- 
 " ten by him to lord Leven, is come back to us from 
 " England. We have compared the hand-writing with 
 *' that which we have from him ; there is an exact re- 
 W femblance, and the fubject and^ftyle do not belie their 
 
 ^ author.
 
 4 23 MEMOIRS QF THE LIFE 
 
 ART < he informs lord Leven, that, perceiving 
 ^v~~j " that the pretender was refolved to go 
 
 i7H- i n to Scotland, and that it was not poifible 
 " for himfelf to efcape out of France, he 
 
 " had 
 
 " author. I fend you a literal tranflation of it. Bal- 
 " g on y i m y ' orc ^ Leven's fon j the young man in the 
 ** highland drefs, is lord Lovat's brother, who I believe 
 *< was in France. Here, fir, is a fpy of confequence 
 *' unmafked, and we know very well the means of pre* 
 ** venting this correfpondence for the future, 
 
 ** Lord Lovat ta the earl of Leven. 
 
 Auguft ^oth, N. S, 1709. 
 " My mod dear lord, 
 
 " Though you neglcdl me very much, and that you 
 " never fend me any anfwer to my letters, yet the love I 
 " have for your perfon and intereft makes me embrace all 
 *< the occafions I can find to ferveyou. As I told you 
 * laft year to take care of your affairs in Scotland, fo I 
 '* tell you now not to be lefs diligent. I am iziformed 
 " by feveral perfons,that there is a defignof going to fee 
 " you towards the latter end of the campaign ; but I be- 
 " lieve that depends upon the peace. If it is done, you 
 * c will fee nobody; but if the war continues, you will 
 " moft furely have the vifit that you mifled laft year. 
 ** If that happens, be fully perfuaded, that you will fee 
 *' mefoon after, to live and die with you, at the head of 
 " fome brave fellows, that will follow me in fpite of all 
 " mankind. I wrote, two months ago, to your Jordfliip 
 " by a French officer of the Englifli guards. This Better 
 " is only to acquaint you of the defign in hand. If I 
 " have entire certainty pf the time it fliould be. executed, 
 
 " I will
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 429 
 
 ** had fent to him his brother, whom he PAR 
 " calls the young highlander, that he had ^J^ 
 " difpatched to lord Leven about twelve 7'4* 
 " years before with twelve attendants in 
 " highland dreffes to demand of him a pa- 
 
 " I will fend ofFthe young lad to acquaint you, who 
 " was feven years ago in your houfe, with a belted plaid, 
 " with whom you left my dear lord Balgony to keep 
 <c company to, till you came home. I think my letter 
 " will be plain enough to your lordfhip ; and I beg you 
 ** may believe me your faithful fervant, and that I will 
 " b.- ftill ready to venture, to the laft drop of my blood, 
 " for you. 
 
 " In France. 
 " 20th Auguft, 1709, N. S." 
 
 The reader will probably obferve that lord Lovat has 
 ftatcd that the letter faid to have been wri ten by him fo 
 lord L' ven, was a copy, but that in the earl of Middle- 
 ton's billet it is aflcrted to have been an original : a cir- 
 cumftance, which, if completely eilablifhed, would tend 
 to undermine the general credit of lord Lovat's narrative. 
 To this point it may be worth obferving, that it was not 
 probable, that the marquis deTorcy, to whom a tranfla- 
 tion was fent, would ever call for the original and com- 
 pare the hands. James Frafer was not thus to be Jm- 
 poied upon, and lord Perth w*s too honeft a man to at- 
 tempt it. If lord Middletoa deferved the character that 
 is given him in thefe memoirs, he would not probably 
 have fcrupled the impofition : and perhaps lord Lovat 
 could no: deGre to have the veracity of any particular fact 
 broL^nt to a more favourable tcft, than that of the gene- 
 ral opennefs and fincerity of himfelf and his antagonist. 
 
 " per
 
 MEMOIRS OF TH LIFE 
 
 " per of confequence. He adds, that he 
 */ had ordered his brother to place himfelf 
 " at the head of his clan to join the Hano- 
 " ver intereft, and he begged lord Leven 
 " to protect him till his own arrival, con- 
 " eluding, that in the mean time he would 
 " fend him from time to time, as he had 
 " already done, every information refpedling 
 " the defigns of the court of St. Ger-* 
 " mains* 
 
 " What after this/' added lord Perth, 
 " can be faid in favour of lord Lovat ? Read 
 " yourfelf the Englifh copy of lord Lovat's 
 " letter, and the original letter of the earl 
 " of Leven. Let your own eyes convince 
 *' you. Here are French copies of thefe 
 " letters which have been fhewn to the 
 " court of France/' 
 
 Mr. Frafer, having caft his eyes over 
 the letters, replied, that it was eafy for 
 lord Leven to make his court to the king at 
 the expence of lord Lovat, whom he knew 
 to be difgraced and in prifon ; that his 
 enemies might fabricate a hundred letters 
 againft him, without his being able to de- 
 fend himfelf j and that for his own part, 
 
 he
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 431 
 
 he was perfuaded the letter in queftion had p A R T 
 never originated with his chief. Lord 
 Leven believed that the king was going to 1714. 
 be immediately reftored. What was more 
 natural for him, th#n to endeavour to gain, 
 lord Athol, who bodfted that he was at the 
 head of the royal affairs, by ruining lord 
 Lovat, who was his capital and declared 
 enemy ? But this calumny was an action 
 perfectly inconfiftent with the character of 
 a man of fincerity and a man of honour. 
 Mr. Frafer therefore intreated lord Perth, 
 to give no credit to an imputation, unfup- 
 ported by the (hadow of a proof, and 
 brought againil a man who had been perfe- 
 cuted and opprelTed for fo many years ; at 
 the fame time humbly intreating his lord- 
 fhip, to have the goodnefs to write to the 
 queen in favour of his old friend, who had 
 never done any thing to forfeit that title. 
 
 Here I muft beg leave to flop my narra- 
 tion for a moment, to remind the reader, 
 that the earl of Leven could not poffibly 
 have any honourable motive for fo ftrange a 
 conduct. Let us fuppofe for argument lake 
 that lord Lovat's letter was genuine* It 
 muft ftill be granted, that lord Leven was 
 i one
 
 432 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 'ART one of the vileft hypocrites upon the face 
 j ' > '~ 4 1' of the earth, to erideavpur, by betraying in 
 '7'4- fo bafe a manner the moft (acred confidence, 
 not only to ruin the reputation of a noble- 
 man, a near relation of his countefs and 
 children, and his intimate friend j bat even 
 to expofe his life to the ntoft imminent 
 danger. This very letter had been a prin- 
 cipal instrument in the hands of the court 
 of St. Germains, in their endeavours to pre- 
 vail upon the government of France, to 
 throw lord Lovat into perpetual iinprifon-* 
 ment. 
 
 Indeed, notwithstanding the circumftari- 
 tial manner in which Mr. James Frafer re- 
 lated this incident, it was very long before 
 he could convince his chief; that lord Le- 
 ven was capable of fo bafe a conduct. He 
 recollected all that had ever paffed between 
 them. He called to mind the fincere and 
 eternal friendship, that had been a thou- 
 fand times mutually fworn to by both of 
 them. And he was fatisfied, that in no 
 inftance had he ever in the minuteft point 
 infringed upon fo facred a vow. 
 
 To the requeft that Mr. Frafer ftill urged 
 upon lord Perth, his lordihip replied, " I 
 
 " am
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 433 
 * c am fatisfied that every thing I can either PART 
 
 11 i r ? IL -4- 
 ' write or do will be or no iervjce to your \ y - 
 
 " chief ; and that the king and queen are 
 " both refolved never to litfen to a fyllable 
 " that fliall be faid in his behalf. But 
 " fince you aflure me, that your clan of the 
 " Frafers, which has rendered fo impor- 
 " tant fervices to their king and country, 
 " will be totally ruined, if lord Lovat be 
 " not at their head, I will write in his fa- 
 ' vour to the queen mother, to the king, 
 " to fir Thomas Higgins, fecretary of ftate*, 
 " and to Mr. Innes, the almoner, who has 
 " great afcendancy over the king. You 
 " may depend upon my rendering every 
 " fervice in my power to the family of 
 *' Lovat, and the clan of the Frafers." 
 
 Mr. James Frafer exprefied himfelf in 
 terms of gratitude to lord Perth for his kind- 
 nefs, and took leave of him. As he was 
 quitting the apartment lord Perth added, 
 " Perhaps you may have more fuccefs in 
 
 * Sir Thomas Higgins fucceeded lord Middleton in 
 that office. The earl refigned in the beginning of Decem- 
 ber 1713, but he appears for fome time to have retained 
 his connections and influence wilh his court. 
 
 F f " your
 
 434 MEMOIRS OF THE LITE 
 
 " your affair than I was apt to imagine. 
 " We have this morning received intelli- 
 '< gence of the death of queen Anne; and, 
 " if the news be confirmed, the king will 
 " feel howufeful lord Lovat may be to him 
 " in Scotland, and this confideration may 
 " engage him to grant him his liberty." 
 Mr. Frafer anfwered, that, if queen Anne, 
 were dead, the king would find it his inte- 
 reft to recal lord Lovat to court, to do 
 him ample juflice, and to fix him in his 
 party. 
 
 From lord Perth Mr. Frafer went imme- 
 diately to the queen at Chaillot, who with- 
 out hefitation granted him audience, and 
 gave him her hand to kifs. When her ma- 
 jefty had read lord Perth's letter, me faid, 
 " Lord Perth, I find, has mown you lord 
 *' Leven's letter, and has told you the rea- 
 " fons I have to complain of lord Lovat, 
 " and how few motives to put any confi- 
 " dence in him." 
 
 Mr. Frafer took the liberty of obferving 
 to the queen, that her majefty ought not to 
 believe what the declared enemies of lord 
 Lovat had invented againft him ; that no- 
 thing
 
 OFLO&DLOVAT. 4 j 
 
 thing was more eafy than to write or PART 
 fpeak againft his chief, when he was dif- 
 abled from defending himfelf, or juftify- 
 ing his condudt to her majefty; that ia 
 fine, whatever fault lord Lovat might have 
 formerly committed, her majefty ought not 
 to lofe a man, fo necefTary to the king's 
 interests in Scotland, at a time when he had 
 need of all his loyal fubjects. 
 
 At length the queen conceded, that, fince 
 the fervice of the king demanded the re- 
 leafe of lord Lovat, me would forget the 
 many accufations and complaints fhe had 
 to make againft him, and would write to 
 the king in his favour. At the fame 
 time fhe commanded Mr. Frafer to fet 
 out immediately for Bar-le-duc, as fhe had 
 jufl received a confirmation of the death 
 of queen Anne, and it was probable the 
 king would foon be obliged to quit Lor-- 
 raine. This gentleman now took leave of 
 the queen, who difmifTed him in the moft 
 obliging manner, wifhing him every fuccefs 
 he defired in the affair of lord Lovat, and 
 telling him, that fhe would have a letter at 
 Bar-le-duc before him in his favour. 
 
 F f 2 Mr,
 
 436 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Mr. Frafer left the queen, well pleaf- 
 ed with his audience. He wrote that 
 1714. very evening to lord Lovat at Saumur, 
 congratulating him, that the queen was at 
 length perfectly reconciled to him j that me 
 had written to the king her fon in his fa- 
 vour, and that there was no longer any 
 doubt of his obtaining his liberty in a very 
 fhort time. Lord Lovat was too much 
 furprifed with this good news to be able to 
 give much credit to it. 
 
 Next morning Mr. Frafer fet out for 
 Bar-le-duc ; Mr. Hugh Campbel, fon of 
 fir Archibald Campbel of Calder, doing 
 him the honour to efcort him a little 
 way. About a league and a half from 
 Paris they met a running footman, whom 
 Mr. Campbel recollected to be in the 
 queen's fervice. At a fhort diflance behind 
 were two gentlemen on horfeback ; and 
 after thefe followed a poft-chaife, with the 
 curtains drawn, and at a full gallop. Mr. 
 Frafer obferved to his companion, that it 
 was poffibly the king, who was travelling 
 with all expedition for England, on account 
 of the death of queen Anne. Mr. Camp- 
 bel replied, that that was impoffihle, that 
 * he
 
 O F L O R D L O V A T. 437 
 
 he could not have been fo foon advertifed PAR 
 of that event, and that, if the queen mo- v_~v^ 
 ther had knovfrn. that the king was fo near ! 7 ! 4 
 Paris, fhe would have told it to Mr. Frafer, 
 and faved him his journey. 
 
 Mr. Frafer and his companion foon after 
 feparated. And the former remained igno- 
 rant till he was within ten leagues of Bar- 
 le-duc, that it was really the king of England 
 whom he had met a league and a half from, 
 Paris. He now encountered a great num- 
 ber of gentlemen of his fuite, who follow- 
 ed him in much confufion ; and who told 
 him, that the king was fet out for Eng- 
 land, and that he might depend upon it 
 that he would never return to Bar-le-duc. 
 
 Upon this intelligence Mr. Frafer imme- 
 diately returned. Near Paris he met feveral 
 gentlemen, who affured him, that the king 
 had held fecret conferences with the mar- 
 quis de Torcy j that his moft Chriftian 
 majefty had refufed him either affiftance or 
 permiffion to pafs into England; and that, 
 after having fpent two days with the 
 queen his mother, he was upon his return 
 F f 3 for
 
 43? MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 PA R T f or Bar-le-duc, to remain there till circum- 
 
 II. . 4** 
 
 fiances fliould be a little better prepared. 
 
 Mr, Frafej was now convinced, that the 
 queen had impofed upon him, in bidding 
 him fet out for Lorraine, at a time that 
 fhe knew, the king her fon was upon the 
 point of arriving at Paris in his way to 
 England. He went however to Bar-le- 
 duc, in order to obtain the laft anfwer of 
 the prince refpecting lord Lovat, whatever 
 it might coft-him. 
 
 After enduring great fatigue he arrived at 
 that place : but the king was not there. 
 He had juft fet out for LuneviHe, the re(U 
 dence of the duke of Lorraine. Mr. Fra.-* 
 fer, although mortified at this difappoint- 
 ment, proceeded immediately for Lune- 
 ville, to have his audience of the cheva-^ 
 Her de St. George - t for this was the appel- 
 lation the young prince had affumed in 
 order to go incognito to the waters of 
 Plombieres. 
 
 At Bar-le-duc Mr. Frafer found doctor 
 Innes, almoner to the king, doctor Leily, 
 $ clergyman of the church of England, 
 
 an,d
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 439 
 
 and colonel Scott, a Scotfman. He had PAR! 
 letters for thefe three perfons, to en- -_ v ^ 
 gage them to folicit his affair. All three 1 7H- 
 allured him, that he would have no fuccefs 
 in his enterprife, that the king could not 
 bear fo much as to hear lord Lovat named, 
 and that he was determined never to re- 
 ceive him into favour, unlefs he were foli-* 
 cited to it by lord Athol. 
 
 This information was not fufficient to 
 divert Mr. Frafer from his purpofe. He 
 went ftrait to Luneville, where he found 
 the king, to whom the duke of Lorraine 
 and all his court paid the fame honours, as 
 if he had been in actual pofleffion of the 
 three crowns. Mr. Frafer having delivered 
 his letters to fir Thomas Higgins, the fe- 
 cretary of Mate, that gentleman introduced 
 him to the king, who was walking in the 
 gardens. The king received Mr. Frafer in a 
 moil condefcending manner. He gave him 
 his hand to kifs. He afked him many quef- 
 tions refpecting his journey; and particu- 
 larly how he had been able to find his way 
 fo far without fpeaking a word of French. 
 
 F f 4 They
 
 440 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART They now entered the duke's palace: 
 tfil^ll and the king having retired to his clofet, 
 17*4- fir Thomas Higgins followed, and defired 
 Mr. Frafer to accompany him. As foon 
 as he appeared, the king, having read lord 
 Perth's letter, faid, " I underftand you 
 *' have been at Saumur to vifit lord Lovat." 
 " Yes, fire." " I am forry for it," faid 
 the king, " I do not wifti any of my 
 ** fubjects to have any concern with the 
 " man 5 and for my own part I cannot bear 
 *' fo much as to hear his name," 
 
 Mr. Frafer anfwered, that he was in ex- 
 treme pain to hear the king fpeak in this 
 manner of the head of his family ; and that 
 he mod humbly intreated his majefty not 
 to give credit to the calumnies, which his 
 enemies had invented for the exprefs pur- 
 pofe of depriving him of the king's good 
 opinion. His majefty ought to recollect 
 the fervices lord Lovat had from his ear- 
 lieft youth rendered to his father. He 
 ought to call to mind the loyal and illuf- 
 trious actions of his anceftors for more thao 
 twenty generations. 
 
 But this was not all. He would intreat 
 the king, to attend to the fervices which 
 
 lord
 
 O F L O R D L O V A T. 441 
 
 lord Lovat and his clan were in a condition PART 
 actually to render him in the prefent fitu- 
 ation of his affairs. He allured his ma- 
 jefty, that lord Lovat was a nobleman 
 the moft capable of advancing his in- 
 terefts in the north, where, in all ap- 
 pearance, the king would firft think of 
 forming an army. He obferved, that lord 
 Lovat was not only couiin german to the 
 greatell chiefs in the highlands, but relat- 
 ed to and beloved by alcpoft every clan in 
 Scotland; that his own clan had always 
 been regarded as furpailed by no other in 
 courage; that its iituation was fo favoura- 
 ble, that it might be affembled in four and 
 twenty or thirty hours, while almoft every 
 other clan was fo fcattered, that it could 
 fcarcely be allembled and conducted to the 
 low country near Invernefs, in lefs than a 
 month 3 that on the contrary, the clan of 
 lord Lovat furrounded the lake ; and that, 
 if his majefty loft lord Lovat and his clan, 
 he would lofe the key to the whole north 
 of Scotland. 
 
 The king replied, he was determined 
 never to grant lord Lovat any {hare in his 
 
 con-
 
 442 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART confidence - y nor on this account, would 
 II. . 4. h e i f e the c ] an O f the Frafers ; he was 
 1714. well and authentically informed, that the 
 Frafers would pay much refpecl: to the 
 recommendations of lord Athol, and that 
 they would aflemble under the orders of 
 Mr. Mackenzie of Preftonhal (who, in 
 compenfation for pretended debts, had held 
 the eftates of lord Lovat fince his refidence 
 in France), and join the flandard of that 
 nobleman. 
 
 Mr. Frafer rejoined, that people were 
 much to blame to deceive his majefty in fo 
 grofs a manner ; that the clan of the Fra- 
 fers would never take the field but under 
 the command of lord Lovat ; and that, if 
 Preftonhal were mad enough to put him- 
 felf at their head, he would be fo faluted 
 with muiket bullets, that light would be 
 feen through every part of his body : 
 that the Scottim clans were fo much at- 
 tached to their natural chiefs that they 
 were not only ready to obey them in oppo- 
 fition to the lairds their neighbours, but in 
 defiance of all the kings upon the face of 
 the earth. This remark was confirmed by 
 
 fir
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 443 
 
 fir Thomas Higgins, who obferved, that PART 
 it was well known, the clans would never JUlJl, 
 follow any perfon but their natural heads. 7H- 
 
 Upon this the king flew into a paffion, 
 and told Mr. Frafer that he would give the 
 clan of the Frafers any other head, any 
 other commander they pleafed \ but that he 
 would never be reconciled to lord Lovat, nor 
 admit him into his favour. Mr. Frafer re- 
 plied, that he was then very forry to fay, 
 what he thought it his duty to obferve, that, 
 unlefs he firft gave liberty to lord Lovat, and 
 fent him among them, his majefty muft 
 never hope to have the Frafers under his 
 ftandard. 
 
 To this the king anfwered with an air of ] 
 indignation ; " Talk to me no more of the 
 " man. When I come into Scotland, I 
 " will head the Frafers myfelf, and I am 
 very fure they will follow me. In the 
 <f mean time I command you, to return 
 " directly to Scotland with all the fpeed in 
 *' your power, without going near lord 
 (t Lovat or the city of Saumur ; and to 
 ' allure the Frafers of my friendship and 
 
 " pro-!
 
 444. MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART " protection, and that I myfelf will be 
 
 vllxilti " their chief." 
 1714. 
 
 He afterwards afked feveral queftions, re- 
 ipeding the nature of the country in the 
 north of Scotland, the befl feafon for landing 
 there, and the quantity of provisions the 
 country could furnifh for the fubfiftence of 
 an army. He commanded Mr. Frafer to tell 
 his loyal fubjects, that he expected to have 
 been among them before this time ; that it 
 was not his fault, that he had not palled into 
 Britain immediately upon the death of his 
 fitter, the princefs of Denmark; but that 
 the king of France had refufed him the 
 necefTary fuccours. " You may however 
 " allure them, that I will be in the midft 
 " of them at a time when they leaft think 
 " of it." He then gave Mr. Frafer diffe- 
 rent mefTages for perfons whom it is of no 
 confequence to name in this place. After- 
 wards he prefented him his hand to kifs, 
 and Mr. Frafer look his leave. 
 
 Having left the clofet, Mr. Frafer 
 waited in the antichamber for fir Thomas 
 Higgins, who remained a little time with 
 the king after that gentleman had left him. 
 
 When
 
 OF LORD LOVAT* 445 
 
 When they joined, Mr. Frafer faid, " I am P A R f 
 
 " obliged, lir, to tell you, who are the u-lv~tj 
 
 " king's fecretary of ftate, that his ma- | 7 | 4- 
 
 " jefty is ill advifedj and that he will 
 
 " one day curfe the counfellors, that en- 
 
 " gaged him to treat lord Lovat, who was 
 
 " capable of rendering him more efTential 
 
 " fervices than lord Athol and all his con- 
 
 " nedlions, in fo unworthy a manner. The 
 
 *' king is extremely miflaken in imagining, 
 
 " that the Frafers will follow him, at a 
 
 " time when he holds their chief in prifon. 
 
 " He may remain aiTured, that the Frafers 
 
 " will follow lord Lovat againft all the 
 
 " princes upon earth -, and he will find na 
 
 " more reafon to doubt, that in lofmg 
 
 *' them, he has loft the beft feather in his 
 
 wing." 
 
 In order however to obtain the liberty of 
 his chief, Mr. Frafer propofed one expedient 
 more. He faid he was ready to return into 
 Scotland, and would undertake at the peril of 
 his head, in lefs then two months, to bring 
 over to the king an engagement, figned by 
 the moll potent chiefs in the highlands, by 
 which they would flake their lives, and 
 
 all
 
 446 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART all that they had for the loyalty and 
 good fervices of lord Lovat, in cafe his ma- 
 jefty would have the goodnefs, to releafe 
 and receive him into favour. At the 
 fame time he added, that for himfelf, he 
 dared not fet foot in his own country, till 
 he had feen his chief, and communicated 
 to him the refult of the prefent negocia- 
 tion. 
 
 Sir Thomas Higgins admitted that the 
 propofal was extremely reafonable, and of- 
 fered immediately to mention it to the 
 king. Saying this, he opened the door, 
 and returned into the royal clofet. He re- 
 monftrated to his majefty in a very ftrong 
 manner upon Mr. Frafer's propofal. But 
 the king inftantly replied, that if every 
 nobleman in Scotland would engage him- 
 felf for lord Lovat, he would never re- 
 ceive him into favour, till lord Athol de- 
 fired it. To this fir Thomas Higgins ob- 
 ferved, that lord Athol could never be 
 expected to folicit the king for a man whom 
 he confidered as his declared enemy. Being 
 thus clofely prefTed, the king turned fud- 
 denly upon his heel, crying to fir Thomas, 
 " Tell me no more of the man." 
 
 Mr,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 447 
 
 l 
 
 n: . 4 . 
 
 Mr. Frafer, who during this interval p , A_ R T 
 
 flood oppofite to the door, faw the king 
 turn his back upon fir Thomas. When 
 the minifter came out, and" related the 
 king's anfwer, he therefore aiked pardon of 
 fir Thomas for the embarraffment he had 
 eccafioned j adding, that he would not 
 attempt to open his mouth farther upon 
 the fubjedr, and was refolved to quit Lune- 
 ville early the next morning. Sir Thomas 
 defired him, in the mean time, to ilep with 
 him to his apartment. 
 
 The duke of Lorraine, having under- 
 flood, that there was a gentleman from the 
 highlands of Scotland arrived at his court 
 to fpeak to the king, begged his majefty to 
 order this highlander to dine with them 
 the next day. The king immediately fent 
 to defire fir Thomas Higgins to flop Mr. 
 Frafer, who received the order with all the 
 refpedl and fubmiffion that was due to it, 
 and dined next day with his majefty and 
 the duke of Lorraine. 
 
 The duke, being informed, that the 
 
 highlander had come from Scotland to Lu- 
 
 3 neville
 
 448 MEMOIRS OF TEtE LIFE 
 
 PART neville on foot, and that lie preferred that 
 mode of travelling to riding on horfeback^ 
 prefumed that he did not know how to 
 mount a horfe. The highlander offered^ 
 if his royal highnefs would permit him, 
 to mount the heft blooded horfe in his 
 ftables. Said the duke, " We are going a 
 hunting after dinner, and I will provide 
 " you with a horfe, in order to fee an ex- 
 " hibition of your fkilL" 
 
 The king, the duke and duchefs of Lor- 
 raine, and the ladies of the court now pre- 
 pared for the chace. They gave Mr. Fra* 
 fer the moft vigorous horfe in their ftables, 
 and luckily fir Thomas Higgins at the fame 
 time provided him with a very heavy and 
 fubftantial pair of boots. Scarcely was 
 he mounted, when the beaft, who was 
 perfectly favage and unbroken, made fuch 
 furious curvets, that he expected every mo- 
 ment to be crulhed to death againft the 
 walls of the court. He had however been 
 brought up a very good horfeman, and 
 therefore kept his feat in a firm manner in 
 fpite of the vicioufnefs of his horfe, till the 
 dogs had turned out the hare. 
 
 Then
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 449 
 
 Then Mr. Frafer put fpurs to his horfe, PART 
 and prefently outftripped the harriers. He ^'Jl 4 ^ 
 turned the hare three or four times, and 7 ! 4 
 ftruck him with a large whip that he car- 
 ried in his hand. He leaped every hedge 
 and ditch that came in his way; loft 
 his hat and his wig ; and excited infinite 
 laughter in all the court, who expected 
 every moment that he would break his 
 neck. The ladies however had not the 
 pleafure of feeing much of the hare, Mr. 
 Frafer having killed it in the beginning of 
 the chafe. 
 
 Upon their return the duke of Lorraine 
 obferved to the Highlander, that, iince he 
 was fo good a horfeman, it would be pity 
 that he fhould return again into Scotland 
 on foot : he would give him a horfe that 
 fhould enable him to perform his journey 
 in a more agreeable manner. The high- 
 lander made a profound bow for his high- 
 nefs's generofity. Mean while the duchefs 
 of Lorraine, having obferved that he had 
 fmoked tobacco, had the goodnefs to 
 make him a prefent of a very fine Hungary 
 pipe. 
 
 G g Next
 
 450 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 Next day he fet out with his horfe and 
 his pipe, highly charmed with the gra- 
 J 7M- cious manners of the duke and duchefs of 
 Lorraine, and the honours that had been 
 paid him at their court, which is indeed 
 an extremely polite one. Mr. Frafer rode 
 in two days from Luneville to Paris, and 
 was two days more in travelling from Paris 
 to Saumur, which together amounted to 
 one hundred and forty leagues. He was 
 however almoft difabled with the expedi- 
 tion he had made. 
 
 He had not judged proper to return to 
 the courts either of France or St. Germains, 
 being anxious to make his report to lord 
 Lovat as foon as poffible. He told him, that, 
 fo far from having been able to obtain his 
 releafe, he had found him to be ruined for 
 ever with the king of England, infomuch 
 that all his friends in Scotland united would 
 not be able to make his peace for him. He 
 related what had palTed in that bufinefs be- 
 tween him, lord Perth, the queen dowager, 
 and the king. He obferved, that as he 
 underftood from fir Thomas Higgins, the 
 king was refolved to fet out for Scotland in 
 i the
 
 LORD LOVAT. 451 
 
 the following month, which was Oclober, PAR 
 
 ii & 
 and that, if he did not make his efcape be- ^ ;lj 
 
 fore that time, he muft exped: to be con- ! 7'4- 
 fined for life, and confequently ruined 
 without rdburce, while his clan was dif- 
 perfed, loft and annihilated forever. 
 
 From this moment lord Lovat thought 
 no longer of any thing but quitting France 
 as foon as pofiible. He confidered how- 
 ever, that he had given his parole of honour 
 in writing to the marquis de Torcy, that 
 he would not leave the kingdom without 
 theconfent of the moft Chriiiian king. He 
 knew that M. de Torcy, as his friend, 
 had long wimed his return to his own 
 country, as he was unable to obtain any 
 kind of juftice from the court of St. Ger- 
 mains. Lord Lovat therefore thought pro- 
 per to write to the marquis, to acquaint him 
 with the laft ad: of cruelty and injuftice of 
 the court of St. Germains, and the king of 
 England. 
 
 In his letter he obferved, that he no 
 
 longer thought even his life fecure in France, 
 
 while that prince, his mother or lord Mid- 
 
 dleton had any influence in it. He moft 
 
 G g 2 humbly
 
 452 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART humbly intreated M. dc Torcy, not to re- 
 !_-lJli; gard his departure as a breach of his parole. 
 I 7 l f He reminded him, that he had remained 
 nine years before, and one year fince the 
 peace, a prifoner ; that during this period 
 he had every year demanded his liberty j 
 or, if that were refufed, to be brought to 
 his trial in form, for the treafon, of which 
 without the fhadow of foundation he had 
 been accufed j but that he had been unable 
 to obtain either the one or the other. He 
 therefore added, that he was refolved to go 
 and hazard his life at the head of his clan, 
 for the reftoration of a houfe that he had 
 ruined in the fervice of the two courts; 
 that he had nothing further to look for in 
 France but a perpetual imprifonment ; and 
 that he would therefore take the filence of 
 his excellency for a tacit permiflion to re- 
 turn to the highlands. 
 
 Having difpatched this letter, lord Lovat 
 prepared in the beft manner he could for 
 his journey. Since however he was pro- 
 fcribed in England and in Scotland, and a 
 price fet upon his head, he determined, 
 before he expofed himfelf by going into 
 
 Britain,
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 453 
 
 Britain, to learn what the duke of Argyle, PAR 
 his brother the earl of Hay, and his other 
 friends, were willing to do for him. For 
 this purpofe he difpatched one of his fer- 
 vants into England, with letters for the 
 duke of Argyle, the earl of Hay, and briga- 
 dier general Grant, his relation and neigh- 
 bour. He requefted to know, whether by 
 their intereft he could obtain his pardon 
 from king George ; promifing, in that cafe, 
 to return to his own province, to ferve the 
 government with all poffible fidelity, and 
 to live and die in their party. All that he 
 defired was to efcape from the tyranny of the 
 court of St. Germains, to find a quiet re- 
 treat in his own country, and to obtain the 
 protection of the reigning prince againft 
 his enemies in Scotland. 
 
 After having fpent ten days in London, 
 his fervant returned poft to Saumur without 
 bringing any difpatches in writing. He 
 however aflured lord Lovat, that he had 
 feen the earl of Hay; brigadier general 
 Grant ; the two fecretaries of flate for Eng- 
 land, lord Townfhend and general Stan- 
 hope; and Mr. Smith, father in law to 
 G g 3 brigadier
 
 454 M E M O I R S O F T.H E L I F E 
 
 A R T brigadier Grant : that they had all directed 
 l^lij him to allure lord Lovat that he had nothing 
 '7H- to do, but to fet out for England without 
 lofs of time, and that as foon as he arrived 
 his affair would be accompli ilied without 
 difficulty : he had but one danger to guard 
 againft, that of being furprifed upon the 
 road ; fince, if he fell into the hands of go- 
 vernment in his efcape from France, he 
 would be thrown into perpetual imprifon* 
 mcnt, and ruined without redemption. 
 
 Mr, John Frafer, his lordfhip's brother^ 
 at that time in London, and Mr. Alex- 
 ander Frafer, who folicited his affairs in 
 that place, wrote him by poft the fame 
 things that his fervant had told him ver- 
 bally, adding, that they had been particu- 
 larly confirmed to them by brigadier general 
 Grant. They therefore prefled him to pafs 
 into England without delay, for that no- 
 thing but his prefence was necelTary to hi 
 fuccefs. 
 
 "Being alfo extremely urged by his coufm 
 James Frafer who was with him, and by 
 his fervant who had been in England, to fet 
 put without delay, for fear of being, fur-
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 455 
 
 prifed and imprifoned for life, lord Lovat p A R 
 at length refolved to bid adieu to France. < -^ 
 He left his furniture, and his other little I714 
 property, in the confufion that is inevitable 
 in fuch a conjuncture. About the twelfth 
 of October 1714, under pretence of going 
 to Rouen to pay a vifit to his intimate and 
 venerable friend M. de Roujeault, intend- 
 ant of that generality, he took leave of 
 Saumur, attended by Mr. James Frafer and 
 two fervants. 
 
 Since however he took with him the mod 
 valuable of his portable effects, packed in 
 military chefts and loaded upon horfes, it 
 was fufpected by feveral perfons, that he was 
 going to pafs into England, though there 
 were only a very few of his moft intimate 
 friends that were privy to his defign. The 
 king's lieutenant at Saumur was upon a 
 hunting party at fome leagues diflance, when 
 lord Lovat left that place. At his return he 
 was extremely alarmed at this event, though 
 that nobleman had fome time before fpoken 
 to him of his intention. It is faid, that he 
 was fo extremelyapprehenfive of a reprimand 
 from the court, that he difpatched feveral 
 perfons to arreft lord Lovat upon the road. 
 Gg 4 It
 
 456 MEMOIRSOFTHELIFE 
 
 PART It is certain, that he wrote immediately to 
 the marquis de Torcy, to acquaint him with 
 lord Lovat's having efcapsd in his abfence ; 
 and to inform him, that it was allured he 
 was about to pafs into England ; that he 
 had left Saumur with an intention to pro- 
 ceed to the houfe of M. de Roujeault at 
 Rouen, and that therefore his excellency 
 might take fuch meafures in the affair as he 
 judged to be proper. 
 
 Lord Lovat knew nothing of what pafled 
 at Saumur after his departure. He had 
 however originally been upon his guard 
 againft all forts of dangers. He travelled 
 almoft day and night all the way to Rouen, 
 as if his enemies had been clofe at his 
 heels. Upon his arrival at that place, 
 extremely fatigued with the bad roads of 
 the province of Normandy, he repaired im-* 
 mediately to the houfe of his friend M. de 
 Roujeault, of whofe generous attachment 
 he had too large and uniform an experience 
 to conceal from him any part of his con-* 
 duel:. 
 
 Accordingly he made to him a faithful 
 relation of the laft inftances of injuftice and 
 
 inveteracy
 
 OF LORD LO VAT. 457 
 
 inveteracy of the court of St. Germains ; PART 
 adding, that he could no longer coniider ^__ - y - 4 Jj 
 himfelf as fecure, either of his liberty, or '7M 
 his life in France. He communicated to 
 him the promifes that had been made by 
 the duke of Argyle, the earl of Hay his 
 brother, and his other friends at London, 
 that they would obtain for him the pardon 
 and protection of king George upon his ar- 
 rival, and his confequent defign of proceed- 
 ing to that place. He intreated M. de 
 Roujeault, to have the generofity to pro- 
 cure for him the means of paffing from 
 fome part of the coaft of Normandy into 
 England ; as the journey from Rouen to 
 Calais was long and dangerous, efpecially. 
 on account of the baggage he had with 
 him, 
 
 M. de Roujeault replied, that he was 
 forry lord Lovat was about to leave France 
 in this manner, but that he could not blame 
 him after the accumulated inftances of ill 
 treatment he had received from the court of 
 St. Germains. He obferved, that it was 
 impoilible for him to take any active con- 
 cern in his efcape; and that he could not 
 avoid writing to M. de Torcy, to acquaint 
 
 him
 
 453 M E M O I R S O F T H E L I FE 
 
 PART him with his having been with him at 
 
 M- J.Jli> Rouen. He therefore advifed him to leave 
 
 J 7H- his baggage at that place, to be fent to 
 
 London in fome Englifh veflel, and to 
 
 make all the fpeed he could, unincum- 
 
 bered, left he {hould be arrefled before he 
 
 had left the kingdom. 
 
 M. de Roujeault further recommended 
 to him to go immediately to Dieppe -, where 
 he might poilibly find an Englifh vef- 
 fel ready to fail, or if not there, at fome 
 other port upon the coaft between Dieppe 
 and Calais. He wifhed him a fafe voyage, 
 and afltired him of his unalterable friend- 
 % fhip ; but added, that he confidered the un- v 
 dertaking as extremely hazardous, and was 
 very anxious upon his account. Lord Lo- 
 vat now took leave of M. de Roujeault, 
 with tears in his eyes, deftitute of all hope 
 ever to fee again this moft generous friend. 
 He conjured him however ftill to continue 
 to him a fmall mare in his memory and 
 good wifhes. 
 
 Lord Lovat's fervant, who was a Scotf- 
 man, found by chance the mafter of an 
 
 Englifh
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 
 
 459 
 
 Englifh vefTel, who told him that he mould 
 fail for London in five or fix days. In pur- JI - 4- 
 fuance of M. de Roujeault's plan, he pro- 
 pofed to this captain, to take on board the 
 baggage of his matter, who was an Englifh- 
 rnan of quality; and, as he added, having 
 found the captain in all appearance ex- 
 tremely zealous for the houfe of Hanover, 
 a relation of the duke of Argyle, and a faith- 
 ful adherent of king George. 
 
 The captain replied, that, fmce his maf- 
 ter was a friend to king George, he would 
 ferve him upon his knees. Satisfied there- 
 fore with his fuccefs, the fervant conducted 
 him to lord Lovat's aulerge. No fooner 
 was the man introduced to lord Lovat, 
 than he began to pray God to blefs him, as 
 he was a friend to the great king George, 
 his valiant fovereign. Perfuaded by the 
 warm and enthufiaftic manners of the cap- 
 tain, lord Lovat made him drink a health 
 to the king and to the duke of Argyle, and 
 without helitation intruded to him his bag- 
 gage, not fuftering himfelf in his hafte to 
 take out of it a little box, containing a 
 number of rings and other jewels of value. 
 
 The
 
 460 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART The captain now added that he had on 
 ^ '^j board his veflel feveral tons of wine, ad- 
 J7H- drefTed to the earl of Halifax, and fent by 
 Mr. Arbuthnot, brother to doctor Arbuth- 
 not, late phyfician to queen Anne. Lord 
 Lovat was well informed, that Mr. Arbuth- 
 not, who refided at Rouen, was the confi- 
 dent of the court of St. Germains, and the 
 man of his rank in all France, the moft 
 employed for the late king James and the 
 chevalier de St. George. He therefore in- 
 treated the captain by no means to tell Mr. 
 Arbuthnot, that a relation of the duke of 
 Argyle had fhipped his baggage on board 
 his veflel. 
 
 t 
 
 Having addrelTed his military chefts to 
 brigadier general Grant, and in his abfence 
 to the duke of Argyle, he caufed them to 
 be put on board the vefTel ; and, taking a 
 receipt for them, he fet out an hour after 
 with all diligence for Dieppe. 
 
 Mr. Arbuthnot received information from 
 the honeft captain and an Irifh factor of the 
 name of Rofs, his interpreter, that lord 
 Lovat had fhipped his baggage on board 
 their veflel. He immediately fent this in- 
 telligence
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 4 6i 
 
 telligence to the court of St. Germains, PAR 
 who obtained without delay an order from ^ 
 the court of France to arreft lord Lovat and 1714. 
 feize upon his baggage. The order was 
 forwarded by the marquis de Torcy to the 
 duke de Luxembourg, governor of Nor- 
 mandy j who, as foon as he received it, 
 difpatched men different ways to take lord 
 Lovat, and to fecure his effects. 
 
 Lord Lovat had happily patted into Eng- 
 land before it was poffible for thefe people 
 to overtake him. His two military chefts 
 however were feized and conveyed to the caf- 
 tle of the duke de Luxembourg, where they 
 were opened before his fecretary; but there 
 was not found in them any paper againft 
 the ftate, as the court of St. Germains had 
 given out. The duke de Luxembourg or- 
 dered them therefore to be immediately 
 fealed, and delivered over to Rofs, the 
 Irifh interpreter, to be forwarded with 
 all fafety according to their addrefs at 
 London. 
 
 This wretch, who had probably no other 
 means of fubfiftence than his villainy, 
 3 broke
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART broke open the feals of the duke of Lux* 
 v /-J^ embourg and the locks of the cherts, and 
 J 7'4- completely ftripped them of their moft va- 
 luable contents, together with the little 
 cafket of jewels. Two months after, 
 the chefts were fent by another veiTel 
 and almoft empty, fo that lord Lovat re- 
 ceived of all his baggage only a few fuits of 
 clothes. 
 
 Lord Lovat, knowing the danger to 
 which he was expofed, and finding no fhip 
 at Dieppe, left that place immediately 5 and 
 travelled along the coaft of Normandy, and 
 from thence through Picardy, as far as 
 Boulogne. During this journey he met with 
 no opportunity of paffing into England ; 
 and, not daring to go to Calais, he deter- 
 mined to fail from Boulogne, whatever it 
 coft him. For this purpofe he employed 
 a man, to whom he had been recommended 
 at Boulogne, to hire a fmall fmack to carry 
 him to any part of England which it 
 could firft make. 
 
 This gentleman brought to him a Tea- 
 man, who was accuftomed to pafs and re- 
 pafs from England without being fufpected, 
 
 becaufe
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 463 
 
 becaufe he was by profeffion a fifherman. 
 Lord Lovat agreed with him to fail im- 
 mediately. This was accordingly done, 
 and, after having been expofed to a rough 
 fea during the whole night, he gained 
 Dover with conliderable trouble about ten 
 in the morning, November the firft, 1714. 
 
 l^ord Lovat met upon the quay with his 
 coufin Mr. Alexander Frafer, who folicited 
 his affairs in London, and whom he had re- 
 quefted to meet him at this place. Having 
 fpent one night at Dover on account of his 
 extreme fatigue, they fet out next morning 
 for London, where they arrived in two 
 days. 
 
 Immediately upon his arrival lord Lovat 
 difpatched Mr. James and Mr. Alexander 
 Frafer to the earl of Hay and brigadier gene- 
 ral Grant. Brigadier Grant was delighted 
 at lord Lovat's being arrived in good health, 
 and haftened immediately to wait upon 
 him, and to allure him of every good office 
 in his power. The earl of Hay was very 
 far from being equally pleafed with the in- 
 telligence. It gave him much affliction and 
 
 regret,
 
 404 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART regret, to fee this nobleman once more in 
 c.-l^lllt England without being yet in fafety, even 
 !7H- in refped: to his life. He exprefled the fin- 
 cereft regret for his having quitted a regu- 
 lar penfion in France, at a time that he had 
 nothing to depend upon in Britain. He 
 however promifed to fpeak in lord Lovat's 
 behalf that very evening to the king and 
 the prince ; and he defired the gentleman, 
 who had waited upon him, to return next 
 day to learn his majefty's anfwer. 
 
 When lord Lovat received this mefTage, 
 he began to repent having precipitated 
 himfelf into fo imminent a danger; there 
 being a fentence of death in force againft 
 him in Scotland, and a price fixed upon his 
 head, without having any thing to rely 
 upon for his pardon, but a precarious promife 
 from his friends. He was however too 
 deeply embarked, to be able to draw back ; 
 and he finally determined, regardlefs of the 
 confequences, to throw himfelf upon the 
 protection of the duke of Argyle and the 
 earl of Hay, to live and die in their fervice, 
 and to take no ftep in his affairs but by 
 their concurrence and direction. 
 
 The
 
 OF LORD LOVAT. 465 
 
 The day following he received intelli- PAR 
 gence by the fame perfons, that lord Hay v Ivl 
 had fpoken to the king and the prince, that 171 * 
 both of them were well difpofed towards 
 lord Lovat, but they had obferved, that 
 prudence demanded, that they mould 
 require from that nobleman fecurity for 
 his future loyalty, before they granted him 
 his pardon. Lord Hay faid, that to 
 comply with this requifition, it was necef- 
 fary to prefent an addrefs to the king in 
 behalf of lord Lovat, figned by all his 
 friends, who were well affected towards the 
 prefent government ; and that in this ad- 
 drefs they mould enter into an engagement 
 for the loyalty of lord Lovat, in any fum 
 the king pleafed. He added, that he 
 would draw up a fketch of fuch an addrefs 
 as would be proper, which he accordingly 
 did two days after. 
 
 With this addrefs lord Lovat difpatched 
 his coufin James into Scotland, to collect 
 the fignatures of his friends. No fooner 
 had he arrived in the county of Invernefs 
 where the eflates of lord Lovat are fitUated, 
 anddeclared his errand, than all the lairds, and 
 in a word all the nobility, who were well 
 H h affected
 
 466 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 PART afFeded to the government, not only of the 
 ^l/l 4 ^ county of Invernefs, but of the county 
 J 7H- of Murray, the county of Nairn, the coun- 
 ty of Rofs, and the county of Sutherland, 
 vied with each other in giving in their fub- 
 fcriptions. 
 
 1715. Mr. James Frafer carried the addrefs 
 figned by the counties of Invernefs, Mur- 
 ray and Nairn, and gave it into the hands 
 of the earl of Hay, who was then at Edin- 
 burgh. On the other hand, Mr. Monro, 
 laird of Foulis, and colonel of the regi- 
 ment of the Scottifh guards, tendered it 
 to the earl of Sutherland, lord Strathnaver, 
 and the nobility of the counties of Rofs 
 and Sutherland j and, after they had figned 
 it, carried his copy to Edinburgh. Lord Ilay 
 took with him thefe twoaddreflestoLondon, 
 where he arrived March the firit, 1715. 
 
 From this moment lord Lovat believed, 
 that his affair would be immediately expe- 
 dited. But a new and unforefeen obftacle 
 arofe. The duke of Montrofe, fecretary of 
 ftate for Scotland, was gained, as it is 
 faid, by the influence of the houfe of Athol 
 and the money of Mackenzie of Preftonhal. 
 
 5 Hs
 
 OFLORDLOVAT. 467 
 
 He therefore earnestly oppofed himfelf to P A E 
 the pardon, and reprefented lord Lovat to ^^ 
 the king as unworthy of his clemency. 171; 
 
 Lord Hay was the greateft and moft re- 
 fined politician in the ifland of Great Bri- 
 tain. Finding the fecretary of ftate for 
 Scotland in his way, he thought proper tq 
 defer lord Lovat's affair, till, by his own 
 influence, and that of the duke of Argyle, 
 whofe credit at the court of London was ex- 
 tremely high, he had gained the Englifh 
 minifters, and by their means was able to 
 fet at defiance the duke of Montrofe and 
 his intereft. 
 
 Lord Lovat however was extremely mor- 
 tified at this event. He had expected, that 
 his affair would be completed the moment 
 he fet foot in England. Far from this, by 
 the oppofition of the duke of Montrofe, he 
 was obliged to wait in London, from the 
 clofe of the month of October 1714, to 
 the clofe of the month of July 1715, with 
 his brother, his two kinfmen and three fer- 
 vants, a circumftance attended with great 
 expence, and with not lefs anxiety and 
 
 uneafinefs. 
 
 In
 
 468 MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE 
 
 In the meantime, about the fifteenth of 
 July 1715, the court of London received 
 intelligence from the earl of Stair, their 
 ambafiadorto the court of France, that the 
 pretender was upon the point of invading 
 the three kingdoms, with the French fleet 
 which had been employed for the reduction 
 of Majorca. This alarm roufed the diligence 
 of lord Lovat's friends. They applied to 
 the Englifh miniflers ; and, having obtain- 
 ed from them apromife that they would ex- 
 ert themfelves in the affair of lord Lovat, 
 lord Hay intreated lord Sutherland and bri- 
 gadier general Grant, to prefent to the king 
 the two addrefles he had brought up from 
 Scotland. 
 
 They were preiented on Sunday the 
 twenty-fourth of July. The earl of Orkney, 
 who was the lord in waiting, held out his 
 hand to receive them from the king, ac- 
 cording to cuftom. The king however 
 drew them back, folded them up, and, as if 
 he had been pre-advifed of their contents, 
 put them in his pocket. 
 
 INIS.
 
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