PUBLICATIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY 
 
 SECOND SERIES 
 
 V O L. 
 XI 
 
 LETTERS RELATING TO SCOTLAND IN THE 
 REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE BY JAMES OGILVY 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD, AND OTHERS 
 
 November 1915 
 
LETTERS RELATING TO 
 SCOTLAND IN THE REIGN 
 OF QUEEN ANNE 
 
 BY JAMES OGILVY, FIRST EARL OF 
 SE AFIELD, AND OTHERS 
 
 Edited by 
 P. HUME BROWN, M.A.. LL.D. 
 
 FRASER PROFESSOR OK ANCIENT (SCOTTISH) HISTORY AND 
 PALAEOGRAPHY, HISTORIOGRAPHER-ROYAL FOR SCOTLAND 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable 
 for the Scottish History Society 
 191 5 
 
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 15b 
 
 . SzS" 
 v II . 
 
 °CT 21 1.971 
 465065 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 INTRODUCTION, vii 
 
 I. Letters of James Ogilvy, First Earl of Sea- 
 field, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, . 1-110 
 
 II. Letters of James, Fourth Duke of Hamilton, 111-117 
 
 III. The First Causes of Scotland's Divisions, by 
 
 Lord Tarbat, ...... 118-13.3 
 
 IV. Letters of John Murray, Second Marquess. 
 
 afterwards Duke of Atholl, Keeper of 
 
 the Privy Seal of Scotland, . . . 134-141 
 
 V. Letters of Robert Harley, Speaker of the 
 House of Commons, afterwards Earl of 
 
 Oxford, 142-148 
 
 VI. Letters of Lieut.-General George Ramsay, . 149-151 
 
 VII. Letters of David Melville, Third Earl of 
 Leven, afterwards Second Earl of Mel- 
 ville, Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, . 152-158 
 
 VIII. Letter of Sir George Mackenzie, First Earl 
 of Ckomartie, Lord Justice-General of Scot- 
 land, 159 
 
 IX. Letters of Charles Montagu, First Lord, 
 
 AFTERWARDS EARL OF, HALIFAX, . . . l6*0-l63 
 
vi 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 X. Letters of Adam Cockburne, Lord Ormistoux, 
 Lord of Session, and afterwards Loud 
 
 Justice-Clerk, ...... 164-169 
 
 XL Letters of Hugh Campbell, Third Earl of 
 
 Loudoun, Secretary of State in Scotland, 170-172 
 
 XII. Letter of Thomas Hay, Viscount Dupplin, 
 
 afterwards Sixth Earl of Kinnoul, . . 173-174 
 
 XIII. Letters of John Erskine, Eleventh Earl of 
 
 Mar, Secretary of State in Scotland, . 175-177 
 
 XIV. Letters of David Boyle, First Earl of 
 
 Glasgow, 178-184? 
 
 XV. Letters of Alexander Rigby, . . . 185-189 
 
 XVI. Coppies of Papers signed and delivered by 
 
 James JVLDaniell to His Grace the Duke 
 
 of Argyl, . 190- 199 
 
 INDEX, 201 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 I 
 
 The majority of the letters contained in the present 
 volume relate to the years 1702-1707. The period is a 
 momentous one in the national history, as it saw the be- 
 ginning and the end of the negotiations that resulted in the 
 abolition of the National Assembly of Scotland and its 
 incorporation with that of England. As throwing fresh 
 light on these negotiations the letters here brought together 
 may be said to be of prime importance. They were all 
 written by persons who took a leading part in the 
 successive proceedings which led up to the union of the two 
 Parliaments, and written at the moment and on the spot 
 when and where the events to which they refer actually 
 occurred. The writers, moreover, were all men of ability 
 and experience, and possessed the faculty of saying briefly 
 and clearly what they had to communicate. The letters 
 as a whole, indeed, bear favourable comparison with those 
 of English statesmen of the same period, and confirm 
 the impression we receive from other sources that, 
 as an order, the Scottish nobility were an accomplished 
 body of men. 
 
 The greater number and the most important of the 
 letters were written by James Ogilvy, at the time when 
 he wrote them, first Earl of Seafield, and subsequently 
 fourth Earl of Findlater. In his Introduction to the 
 Seafield Correspondence, edited by him for the Scottish 
 History Society, Mr. James Grant has given a full ac- 
 count of the Ogilvy pedigree; here, therefore, it is sufficient 
 
viii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 to recall the main facts of Seafield's life. He was born 
 on July 11, 1663, and was the second son of James, third 
 Earl of Findlater, and Lady Anna Montgomery, eldest 
 daughter of Hugh, seventh Earl of Eglintoun. After 
 receiving the elements of his education under a private 
 tutor, he was sent, at the age of twelve, to the University 
 of Aberdeen, where he studied for three years. His parents 
 wished him to enter the army, but, from all we know of 
 him, Seafield was born a man of peace, and he preferred 
 the law as more congenial to his natural temper. After a 
 brief stay in Holland (1683), he settled down to his legal 
 studies in Edinburgh, and was admitted advocate in 1685. 
 At the Revolution he was elected to the Convention Parlia- 
 ment as Commissioner for Cullen, and his political career 
 began. It seems to have been Seafield's maxim from the 
 beginning of his public life to accept the powers that were 
 and, in his own interest, to serve them to the best of his 
 ability : in his letters it is his constant refrain that he 
 considered it his sole duty to give effect to the wishes of 
 the authorities by whose grace he held such offices as he 
 did. In the Convention he signalised himself as one of 
 the five members who dissented from the ' forfaulture ' 
 of James vn., yet, in the same year (1689), he took the 
 oaths to William and Mary and received from them the 
 honour of knighthood. His services and his family con- 
 nections secured him rapid promotion. In 1693 he was 
 made Solicitor-General ; in 1696 joint-Secretary of State ; 
 and in 1698 he was created Viscount Seafield and Lord 
 Ogilvy of Cullen. The last years of the reign of William 
 in Scotland were agitated by the affair of Darien, and 
 Seafield's attitude to it affected his future estimation 
 in public opinion. It was in accordance with his prin- 
 ciples that he opposed the enterprise as being disapproved 
 by William, but we may believe that, with his cold and 
 luminous intelligence, he may have recognised its futility 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 ix 
 
 from the beginning. Hitherto popular among his country- 
 men, his opposition to the venture to which the nation 
 had so passionately committed itself stamped him as one 
 who was ready to sacrifice his country's interests for favour 
 at Court. On the other hand, his services to the Crown 
 secured him still further honours. In 1700 he was ap- 
 pointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly 
 — at that time a post of peculiar difficulty and responsi- 
 bility — and in 1701 he was created Earl of Seafield — 
 holding all the time the office of conjunct-Secretary of 
 State. William was succeeded by Anne in 1702, and, as 
 her English advisers decided that there should be no 
 immediate change of policy, Seafield was re-appointed 
 Secretary. In the same year (November) he received the 
 office of Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, and in March 
 1703 he again acted as Lord High Commissioner of the 
 General Assembly. It is at this point of his career that his 
 letters here collected begin. 
 
 Two character sketches of Seafield — neither drawn by a 
 friendly hand — may indicate the general impression he 
 made on his contemporaries, and exhibit, at the same time, 
 the line of policy he followed in Scottish affairs. The first 
 is by George Lockhart of Carnwath, the arch- Jacobite 
 of the time, for whom Seafield incarnated every political 
 principle deserving of reprobation. In Lockhart's eyes 
 Seafield had committed the unpardonable sin of first sup- 
 porting the House of Stewart and then deserting it, and it 
 is, therefore, with the writer's prejudices in our minds that 
 we must take his estimate of Seafield' s character and career. 
 
 ' In the Convention 1689 he [Seafield] was much taken 
 notice of by reason of a speech he made against the for- 
 feiting of King James : but he did not long continue in 
 these measures ; for, by William Duke of Hamilton's 
 means, he was made solicitor to King William, and enjoy'd 
 that office several years ; during which time he prosecuted 
 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 his employment to good purpose, and made a fair estate. 
 In the year 1696 he was call'd to Court to be one of King 
 William's secretaries of state : and indeed it must be 
 own'd he serv'd him very faithfully, consenting to and 
 going alongst with any thing- demanded of him, tho' 
 visibly against the interest of his country, and trimm'd 
 and trick'd so shamefully in the affair of Darien. that he 
 thereby, from being generally well belov'd. drew upon 
 himself the hatred of all who wished well to that glorious 
 undertaking. He was believ'd to be of loyal enough 
 principles, but had so mean and selfish a soul, that he 
 wanted both resolution and honesty enough to adhere 
 to them : which evidently appear d from his changing 
 sides so often, and cleaving to that party he found rising. 
 People were willing to excuse, at least extenuate, his first 
 faults, because of the lowness of his worldly circumstances ; 
 but after he had raised them to a considerable height, and 
 had a fair occasion of retrieving his reputation, when he 
 joined with the Cavaliers [the Jacobite party] in the 
 Parliament 1703, to leave them so basely and meanly as 
 he did, is altogether inexcusable. 1 He was finely accom- 
 plished ; a learned lawyer, a just judge ; courteous and 
 good-natured ; but withall so intircly abandon' d to serve 
 the Court measures, be what they will, that he seldom or 
 never consulted his own inclinations, but was a blank 
 sheet of paper, which the Court might fill up with what 
 they pleas' d. As he thus sacrificed his honour and prin- 
 ciples, so he easily deserted his friend when his interest 
 (which he was only firm to) did not stand in competition. 
 He made a good figure, and proceeded extremely well in 
 the Parliament and Session, where he dispatch'd business 
 to the general satisfaction of the Judges.' 2 
 
 1 Seafield's relations to the Jacobite party in the session of 1703 are explained 
 in hi.- letters that follow. 
 
 • The Lockhart Pilfers, vol. i. pp. 52-3 (London, 1 S 1 7>. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XI 
 
 The other characterisation of Seafield is by John Macky, 
 a Government agent and deep in the political machinations 
 of the time, and was written in 1703 — the year when the 
 letters begin. 
 
 ' He [Seafield] is a gentleman of great knowledge in the 
 civil law and the constitution of that Kingdom [Scotland] ; 
 understands perfectly well how to manage the Scots 
 Parliament to the advantage of the Court. That and his 
 implicitly executing what pleased King William without 
 ever reasoning about it established him very much in his 
 Majesty's favour, but his joining with an English Secretary 
 to destroy the Colony of Darien lost him extremely with 
 the people. He affects plainness and familiarity in his 
 conversation, but is not sincere ; is very beautiful in his 
 person, with a graceful behaviour and a soft tongue, not 
 forty years old.' 1 
 
 From these two estimates of Seafield and from other 
 contemporary references we may infer what were his 
 salient characteristics as a statesman. As to his gifts and 
 accomplishments, his tact and his powers of patient 
 persistence, there is unanimous testimony. There is 
 equally concurrent agreement regarding the principle 
 that actuated his public life ; it was to do his utmost for 
 whatever government he served and to make himself an 
 indispensable public servant. His contemporaries put 
 their own construction on his motives, but from the mass 
 of his own correspondence, more voluminous than that 
 of any other Scottish statesman of the period, we are in 
 a position to form our own estimate of his character and 
 aims. His temper was essentially conservative ; he was 
 incapable of a passionate and one-sided devotion to a 
 cause like Lockhart, and he was equally incapable of 
 conceiving, like Fletcher of Saltoun, that in a particular 
 
 1 Memoirs of (he Secret Services of John Macky, Esq., during the Reigns of 
 King William, Queen Anne, and King George I., p. 182 (London, 1733). 
 
xii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 form of government could be found a panacea for all 
 human ills. Men and things he saw in the dry light of 
 intellect, and he was of the class of statesmen who, in 
 Dryden's words. 4 neither love nor hate.' 
 
 II 
 
 The letters of Seafield here printed are in four groups, 
 and relate to the affairs of sessions 1703, 1704, 1705, and 
 1706 respectively. As in these successive sessions new 
 ministers were entrusted with the management of parlia- 
 mentary business and new measures came up for their 
 consideration, something may be said by way of intro- 
 duction to the several groups into which the letters are 
 divided. 
 
 At the accession of Queen Anne a grave constitutional 
 question arose in Scotland. The representative body 
 existing at the death of William m. was still that Con- 
 vention which had been returned at the Revolution in 
 1689. By a large section of the community, even during 
 William's life, it was contended that the Convention had 
 ceased to represent the wishes of the nation, but on Anne's 
 accession there was a more serious objection to its con- 
 tinuance as a representative body. By an Act of William's 
 reign (1696), similar to one passed by the Parliament of 
 England, it had been declared that the existing Parliament 
 should meet twenty days after the king's death, should not 
 sit for longer than six months, and that its powers should 
 be restricted to measures for the conservation of Church 
 and State. William died on March 8, 1702, and the Con- 
 vention did not meet till June 9, three months later. On 
 the first day of the session James, Duke of Hamilton, re- 
 presenting the Country Party, which in the reign of William 
 had distinguished itself by its opposition to the Court, 
 formally protested against the legality of the Conven- 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xiii 
 
 tion ; and at the head of fifty-seven members. 1 left the 
 House. 
 
 Three sets of documents in the present collection directly 
 bear on the crisis that thus arose. In the letters of 
 Hamilton (pp. 111-117) we have a record of the attempt 
 made by him and his party to procure the dissolution of the 
 Convention and the election of another representative 
 body. With this object an address, signed by the leaders 
 of the Country Party, was sent to the Queen under the 
 charge of William Keith. younger, of Ludquhairn. Keith's 
 orders were to present the address to the Queen in her 
 own drawing-room and to read it to her before putting it 
 into her hands. What is interesting is that Hamilton 
 had previously endeavoured to secure the interest of 
 Anne's favourite, the Duchess (then the Countess) of 
 Marlborough. Doubtless instructed by her minister, 
 Godolphin. who had not yet decided whether it was more 
 politic to sanction a new election in Scotland or not. Anne 
 point-blank refused to receive the address. 
 
 The Convention concluded its sittings on June 30 ; and 
 it devolved on Anne's English ministers to determine 
 whether it should meet again or another representative 
 body should take its place. In England, the Whig Parlia- 
 ment of William had been dissolved on July 2. and in the 
 election that had followed Tories had been returned in the 
 proportion of two to one. This result was highly satis- 
 factory to Anne and her English advisers, but in their 
 ignorance of the state of public opinion in Scotland they 
 could have no certainty that a similar result would follow 
 an election in that country. A letter of Harley (Speaker of 
 the House of Commons) in the present volume (pp. 142-143) 
 throws some light on the situation. Harley and the Earl 
 of Nottingham, the English Secretary of State, it may 
 
 The number of the seceders is variously given. 
 
xiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 be said, were the two of Anne's English advisers who were 
 chiefly charged with the affairs of Scotland. From 
 Harley's letter it appears that Queensberry, who after the 
 rising of the Convention had gone to London, was strongly 
 opposed to a new election. The grounds of his opposition 
 were that the Convention had voted sufficient supplies for 
 the maintenance of the Forces in Scotland till 1704, and 
 that it was impossible to predict what would be the result 
 of a general election at that time. By delaying an election 
 for another year the nation might settle into a calmer 
 state of mind, and its result might be anticipated with 
 greater confidence. In these contentions, Harley says, 
 Queensberry was supported by the Presbyterian Whigs 
 who dreaded the return of a Parliament hostile to the 
 religious settlement effected at the Revolution. Harley 
 himself was uncertain what advice to give Godolphin, 
 but Nottingham, a strong Tory, favoured the dissolution 
 of the Convention and a new election which,' if a Tory 
 majority were returned, might further strengthen the 
 Government. Crodolphin adopted the counsel of Notting- 
 ham, and the order was issued for a new election the 
 first that had taken place in Scotland for fourteen years. 
 
 As was the practice of the time, the Government used 
 all the influence at its command to determine the result 
 of the election in its own favour. Scafield. whose fidelity 
 to his employers was well known, was sent down to Scot- 
 land specially charged to do his utmost to secure a majority 
 favourable to the Government's policy. In spite of all 
 his efforts the result was neither what he expected nor 
 desired. In the Convention there had been two main parties : 
 the party that generally gave its support to the Govern- 
 ment, and the Country Party, led by Hamilton, that 
 generally opposed it. In the newly elected body there 
 appeared a third party variously designated the I^piscopal, 
 the Cavalier, or the Jacobite party, whose objects were the 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 restoration of the exiled Stewart, and, as a consequence, 
 the re-establishment of Episcopacy. While the party 
 led by Hamilton was so reduced in numbers that Seafield 
 considered it negligible, the Presbyterian Whigs, on the 
 other hand, received an accession to their numbers. 
 
 It is in connection with this state of parties that we 
 must read another set of documents in this volume — 
 those written by Viscount Tarbat (pp. 118-133). Tarbat 
 had been appointed one of the Secretaries of State for 
 Scotland in November 1702, and the documents in ques- 
 tion are dated 1703. They are three in number. The 
 first, entitled ' A Short Account of the first Causes of 
 Scotland's Divisions,' is a sketch of Scottish history since 
 the Reformation from the Tory point of view, of which 
 the conclusion is that only the Tories could be trusted to 
 give loyal support to the Crown. The second paper, 
 4 The present State of the Scots Divisions,' explains from 
 the writer's point of view the principles and aims of the 
 different parties with which the Government had to reckon 
 in its dealings with Scottish affairs, and the third is a 
 statement of the comparative influence of the leading- 
 Scottish families, with suggestions as to the best method 
 of dealing with them. All three papers are addressed to 
 the Queen, and were meant for the guidance of her ministers 
 who were responsible for the administration of Scotland. 1 
 
 The new Parliament met on May 6, 1703, and all parties 
 were aware of the momentous issues that depended on its 
 action. Here it is only with the part played by Seafield 
 that we are concerned. Though Queensberry had been 
 re-appointed Lord High Commissioner, it was apparently 
 to Seafield that Godolphin looked for the successful manage- 
 ment of Parliament in the interest of the Government. 
 
 1 In Lockhart's opinion Tarbat was not a satisfactory Tory. 'Never,' he 
 says of him, 'was there a more fickle, unsteady man in the world' ( Op. cit., 
 P. 74). 
 
 b 
 
XVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 There were two main objects which the Scottish ministers 
 were to do their best endeavour to accomplish. The one 
 was the legalising of the late Convention — a prime necessity 
 since it was by the sanction of that assembly that Anne 
 was sovereign of Scotland. This measure was carried with 
 little difficulty, as no party except the extreme Jacobites 
 had any interest in opposing it. It was otherwise with 
 the matter of supply, and it was in connection with the 
 contentions that arose regarding the granting of it that 
 Seafield was able to do what he considered his greatest 
 service to the Government. The withholding of supply- 
 was the only means of reminding ministers in England that 
 Scotland was an independent kingdom and of forcing the 
 Queen's sanction of measures which were considered in 
 Scotland's interest. By the great majority in the new 
 Parliament it was regarded as an insult to the nation that 
 in the Act of Settlement of 1701, which devolved the Crown 
 on the Electress Sophia and her heirs, the English Parlia- 
 ment left Scotland out of account, though she had an equal 
 stake at issue. It was the fixed resolve of this majority, 
 therefore, to bring home to the English ministry that 
 wScotland had independent interests, which were not to be 
 ignored if the Crowns were to remain united. The tactics 
 they adopted to effect their object were to refuse supply 
 till the Queen gave her sanction to the menacing Act of 
 Security which was to have such decisive results on the 
 future relations of the two countries. By the terms of 
 that Act. it may be recalled, the Estates, twenty days after 
 the death of the reigning sovereign without issue, were to 
 name a successor who should be at once a Protestant and 
 a descendant of the house of Stewart. 
 
 Supported as the Act was by an overwhelming majority 
 of the House, the Ministry was impotent to prevent its pass- 
 ing, unpalatable as it was to Anne and her English advisers. 
 The Act itself was a sufficiently formidable menace to 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 England, but there was a grave risk that certain clauses 
 should be embodied in it which would have essentially 
 changed its character. These clauses were the ' limita- 
 tions ' proposed by Fletcher of Saltoun which would have 
 so curtailed the privileges of the Crown that, at Anne's 
 death, Scotland would virtually have become an indepen- 
 dent republic. It was Seafield who had the chief merit 
 of preventing the inclusion of these clauses, and his letters 
 indicate how he did so. 
 
 As the result of the late election, Seafield was aware 
 that he could depend only on a minority to give un- 
 deviating support to Godolphin's Scottish policy. The 
 Whigs, who were in a great majority, would, he knew, be 
 recalcitrant, and his only hope of managing the House 
 was to secure the assistance of the Tories. To effect this 
 object he advised a step which was attended with some 
 risk ; by his advice, against that of Queensberry, the 
 Marquis of Atholl was appointed to the office of Lord 
 Privy Seal. The risk lay in Atholl's personal character 
 and his dubious political sympathies. Atholl had con- 
 curred in the Revolution and had held office under William, 
 but Lockhart, who had opportunities of knowing, avers 
 that his sympathies were secretly with the Jacobites, and 
 in point of fact, he was subsequently (1708) put under 
 arrest on suspicion of being in correspondence with the 
 Court of St. Germains. 1 Doubtful in his political leanings, 
 he was ; of a very proud, fiery, partial disposition/ 2 and at 
 every turn he required delicate management. That Seafield 
 had his difficulties with him frequent expressions in his 
 letters prove, but he had a purchase over him which 
 effectually held him in check when he was disposed to be 
 refractory. Atholl had petitioned for a dukedom, and the 
 dukedom was promised him, but on the understanding that 
 it was not to be granted till the close of the session. In 
 
 1 See below, p. 141. 2 Macky, op. ctt., p. 184. 
 
xviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 one of his letters Seafield testifies to the good service that 
 Atholl had done to the Government : 4 1 doe atest,' he 
 writes, ' that his concurrence does signifie verie much for 
 the Queens service, and I hope he will continue to use his 
 influence faithfulie and I doe belive that, if it had not 
 been that I have pleased him and taken measurs with him 
 and the Cavilier Partie, they had been prevailed on to 
 join with the opposers, and so ther had been no possibilitie 
 of earring her Majesties affairs ' (p. 8). 
 
 The special service performed by Atholl for the Govern- 
 ment was precisely to secure the Tory vote, and thus 
 decisively assist in excluding Fletcher's 4 limitations ' from 
 the Act of Security. How, though he had in the past 
 identified himself with the Whigs, he was in a position 
 to do this, Lockhart sufficiently explains. ' He [Atholl],' 
 Lockhart writes, ' was of great significancy to any party, 
 especially the Cavaliers, because he had a mighty power, 
 and when upon a loyal bottom could raise 6000 of the best 
 men in the Kingdom, well armed and ready to sacrifice 
 all they had for the King's [James's] service.' 1 In check- 
 mating Fletcher with the aid of Atholl Seafield was fully 
 aware that he had achieved a political stroke of the first 
 importance. The Act of Security in itself was highly 
 objectionable to Anne and her English ministers, and it 
 was only out of dire necessity that Godolphin eventually 
 advised her to sanction it. Had the limitations been 
 embodied in the Act, however, in no circumstances could 
 Anne have consented to it, and the result would have been 
 a deadlock between the two kingdoms, which, in all pro- 
 bability, would have resulted in civil war. 
 
 Ill 
 
 The letters of Seafield in the second group, relating to 
 the session of 1704, are only two in number and are un- 
 1 Op. cit., p. 73. 
 
INTRODUCTION xix 
 
 important. During that session he still retained the office 
 of Lord Chancellor, though in association with another 
 body of colleagues. Following the session of 1703 there 
 had occurred a sensational event which had occasioned 
 the fall of Queensberry's ministry and a temporary change 
 in the relations of parties. This was the Queensberry 
 Plot, or, as it was called in England, the Scots Plot, 
 revealed by Simon Lovat to Queensberry, and incrimin- 
 ating men of all parties — Seafield, Hamilton, and Atholl 
 among others. As the representative of royalty in Scot- 
 land, Queensberry communicated the Plot to the Queen, 
 and the result was a furious protest on the part of the 
 persons accused, which made Queensberry's retention of 
 office impossible. A new body of Scottish officials being 
 thus rendered necessary, Godolphin had to choose from 
 the party leaders who of them would be most likely to 
 carry an Act on which he had set his heart as the most 
 desirable in the interest of both kingdoms. By this Act, 
 if it were passed, the Scottish Crown would be settled on 
 the Electress Sophia and her heirs, and thus Scotland and 
 England would be assured of the same succession. In 
 the ranks of the Country Party Godolphin found the men 
 who were willing to make the attempt to carry the measure. 
 The chief of them were the Marquis of Tweeddale, the Earls 
 of Rothes and Roxburgh, George Baillie of Jerviswood 
 and Sir James Stewart, the Lord Advocate — the last of 
 whom was at this time Godolphin' s chief adviser in Scottish 
 affairs. Under the new set of officials, Tweeddale being 
 Lord High Commissioner and Seafield Lord Chancellor, 
 the Estates met on July 6, 1704. The new ministry had 
 confidently hoped to carry an Act of Succession, but the 
 Parliament had hardly sat before they discovered that 
 they had completely misunderstood the mind of the House. 
 From the first the measure had never a chance of being 
 passed, and the relations of the two kingdoms were to be 
 
 62 
 
XX 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 adjusted on another basis — by a union of the two Parlia- 
 ments which carried with it the settling of the succession. 
 This was a rude blow for Godolphin, but in the same 
 session the Estates took Other action which placed him in 
 a grave dilemma. Before they would grant supply, they 
 insisted that the Act of Security, which had been passed 
 the previous year, should receive the Queen's sanction, 
 and, as the least evil of two alternatives, Godolphin ad- 
 vised her to give it. Thus the Tweeddale ministry had 
 failed to accomplish the object for which it had been 
 chosen. 1 
 
 Before the Parliament rose (August 26) there hap- 
 pened an event which was to have a result similar to that 
 of the Queensberry Plot. It was the well-known affair of 
 the seizure in Leith Roads of the English ship the Worcester, 
 commanded by Captain Thomas Green. Detained in 
 prison on the charge of murdering the crew of a Scottish 
 vessel, the Speedy Return, he and his crew were finally 
 tried on March 14, 1705, by the Court of Admiralty and all 
 were found guilty except one. During the long interval 
 between their arrest and their trial the relations between 
 the two kingdoms were strained to a point that threatened 
 civil war, and it was the charge against Tweeddale and his 
 supporters, now known as the New Party, that they had 
 deliberately fanned the flame in Scotland in order to 
 regain the popularity they had lost by their support of an 
 Act of Succession. 
 
 By their failure to carry this Act and their conduct in 
 the affair of Green and his crew, the leaders of the New 
 Party had made it difficult for Godolphin to maintain them 
 in office though he was loth to part with them as being 
 the men who had endeavoured to give effect to his own 
 policy. Tweeddale, at least, was impossible as Lord 
 
 1 The Letters of Atholl, Ramsay, Leven, and Harley refer to the events of 
 the session of 1704. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxi 
 
 High Commissioner, and another had to be found to take 
 his place. The man chosen was John, second Duke of 
 Argyle, a youth of only twenty-four, but, as a Presby- 
 terian Whig and the descendant of a house canonised in 
 Presbyterian memories, likely to have the support of the 
 majority in the existing Parliament. Argyle was ap- 
 pointed Commissioner in March 1705, and in that month 
 our third group of Seafield's letters begins. They form 
 the most important body of his correspondence in the 
 present volume, and, taken together with the recently 
 published letters of the Duke of Argyle, 1 present the most 
 valuable information we possess regarding the proceedings 
 of a parliamentary session which, as the event proved, were 
 to determine the future relations of the two kingdoms. 
 Concerned with the business of the same session are the 
 letters of Charles Montagu, Lord Ormiston, the Earl of 
 Loudoun, and the Earl of Glasgow, also contained in this 
 volume. A few words will explain the conditions under 
 winch the session began, the relations of the various 
 parties, the nature of the measures before the House, 
 and the parts played by its most prominent members. 
 
 Argyle had accepted theCommissionership under one con- 
 dition — that the New Party should be discarded. To this 
 condition Godolphin demurred, for, as has been said, that 
 party represented his own views regarding the most ex- 
 pedient policy for establishing satisfactory relations between 
 the two countries. Moreover, the men upon whose support 
 Argyle would have mainly to depend in the coming session 
 were not all of one mind as to the prudence of ousting the 
 New Party. Notably Seafield, as his letters to Godolphin 
 show, was strongly of opinion that the assistance of that 
 party was indispensable if the measures with which Argyle 
 was charged were to receive the sanction of the House. 
 
 1 Intimate Society Letters of the Eighteenth Century, edited by the Duke of 
 Argyll* (London, 19 10). 
 
xxii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 In the end, however, Argyle had his way ; the New Party 
 was dismissed and he was left at liberty to form his own 
 ministry. The Earls of- Loudoun and Annandale were 
 made joint-Secretaries, the Earl of Glasgow Treasurer- 
 Depute, Queensberry Lord Privy Seal, and Seafield 
 retained his office of Chancellor. 
 
 The Ministry thus formed, the next question was what 
 measure was most likely to find favour with the House. 
 There were but two measures, Argyle told Godolphin, 
 between which he must choose : the one was the settle- 
 ment of the succession on the House of Hanover, the other 
 the passing of an Act authorising the appointment of a 
 commission to treat of a union of the two kingdoms. Of 
 the two, the first, he said, was the more desirable, the 
 second the more likely to pass. The majority of Argyle' s 
 colleagues, however, were of a different mind ; six being 
 in favour of a treaty and only two in favour of the suc- 
 cession. With a ministry thus divided, it was hopeless to 
 expect favourable issues from the coming session. Accord- 
 ingly the following device was adopted by Argyle and his 
 colleagues as a method of reconciling their differences. 
 They prepared two drafts of a royal letter, in one of which 
 a treaty of union was put first, and in the other the suc- 
 cession, and it was left to the Queen and her English 
 advisers to choose between them. In accordance with his 
 own policy, Godolphin chose the second alternative, with 
 the suggestion, however, that, should it be found im- 
 possible to carry the succession, the attempt should be 
 made to carry the treaty. By this arrangement the con- 
 tinuity of the royal policy was at least maintained, as in 
 the preceding session it had been the charge to Tweeddale 
 as Commissioner to obtain, if possible, an act settling 
 the succession on the House of Hanover. 
 
 The varying fortunes of the session may be followed in 
 Seafield' s letters, but its general course may here be briefly 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxiii 
 
 summarised. The House sat on June 28, and the session 
 had not well begun before it was discovered that the 
 passing of an Act of Succession was as hopeless as in the 
 previous year. There was no alternative, therefore, but 
 to fall back on the other Government measure— the passing 
 of an Act for the appointment of commissioners to treat of a 
 union of the Parliaments of England and Scotland. The bill 
 for this object was introduced on July 20 by John, Earl 
 of Mar, afterwards the leader of the rising of 1715, but it 
 was not seriously taken in hand till the last week of August. 
 It was in the teeth of strenuous opposition that the bill was 
 eventually carried — the main contention of its opposers 
 being that it would be a national disgrace to treat with a 
 nation whose representative assembly had passed the Alien 
 Act. 1 Only on one condition, they insisted, would they 
 consent to the passing of the bill — the insertion of a clause 
 making it imperative that the Alien Act should be rescinded 
 before negotiations for a treaty began. The ministers 
 were rescued from their difficulty by one of their own 
 number — the Duke of Queensberry, who now held the 
 office of Lord Privy Seal. Queensberry adroitly suggested 
 that, in place of inserting a clause which would in all pro- 
 bability frustrate the object of the bill, the House should 
 direct a special address to the Queen in which she should 
 be told that the action of her English Parliament was 
 insulting to Scotland. Queensberry' s motion was carried, 
 but there still remained a crucial question on which the 
 House was passionately divided. Now that it was decided 
 that commissioners to treat of union were to be appointed, 
 what authority was to have the appointment of them ? 
 Was it the Queen or the Estates ? In his private in- 
 
 1 The English parliament had passed the Alien Act as a reply to the Scottish 
 Act of Security. It enacted thai all Scotsmen, except such as were settled in 
 England, should be treated as aliens ; that no horses, arms, or ammunition 
 should be supplied from England to Scotland ; and that Scots cattle, linen, and 
 coals should be excluded both from England and Ireland. 
 
XXIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 structions Argyle had received stringent injunctions that 
 he was to strain every effort to secure their nomination by 
 the Queen. The natural objection to giving the Queen 
 the choice was the risk that commissioners unduly favour- 
 able to England would be appointed. The contest was 
 long and bitter, but the ministers found an unexpected 
 ally. At a late hour, after a prolonged sitting, the Duke 
 of Hamilton, to the indignation of his followers, rose and 
 moved that the nomination should be vested in the Queen. 
 The motion was carried, and the first all-important step 
 was taken towards a treaty of Union. 
 
 IV 
 
 The last group of Seafield's letters relate to the session 
 1706-1707 in which the treaty of union was passed. In April 
 1706. the Commissioners chosen to represent the two king- 
 doms met at Whitehall, and after sitting for nine weeks, 
 drew up the twenty-five articles which were to be the basis 
 for a treaty of union. As it was anticipated that they 
 would meet with most opposition in the Scottish Parlia- 
 ment, it was arranged that they should be first submitted 
 to that body. 
 
 It met on October 3. the Duke of Queensberry being 
 Lord High Commissioner and Seafield Lord Chancellor. 
 From Seafield's letters, as from other sources, we learn 
 that the carrying of the articles depended on the conduct 
 of two bodies — the Church and the New Party, and Sea- 
 field takes credit to himself that he was the principal 
 agent in securing the support of both. As a body, the 
 national clergy were hostile to a treaty, since in a united 
 Parliament the predominance of English influence would 
 be a permanent menace to their church. If the opponents 
 of union, therefore, could gain the support of the ministers, 
 they could almost count on victory. Their tactics were 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XXV 
 
 to persuade the Commission of the General Assembly to 
 petition the Parliament to sanction the observance of a 
 national Fast. If the Parliament refused its sanction, 
 the hostility of the ministers would be intensified ; if 
 sanction were granted, the Fast would be a powerful 
 agency in increasing the national discontent at the prospect 
 of union. By dexterous management Sea field contrived 
 to avert the threatened mischief. He gained over the 
 leading members of the Commission, with the result that 
 in place of a national Fast, a day wa> >et apart for public- 
 intercession for divine guidance in the national crisis. 
 Eventually, an Act of Security, vafeguarding the Church 
 for all time coming, relieved the Government from serious 
 opposition on the part of the ministers. 
 
 The other service Seafield claims to have done for the 
 Government was to secure the support of the New Party, 
 to whose influence he seems to have attached greater im- 
 portance than did others of his colleagues. such as the 
 Earls of Leven and Mar. 1 Since the dismissal of its leaders 
 on the peremptory demand of Argyle. that partv had 
 followed a policy of its own — its principal object being to 
 maintain its separate and independent existence. As its 
 interest had suggested, it had given its support now to the 
 Tories and now to the Government, and thus had come 
 to be known as the Squadronc Volants. When the session 
 of 1706 began, it was still uncertain whether it would be 
 for the treaty or against it. and. as of prime importance. 
 Seafield had sedulously addressed himself to conciliate its 
 leaders. * I have taken al the methods I was capable to 
 use to keep the Xeu Pairtie from confor ming with our 
 Torie Pairtie . . .." he wrote to Godolphin in the second 
 week after the House had sat. A week later he was able 
 
 : According to :be Earl of March~o:.;. rr.e :f ::$ leaders, the Xe-sr Party 
 had thirty- foor votes ; according to the Earls of Mar and Leven, oaly Mbum or 
 sixteen. 
 
xxvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 to write 6 that the New Pairtie, both in Parliament and 
 Assemblie, gives us al the assistance wee can desire . . .' 
 From his own account, therefore, by thus securing the 
 support of the Church and the New Party Seafield has a 
 foremost place among the Scottish statesmen who effectu- 
 ated the Treaty of Union. 1 
 
 I have to thank Dr. Maitland Thomson, the honorary 
 Secretary of the Society, for his valuable assistance in the 
 preparation of this volume. 
 
 P. H. B. 
 
 Novonho- 1915. 
 
 1 It is to be regretted that the Correspondence of Seafield, so valuable for 
 the period to which it relates, has to be sought in so many quarters. Besides 
 his Correspondence, published for the Scottish History Society by Mr. Grant, 
 other letters of his appear in the Third Report (1872), and the Fourteenth 
 Report (Part ill., 1894) of the Historical MSS. Com mission, in the Carstares 
 State Papers and Letters (Edin., 1774), and in the Marchmont Papers (Lond., 
 1831). Another collection of his letters is in process of publication by the 
 Historical MSS. Commission. 
 
LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY, FIRST EARL 
 OF SEAFIELD, LORD CHANCELLOR OF 
 SCOTLAND 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055.) 
 
 [1703] 
 
 Edr. f May the 10, 1703. / 
 My Lord, — My Lord Commissioner 2 hes fullie informed 
 me of my obligations to your Lo. in my absence : I [am] 
 most sensible of them and al the return I am capable to 
 make is to assure your Lop. that none is more intierlie 
 your servant then I am, and I shal faithfulie serve and 
 support her Majesties authoritie and goverment to the 
 utmost of my pouer. I have sent your Lop. a Memorial 
 of what hes as yet occurred concerning the management 
 of her Majesties affairs in Parlament, 3 and, if it be accept- 
 able, I shal continou from time to time to leat your Lop. 
 know what occurrs. My Lord Privie Seal 4 and I continou 
 in intier friendship and I doubt not he will serve her 
 Majestie verie faithfulie, bot wee most want his assistance 
 for some dayes, for he goes this day to the country to 
 perform his fathers funerals, bot, having troubled your 
 Lop. with a long Memorial, I shal only add that I am, 
 with al respect, your Lops., etc., Seafield. 
 
 1 The following letters of Seafield were addressed to Sidney Godolphin, Lord 
 Treasurer of England. 
 
 2 James, 2nd Duke of Queensberry. 
 
 3 This, the first and last Scottish Parliament elected during Anne's reign, 
 had met on May 6, 1703. 
 
 4 John, Marquis of Atholl. He was made Privy Seal on the express desire 
 of Seafield, who hoped he would secure the support of the Jacobite Party or 
 the Government. At the close of the session, Atholl was made duke in reward 
 for his services. 
 
2 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [MAY 
 
 f.15. 
 
 Edr., May the 21st, 1703. 
 
 My Lord, — The inclosed Memorial is full, so that I shal 
 not presume to incroach farther on your patience at 
 present ; only the Presbiterians, if they get ther Church 
 goverment and the revolution setelment ratifyed, I belive 
 they shal unite in the Queens service. On the other hand, 
 I hope the Cavaliers will help to defend us against thos 
 republican propositions mentioned in my Memorial. The 
 Marques of Montrose and the Earle of Roxbrugh, Rothes, 
 Marischal and Hadingtoun continou in the Duke of 
 Hamiltons interest. This is al needful to be added, only 
 that I acknouledge the honor of your Lops, last letter 
 and am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 My Lord, — On Saturnday last the Parliament satt very 
 late upon the contraverted electione of the Comm rs for 
 the shyre of Orkney, in which all on whom I had influence 
 did concurr for those my Lord Comm r recommended, and 
 they are, indeed, very well inclined for her Ma ts service, 
 and accordingly wee carried the electione by a great 
 majority. 
 
 In the debate Sir Alex r Ogilvie of Forgline, who is my 
 near relation and is keeper of the Great Seal under me, 
 having argued with great concern for the Comm rs friends, 
 there past some hott words betwixt my Lord Belhaven 
 and him. My Lord Belhavens expressions were such that 
 Sir Alex 1 thought himself oblidged in honor to demand 
 satisfactione. However, all the expressions that past 
 betwixt them were not heard by my Lord Comm r or me, 
 so that I knew nothing of any quarrell betwixt them. 
 
 Immediately after the election was determined, Bel- 
 haven and Sir Alex r Ogilvie went out together with a 
 design to have fought, but after they had past the place 
 where wee had satt and had come the lenth of the door, 
 and, the same not being so readely opened to them, they 
 did again fall in passion, and Belhaven stroke Sir Alex r 
 Ogilvie with his foott and Sir Alex 1 stroke him again in 
 his own defence. This occasioned a great deal of noise, 
 
 /. 364. 
 
 July 1, 1703. 
 
1703] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 3 
 
 and many of the members, particularly the Duke of 
 Hamilton, thought that Belhaven had been insulted, and 
 so did express himself very passionatly, as did severall 
 others, but none of us who were in our seats could see 
 what happened. I told them that, if there was any insult 
 upon any of the members, I would take care to have it 
 examined and that my Lord Comm r and all her Ma ts 
 Servants would heartely concurr with them for main- 
 taining the honour of the Parliament and the security of 
 the members. By this time seralls of them had gott 
 information what past, and so it was proposed that this 
 matter might be let fall and that the consideration of it 
 might be reassuiried next sederunt, and accordingly the 
 Parliament was adjourned to Tuesday att ten aclock, 
 and I, having taken Sir Alex r Ogilvies prole of honour 
 that he should keep the peace, he went to his loadgings. 
 
 After this I went home and did expect to see no person, 
 it being so late, but his Grace my Lord Duke of Hamilton 
 and his two brothers came to my house and proposed 
 that, seeing the scuffle had happened betwixt my Lord 
 Belhaven, who is a Hamilton, and Sir Alex r Ogilvie, who 
 is of my name and my relation, that therfor wee might 
 interpose betwixt them and setle any difference they had, 
 and it was thought this would incline the Parliament to 
 be the more favourable to them. Accordingly I did aggree 
 to endeavour the reconciliation of the pairties, but, as for 
 the indignity that was offered to my Lord Comm r his 
 Grace and the Parliament, that was to be left intire, so 
 the Duke of Hamilton sent for the Lord Belhaven and I 
 sent for Alexander, and by our mediation they were 
 reconciled. 
 
 The Earle of Erroll, as Lord High Constable, pretends to 
 have the jurisdiction of all riotts committed dureing the 
 sitting of the Parliament, as well within as without the 
 Parliament House, so, notwithstanding of the reconcilia- 
 tion, he putt centries upon them. 
 
 Next morning I acquainted my Lord Comm r with what 
 was done, and 1 desired that his Grace might be favourable 
 to them both, seing Sir Alex 1 " Ogilvie was a faithfull servant 
 
4 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [JULY 
 
 to the Queen and that he had also been very serviceable 
 to his Grace in former Parliaments as well as in this, and 
 that I was sure that he could be more usefull to us than 
 my Lord Belhaven could be to the opposers. He said 
 that he was resolved that they should be both brought 
 in the Queen's mercy. I told him that they had many 
 friends on both sides, and it would occasion very hott 
 and warm disputes in the House, and I did not doubt 
 but the plurality would incline to accept of a humble 
 submission from them. 
 
 The Comm r called all the Queens Servants and laid the 
 matter before them. My Lord Privy Seal, the Earle of 
 Eglingtone, my Lord Justice-Clerk, and I were of the 
 opinion that it would be best for her Ma ts service not to 
 carry this matter too high. The other Servants differed 
 from us, and my Lord Comm r said he would accept of no 
 submission from them, nor could he allow them to be 
 readmitted to the Parliament untill they obtained remis- 
 sions, for the obtaining of which he should be very ready 
 to use his influence. 
 
 Wee were called again on Tuesdayes morning and by 
 this time my Lord Privy Seal and I did understand that 
 there would be very great heatts in the House if they were 
 not readmitted upon there craving his Grace and the 
 Estates of Parliament humble pardon for there offence, 
 first by a subscryved petition and afterwards verbally 
 att the barr. But his Grace and the other Servants would 
 not hear of this ; and so wee went to the Parlia t1; and the 
 Earle of Erroll, who is Lord High Constable, having given 
 acGO u of his reasons for detaining the Lord Belhaven and 
 Sir Alex r prisoners, I did speak to the House, and I am 
 sure with all deference to her Ma^ and the Estates of 
 Parliament, and did fully explain the attrociousnes of the 
 insult and told them that it might be punished very 
 severely. However, I could not but also acquaint them 
 that I found them both very penetent for there offence 
 and very ready in the humblest manner to submitt them- 
 selves and to crave his Grace and the Estates pardon. 
 A great many of both parties spoke, and, except a few of 
 
i 7 03] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 5 
 
 her Ma ts servants, wee found the generall inclination was 
 to accept of there submission without enquiring further 
 into the matter of fact. But my Lord Comm r and her 
 Ma ts servants, seeming unwilling that the matter should 
 be let fall without a legall prosecutione unles they did 
 subscryve a petition acknowledging there guilt and pray- 
 ing that they might be recommended to her Ma*y for a 
 remission, and that, in the mean time, they should not 
 offer to sitt in the House as members but continue either 
 prisoners in the castle or there loadgings, I did, upon 
 this, endeavour what I could to have the debate let fall 
 till the next sederunt that the parties concerned might 
 have time to apply in what manner they thought fitt, 
 and then my Lord Comm r and the Parliament might doe 
 what they thought just. This was acquiesced to by all, 
 and there was little more of any consequence done att 
 that sederunt, except that one of the officers of the 
 Guairds, Ensign Seat on, was arreigned for having threat- 
 tened Sir Rob u Dicksone, a membre of Parliament, for his 
 voting against Lewtennant-Generall Ramsay his electione 
 to be Comm r for the shyre of West Lothean, but, after 
 the examinatione of all the witnesses adduced, there was 
 nothing prowed against him, so he was acquitt, nemine 
 contradicente, but upon this I took occasion fully to express 
 that nothing would be more displeasing to her Ma^ than 
 that any of the officers of her army should offer to give 
 the least insult or threatening to the members of Parlia**, 
 and accordingly the Parliament seemed very well satisfied, 
 and Mr. Seaton was accordingly dismissed. 
 
 Yesterday the Parliament mett again, but in the morning 
 my Lord Privy Seal and I did understand from severall 
 Parliament men, if my Lord Comm r his Grace did continue 
 to refuse the humble submission of the two members, that 
 scrall things concerning the prerogative would be brought 
 in question ; therefor, it was again our advice to accept 
 of there submission. Some of the Servants were against 
 this, and said the Comm r might order the Lord Advocat 
 to prosecute them for high treason, in which case the 
 Parliament could not accept of there submission, but, 
 
6 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [JULY 
 
 after wee had made further enquiry and that my Lord 
 Comm r and wee had spoke to most of the members, wee 
 found that, if this were so much as spoke of, the House 
 would find by a great plurality that no member could 
 be accused of what was said or done within the House 
 but by order and appointment of Parliament, and that, 
 in the next place, by a great plurality they would counter- 
 mand the prosecutione of the two members and accept of 
 there submission and call them to there seatts. Therfor 
 my Lord Privy Seal and I continued to advyse to accept 
 of the submission and not to venture the losing so materiall 
 points of the prerogative or the breaking up of the Parlia- 
 ment abruptly, whereas I was hopefull that the yeilding 
 this matter before the prerogative was called in question 
 would contribute very much for the success of her Ma ts 
 affairs att this time. However, I said that the Comm r 
 should see that, notwithstanding of this, that I should act 
 my pairt fairly, and should defend her Ma ts prerogative 
 as much as any of her Servants were capable to do. Upon 
 this wee pairted, and the Comm r sent about his friends to 
 all the members, and he found what my Lord Privy Seal 
 and I had said was true, so he did again advyse upon the 
 throne w* my Lord Privy Seal, my Lord Secretary, and 
 serall others of the Officers of State, and so he found the 
 necessity of yeilding, and accordingly he resolved to doe 
 it by a speech to the House immediately after reading 
 there petition, which was conceaved in very humble and 
 submissive terms, which he did in a very gentile manner, 
 and thereafter I spoke to the House and told them that 
 they had very good reason to be satisfied my Lord 
 Comm r his Grace his leaving it to them to accept of the 
 submission, which he had done in complyance to the desire 
 and inclinatione of so many of there number, and it was, 
 indeed, very well receaved, and I doubt not but it will 
 be of use to us in the obtaining what wee desire to be done 
 for her Ma**'. However, it is lyke my Lord Comm r may 
 misrepresent my Lord Privy Seal and me in this, but 
 I wish that yo r LoP had been present and ane eye 
 witness. You had been convinced that, if this method 
 
1703] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 7 
 
 had not been followed, her Ma ts service had suffered very 
 much. 
 
 I did after all this, by order of her Ma ts Comm r and 
 the Estates of Parlia u , appoint my Lord Belhaven and 
 Sir Alex r Ogilvie to be brought from there loadgings, 
 where they were prisoners, to the barr, and there I told 
 them that I was ordered by my Lord Comm r his Grace 
 and the Estates to intimate to them that his Grace and 
 the Estates were highly displeased because of the mis- 
 demeanour they had committed, and that in law they 
 might have been severely punished, but, upon hearing of 
 there petition in which they did humbly crave his Grace 
 and the Estates pardon, they were now brought to the 
 barr that they might again have the oportunity of making 
 there acknowledgements ; and, accordingly, they both 
 did so in the humblest manner, upon which I did, in the 
 name of his Grace and the Estates of Parliament, accept 
 of there humble submission and allow them to take there 
 seatts in the House, so that I humbly conceave the honour 
 of her Ma ts Comm r and of the Estates of Parlia u is suffi- 
 ciently vindicated. And for convincing yo r LoP that 
 there is nothing extraordinary done in this caise, the Duke 
 of York, when he was Comm r in the reign of King Charles 
 the 2 d , did accept of the submission of Cromvell Lockeart 
 of Lee, who did, in presence of the Comm r and of the 
 Estates, beat and blood one of the macers, as also my 
 Lord Ballentine did beat one Mr. Gibsone in the room 
 next to the Parliament House in the year 1700 whilst the 
 Duke of Queensberry was Comm r , and yet it was over- 
 lookt and past by. And Major Burnet, having beat 
 another, he was only fined in a small sowme. I acknow- 
 ledge that the insult was more attrocious than any of 
 these, but they have craved pardon in the most humble 
 manner, and far greater inconveniencies are evited by 
 accepting of it, as I have above represented. After this, 
 that the House might be in better temper, wee gave a 
 second reading to the act for rescinding of the laws de- 
 claring leasing-making of her Ma^ to her people and of 
 the people to the Queen capitall, and have now declared 
 
8 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [JULY 
 
 it only to be punishable by fining, confyning, imprisone- 
 ment, or banishment according to the degree of the crime. 
 This gives a generall satisfaction, and has been very long 
 desired. After this they brought in upon us a book 
 written by Mr. Drake 1 and dedicate to Sir Edward Seymour 
 calculate against the soveraignety and independency of 
 this kingdome, upon which there was many hott and high 
 discourses, and it ended in appointing the book to be 
 burnt by the hand of the common executioner, which is 
 accordingly done, and this day wee have been upon the 
 Act of Security and debated the whole day if there should 
 be any limitationes receaved in to it or not, but nether 
 pairty durst adventure it to a vote, so the debate will be 
 resumed tomorrow. 
 
 [No signature.] 
 [Endorsed :] 1 L d Seafield. No date.' [Not autograph.] 
 
 Edr., Julie the 10, 1703. 
 My Lord, — I have writen to the Earle of Notingham 2 al 
 that is necessarie for your Lops, information att present, 
 and I did not think of giving your Lop. any trouble att 
 this time, bot my Lord Privie Seal hes been with me just 
 now and hes desired me to send the inclosed, which I have 
 seen, and I doe atest that his concurrence does signifie 
 verie much for the Queens service, and I hope he will 
 continue to use his influence faithfulie and I doe belive 
 that, if it had not been that I have pleased him and taken 
 measurs with him and the Cavilier Pairtie, they had been 
 prevailed on to join with the opposers, and so ther had 
 been no possibilitie of earring her Majesties affairs. I 
 know my Lord Commissioner hes writ fullie concerning 
 the act proposed for puting the pouer of declairing peece 
 and war in the Parlament, bot this is only to take place 
 
 1 James Drake (1667-1707). The book referred to is his History of the Last 
 Parliament, for which he was tried and acquitted in 1702. Seymour was 
 Comptroller of the Household to Queen Anne, and was specially obnoxious to 
 the Whigs. 
 
 2 Nottingham was at this lime the English Secretary of State. 
 
1703] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 9 
 
 in case of her Majesties death without heirs of her bodie, 1 
 and I doe concurr with what his Grace hes writen, and 
 shal forbear giving your Lo. any further trouble bot that 
 I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 Edr., Julie the 17, 1703. /. 50. 
 My Lord, — I have troubled your Lop. with several 
 letters since I had the honor to hear from you. Houever, 
 I hope they have given your Lop. full information. Ther 
 is by this packet a full Memorial sent by my Lord Com- 
 missioner concerning what hapned last night in Parlament 
 at the adjornment. I can positivlie say that nothing was 
 done bot what was usual and hes been practised, not only 
 in this session, but in al former Parlaments since the 
 Restoration. This prerogative of adjorning de die in 
 diem, als weel as att the end of a session, is plainlie invested 
 in the Croun by the 3 d act of the first Parlament, Charles 
 the 2 d , and, ackordinglie, the same hes been exercised 
 without interuption and hes ever been considered as a 
 most valuable prerogative and necessarie for preserving 
 of order in Parlament. It is unnecessarie I should trouble 
 your Lop. with what is contained in the Memorial, only 
 most say I were unjust to my Lord Commissioner if I 
 did not attest that he acted in this mater both with 
 prudence and moderation. The point under consideration 
 was of great consequence, as your Lo., upon reading the 
 memorial, will perceiv. It had only been proposed that 
 sederunt, and befor adjornment severals of the members 
 moved for a delay and a great many of them had gone 
 out, and it was then past eight, so wee wer most of us 
 much fatiged, and the debeat was on so many particulars 
 that ther was no probabilitie that it could be adjusted 
 that night upon thes considerations. My Lord Commis- 
 sioner appointed me to adjorn them, and for preventing 
 al mistaks I did declair that nothing should interveen and 
 that the clause should be finalie determined next sederunt ; 
 
 1 See Acts of the Parliament of Scotland (Record Edition), xi. 107. 
 
10 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [july 
 
 and then I declaired that my Lord Commissioner addjorned 
 the Parlament till ten o cloak on Tuesday, which is the 
 constant forme. Notwithstanding hierof, several of the 
 opposers did protest after the adjornment, and since hes 
 signed ane adress compleang of it. I am sure ther hes 
 more occasion been given when the adjornment hes not 
 been contraverted. The Memorial offers ane advice what 
 answer may be given too it, and I doubt not bot her 
 Majestie will both mantain her just prerogative and 
 protect her subjects in ther privileges. I shal only add 
 that I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 f. 52. Edr., Julie the 28, 1703. 
 
 My Lord, — The inclosed Memorial is al I can inform 
 your Lop. of att present, and I hope it will be made use 
 of only for her Majesties and your Lops, information. I 
 most say my Lord Privie Seal does in this and evrie thing 
 els testifie a great dail of concern for her Majesties service, 
 and I doubt not bot al her Majesties servants will yet use 
 ther joint endeavours to make the best of what is past, 
 bot with what success I know not. Ther will not be so 
 great difficultie in obtaining what can reasonablie be 
 demanded for the Queen could wee get that lenth, bot 
 we are invironed with resolvs, and in any thing against 
 the English succession our opposit pairtie are strongest. 
 If ther be not fonds granted for the civil list and the 
 armie, ther will be great difficultie to preserve authoritie 
 and goverment, bot I can offer no advice without the 
 concurrence of her Majesties other servants, bot in my 
 station I shal act faithfulie and with al the influence I am 
 capable to use, and I am hertilie sorie that ther is so 
 great difficultie to bring this session of Parlament to 
 unanimitie. Both pairties are convinced that I have a 
 great dail of labor and fatige in my post. I know not 
 what accoumpts are given, bot I am sure I have heartilie 
 concurred with my Lord Commissioner in al concerned 
 the Queens service or himselfe. 1 shal continou to 
 accquant your Lo. with the issue of what is befor us, and, 
 
1703] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 II 
 
 being most sensible of the obligations I have receaved 
 from your Lop., I am with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 Your Lo. hes certanlie had ane accompt hou the mater 
 of the adjornment ended. My Lord Privie Seal and I did 
 what was [in] our pouer in that mater and [I have] added 
 what occurred in this to my Memorial. 
 
 [1704.] 
 
 Edr., May 11th, 1704. 1 f. 78. 
 My Lord, — I had the honour to receave one from yo r 
 LoP since I wrote last and that concerning Mr. Campbell 
 his 4, 19~18, 18, 11, 2l/ granted to him by the Queen. I 
 shall take care to obey the orders I have receaved con- 
 cerning it and shall represent all the circumstances of it 
 in there true light before any thing more be done upon it. 
 Mr. Harley longs extreamly to have a full answire to his 
 letter, which he understands Mr. Stewart receaved. It is 
 only some satisfaction that 14 18 7, 11, 5, 16, 20, 17, 11, 16, 10 
 writes that Mr. Bruce is pleased with the acco tts have 
 been given. I find all those I wrote of formerly firmly 
 resolved to prosecute 20 s measures in relation to Mr. 
 Sidney, but wee cannot dail so effectually and plainly in 
 this till Mr. Ogilvie be 61, and then his friends will concurr 
 with Mr. Harley, and Mr. Stewart may be assured nothing 
 will be left undone in that matter, which is in there power. 
 Wee still think that 18 should be impowered to declare 
 what concerns him as 61, when he finds it most proper, 
 for he must keep measures with his friends. Mr. Campbell 
 keeps his mind closs concerning Mr. Sidney, but owns 
 that Mr. Bruce recommends that Mr. Sidney be declared, 
 and he will make it knowen what he intends concerning 
 that in 51. Mr. Harley has said plainly to him that it 
 will be prejudiciall to the interest of Mr. Bruce if he doe 
 not appear more forward for 48, for se[v]ralls in 47 will 
 
 1 No key to this cryptic letter has been found. 
 
12 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [may 
 
 think that Mr. Bruce his servants should doe what is in 
 there power. I have still good hopes of him, and he may 
 be very usefull, and, y r for, I should think it a very bad 
 measure to give him any discouragment as yet, but befor 
 51 he ought to declare himself more plainly, and Mr. Stewart 
 shall be acquainted with his resolutions. I have write 
 so fully in the inclosed that I shall forbear to give yo r 
 LoP much trouble, only I must acquaint you that Mr. 
 Sinclair and Mr. Stephens are calm and moderate and doe 
 both positively say that they will give all assistance to 
 Mr. Bruce against all persons q^somever, and, in particular, 
 against Mr. Xairne, if he were makeing any attempt upon 
 Mr. Menzies, and, though they doe not come up the lenth 
 of doeing for Mr. Sidney, yet it may be of great use if they 
 doe not actually oppose, and for this reason Mr. Ogilvie, 
 Mr. Urquhart, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Harley doe all aggree 
 that, when the alterations of 51 are made, both Mr. Sin- 
 clair and Mr. Stephens should be of Mr. Maitlands number. 
 This will putt them in expectation of being further con- 
 sidered after 51. They both say that they would give 
 subsidies cheerfully, and in this Mr. Knox concurrs, for 
 they begin to fear that, by what 18/21/25 and 19 have 
 done already, Mr. Sidney may succeed upon the condi- 
 tions aggreed too ; however, it will be most difficult, con- 
 sidering the great ferment in Mr. Menzies, and by keeping 
 measures with Mr. Sinclair, Mr. Stephens and some of Mr. 
 Knox his friends. Att worst the subsidies will be obtained, 
 and this is the most probable measure of obtaining the 
 oy r . Mr. Ogilvie and Mr. Harley delay writing about 
 54 untill Mr. Ogilvie be 61, and then he can speak more 
 plainly and recommend on more sure grounds. Wee still 
 think that 14 18 7; 11; 5; 16: 20, 17, 11: 16: 10: should 
 prepare all that is necessary to be done by Mr. Bruce 
 before the meetting of 51, and should be y r after sent to 
 Mr. Menzies. Mr. Harley wrote of the places by his last, 
 and all of us continue still of the same mind. Mr. Harley 
 his pairtners are very much for laying aside Mr. Fergusone, 
 for they know it would give a generall satisfaction, and 
 advance Mr. Bruce his designes, but this they submitt to 
 
1704J FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 13 
 
 Mr. Stewart, who knows best the circumstances of Mr. 
 Bruce in 47. Its has been of great advantage to us that 
 Mr. Hyde stood in all his imployments till matters were 
 brought this lenth, for the fears of his continuing has 
 engaged a great many to be for 20 les interest, and the 
 measure proposed. Mr. Harley expects to have an opor- 
 tunity of writing to yo r Lop. again very soon, and, there- 
 for, forbears to give you any further trouble ; he does not 
 as yet think it proper to trouble Mr. Bruce, but I cannot 
 conclude till I acquaint yo r Lop. that there are above 
 1600 men aboard the fleett in Leith road ready to sail, 
 and it is a very considerable number from this kingdome, 
 but it is mightely complained of that they have so slender 
 a convoy. 1 There are above thirty of the best ships in 
 Scotland convoyed only by one man of warr. I heartely 
 wish an other could be appointed to joyn them and the 
 sooner the better, for they are now ready to sail. — I am 
 yo r LoP s most obedient and humble servant. 
 
 [No signature.] 
 
 [Endorsed:] 'May 11, 1704. Ld. Seafield.' 
 
 [Not in Seafield' s writing, but the same as several letters 
 signed by him.] 
 
 Edr., Julie the 6th [5th ?], 1704. / 86. 
 My Lord, — I have had so much to doe befor the meeting 
 of the Parlament 2 that I have been oblidged not to wreat 
 so often, and I am nou to acknowledge the honor of two 
 of your Lops., the first concerning the powers to the Com- 
 missioner. 3 I am intierlie of your Lops, opinion that, till 
 the Parlament is over, places should not be disposed of 
 without a visable advantage to Her Majesties service, and 
 Mr. Johnston 4 agrees with me in this. Neither have wee 
 done anie thing concerning the alterations in council ; 
 manie are in expectation, and by pleasing on wee would 
 
 1 This force was to join Marlborough's army in the Low Countries. In May, 
 1704, Marlborough began his march to Blenheim. 
 
 2 It met on July 6, 1704. 
 
 3 John, 2nd Marquis of Tweeddale, was the new Commissioner. 
 
 4 James Johnstone, Lord Clerk Register. During the preceding months he 
 had been Godolphin's chief adviser regarding Scottish affairs. 
 
14 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [JULY 
 
 disoblidge perhaps ten. Wee have feu places and manie 
 pretenders. I have convinced Mr. Johnston that to begin 
 with the Plot and prosecutione would devid and weaken 
 the Revolution pairtie, for al that are censurable and ther 
 friends would withdraw or secure themselvs by making 
 interest with the opposers ; so that I have also his appro- 
 bation as to the advice I gave for the alterations in her 
 Majesties letter. I have disposed the fare greatest pairt of 
 our Old Pairtie 1 to concurr in her Majesties measures, and 
 I am not without hops of success. However, ther is a 
 verie great pairtie for the delaying to declair the successor. 2 
 Some think they should have conditions from England 
 concerning our tread, such as the taking off the impositions 
 on our cattle, linning, cloth, and coal, and the Act of 
 Navigation might be softned and not so strict. Others 
 are for a ful communication of tread, so by thes national 
 and plausabile proposititions they increase the number 
 that are for delaying. Others sees the danger of delaying 
 and that conditions of goverment on the successor may 
 be the foundation of a subsequent treatie with England, 
 bot of al this mater wee can wreat nothing with any 
 certantie till the members come to toun. I know not if 
 wee shal doe any thing on Thursday more then to meet 
 and constitute the House and adjorn til Tuesday, for ther 
 are about twentie that are favourable to the Queens 
 measurs at the Convention of Borows that can not be in 
 befor Tuesday nixt, and perhaps our opposers might take 
 advantage of this. Wee have taken and committed Sir 
 George Maxwel and Captain Livingston, and put on bail 
 Mr. Gordon and some others, and shal use al possible 
 cair to discover ther designs. It is, indeed, verie sus- 
 picious ther coming att this time, and I am hopful it will 
 be of use to us. I send your Lo. a short accompt of ther 
 examinations hierin inclosed. I did not discover Mr. 
 Lacons name who is the informer, bot I have examined 
 them on al the points of the information your Lop. sent 
 
 1 Also known as the ' Country Party.' 
 
 2 It was the special task imposed on Tweeddale as Commissioner to have an 
 Act passed settling the Crown on the Electress Sophia and her heirs. 
 
1704] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 15 
 
 me. As for my Lord Leevens complaint of my coldness, 
 he does me wrong, for I have used him with al civilitie, 
 bot I most keep measurs with others, and, therfor, could 
 not enter into a closser correspondence without prejudging 
 the Queens service, bot I am confident I shal have your 
 Lop. approbation, since I doe al thos more service by 
 folouing out the publict measurs in the first place, which 
 may preserve them if they concurr with the Queens ser- 
 vants, bot no treatie of this kind is to be promised. I was 
 ever for moderation, and I hope I shal not alter my opinion 
 on this occasion. I cannot discover what I wreat to your 
 Lop. to many hier, bot have the charitie for me to belive 
 that I shal doe al in my pouer for the Queens service, and 
 that I am, with al truth and sinceritie, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 I find Mr. Johnston readie to lay assyde al resentments 
 and most desirus of success. 
 
 [1705.] 
 
 Edinburgh, March 24, 1705. 
 My Lord, — The Earle of Roxburgh and I have made 
 all the hast that was possible for us on our journey and 
 came to the place on Thursday last. I have seen severalls 
 of all the parties and have endeavoured to discover there 
 designs, but as yet am not able to give yo r LoP any certain 
 accompt of them. The opposers doe delay the takeing 
 of there measures till the meetting of the Parliament, that 
 then they may jointly consert what is to be done. The 
 New Party seem att present diffident of there being con- 
 tinued in her Ma ts service, 1 but express themselves with a 
 great deal of regaird towards her Ma^, and say they are 
 very willing to joyn in measures with those her Ma*y has 
 imployed in all things that concerns her service and the 
 peace and quiet of the kingdome, but the Old Party, they, 
 and wee ourselves delay to give any opinion concerning 
 
 1 Owing to its conduct in the affair of Captain Green, the New Party had 
 been discredited. 
 
16 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [march 
 
 what may be expected to be done till the Comm r come, 
 for they beleeve what they shall resolve upon without 
 his knowledge and consent would not be very acceptable 
 to him, and, therefor, I intreat yo r Lop that he be dis- 
 patched as soon as is possible, for there is but little time, 
 and every body expects that the Parliament will meett 
 precisely att the time to which it is now adjourned. I am 
 more convinced than I was that it is necessary to keep 
 measures with the New Party, since they are in a good 
 disposition, and, were the Duke of Argyle 1 here, he will 
 find many of the Old Party of this mind because that, if 
 the New Party be again joined to the Cavaleers, they will 
 probably be too strong. This the President and Advocat 2 
 have both said to me, though I doe not write by there 
 knowledge or allowance, nor will they give any positive 
 opinion till the Duke of Argyle and the rest of the party 
 are here. However, to give yo r LoP all the information 
 I have of the designs of the opposers : it is said that they 
 are to begin with the state of the civil list and to take notice 
 of all the extraordinary allowances have been given, and 
 here to make all the use they can to divide the Old 
 and New Party. Yo r LoP will understand this point 
 sufficiently. 
 
 2°/. The opposers will endeavour the prohibition of 
 wine and tobacco, because, as they pretend, the money of 
 the nation is y r by unnecessary exported, and, if this be 
 done, y r will nothing remain as a fund for the civil list, and, 
 if ane equivalent fund be demanded, they will endeavour 
 to give only what they pretend is necessary and not ane 
 equivalent to what arises from the customes of these goods. 
 
 3°/. They will be against the setlement of the succes- 
 sion without a treatty, and then they will endeavour so 
 to limite and restrict the treatters as that ane intire union 
 be not the subject of it. 
 
 4°/. That the Comm rs be named by Parliament, be- 
 
 1 John, 2nd Duke of Argyle. He was the new Lord High Commissioner, 
 Tweeddale having been dismissed. 
 
 2 The President of the Court of Session was Sir Hew Dalrymple ; the Lord 
 Advocate, Sir James Stewart. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 17 
 
 cause, as they pretend, her Ma^ may be influenced by the 
 English in makeing the nomination. 
 
 5°/. That no treatty be sett on foott till the English 
 have repealed the clauses of the act for the union ; y r by 
 cattle, linen cloath, and the other goods in this kingdome 
 are prohibited in England and both nations left at least in 
 the same condition with regaird to priviledges as before 
 the making of the act. 
 
 6°/. They are to insist for the additionall number of 
 Comm rs for shyres and a triennial Parliament, and upon 
 serall other limitations. In all these particulars I doe 
 think that the Comm r may try the opinion of her Mat s 
 Servants, and her Ma^ may act accordingly, for I think 
 those in the Government ought att least to declare there 
 willingnes to concurr in what may be for her Ma ts service 
 and to give there opinion with freedome concerning the 
 measures. I shall use my own endeavours faithfully, and 
 after all I want not good hopes that the Parliament may be 
 brought to a calm and peaceable issue if the Old Party be 
 reasonable and if they will take but advyce. Att pntt, I 
 have not as yet seen the Marques of Annandale, 1 being in 
 the countrey about his private affairs, but he is to be in 
 towne this night, and so I can write nothing concerning 
 him. 
 
 Captan Green and his crew were on Wednesday last 
 sentenced to dye, and I find all persons I speak with con- 
 vinced that they are guilty, and, since the sentence, two 
 have confessed that there was a pyracy committed but 
 they were a shoar att the time and know not the par- 
 ticulars. It is thought that more will confess. Wee 
 hear that they have sent to Court accompt of there own 
 circumstances, but I know no certainty for it, for none of 
 them have made the least application to me. The Council 
 and Thesaury were adjourned before I came here, and a 
 great many are in the countrey about there private affairs, 
 so that I can have no Councils or Thesaury till Tuesday 
 
 1 William, 1st Marquis of Annandale. He was now one of the two 
 Secretaries of State. 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [march 
 
 come seven night, and I am hopefull that my Lord Argyle 
 may be here by that time. The Scotts officers have made 
 there recruits 1 very fully, and I hope they will be ready to 
 sail by Tuesday next, if the wind serve. If yo r LoP will 
 let me have her Ma ts commands in any thing, I shall most 
 readily obey them. I am most sensible of the obligations 
 I ow y r LoP, and y r for, I am, with all sincerity and respect, 
 my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 [In the same handwriting as previous letters ; only signed 
 by Seafield.] 
 
 Edr., March 24, 1705. 
 My Lord, — I was not able to wreat the inclosed with 
 my own hand, bot it is writt by on I can intierlie trust, 
 and, therfor, I hop your LoP will excuse me. Since wreat- 
 ing of it, the Marques of Annandale has been with me, and 
 I find him of the same opinion with me that the Duke of 
 Argyl come doun to us so soon as is possible, and that the 
 Neu Pairtie be not rejected if they be willing to concurr, 
 and what I said to your Lop. I find true, that the Duke of 
 Argyls friends hier will advise him to moderation with 
 regaird to most of the Neu Pairtie. I shal be able to give 
 your Lop. a more certan accompt of our affairs by my 
 nixt, for I find the Neu Pairtie are to meet on Tuesday 
 or Wedensday nixt, and I hear Duke Hamiltons friends 
 have sent for him, so ther skeams will be laid. The Neu 
 Pairtie and Old have, such of them as are in toun, been 
 with me and speak verie kindlie, and in most things are 
 readie to join, if the Duke of Argyl will bot folow advice. 
 I have good hops. I can adventur no further on your 
 Lo. patience att present, and I have had frequent interup- 
 tions in wreating this. I shal onlie recommend the incurag- 
 ing my Lord Roxbrough, for I find him verie readie to folou 
 my advice in giving good councel to the Neu Pairty. I 
 find what is done for the M. of Montrose 2 cannot be long 
 concealed, so I wish the D. of Argyl wer accquanted with 
 
 1 For service under Marlborough in the Low Countries. 
 
 2 James, 4th Marquis and 1st Duke of Montrose. The appointment referred 
 to is that of Lord High Admiral. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 19 
 
 it as a thing don befor his Commission was signed. I 
 hope he will be satisfyed that he have Montroses concur- 
 rence. — I am, with al respect, My Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 Edr., March Slst, 1705. f. 148. 
 My Lord, — I have sent the inclosed Memorial for your 
 Lops, information, bot I long to hear from you, not having 
 had the honor of your commands since I came from London. 
 I hope the Neu Pairtie will be advised if measurs be kept 
 with them, and manie of the Old make there application 
 to me, would the Duke of Argyl take advice. I have 
 good hops, and it depends upon his being hier befor any 
 thing further is determined, for I find thos imployed of the 
 Old Pairtie convinced that, without the assistance of some 
 of the Neu, nothing can be done, so that your Lo. hes had 
 a true judgement of our affairs at this time. Queens- 
 berrie and some near Argyl may give other advice, bot it 
 will not be found for her Majesties service. 1 I beg pardon 
 for this trouble, and I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Seafield. 
 
 April 1705. / 350. 
 My Lord, — I did write to her Ma^ a full accompt of 
 our proceedings last Council day upon the reading of the 
 Duke of Argyles letter to me write by her Ma ts commands 
 and intimating that there should be a reprive to Captain 
 Green 2 and his crew untill her Ma ts pleasure were knowen 
 and in the mean time appointing ane abstract of the 
 process to be transmitted to her Ma^. This last part 
 was done, and there was also a letter to her Ma^ from the 
 Council, which, no doubt, yo r Lop. has seen, besides the 
 arguments used in my Memoriall, qch moved the Privy 
 Council to delay the granting of a reprive. This has 
 great weight with them that all acts of prerogative ought 
 
 1 Argyle insisted on the dismissal of the New Party as a condition of his 
 retaining office. 
 
 2 Captain of the Worcester, an English vessel, and accused of piratically 
 seizing a Scottish ship, the Speedy Return, and murdering its crew. 
 
20 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april 
 
 to be exerced by her Ma^ herself, qhereas in this caise 
 there was only a letter by the Duke of Argyle to me, and 
 they all acknowledge that her Ma ts prerogative in pardon- 
 ing and repriving is not to be contraverted, and, if there 
 had been a letter from her Ma*y to them, they had given 
 obedience and yet preserved there good opinion with the 
 people, q r as, if they doe any thing upon the intimatione 
 made by the letter from the Duke of Argyle, the people 
 will say that they were under no necessity of granting the 
 reprive, but that they voluntarly pardoned people guilty 
 of the blood of there neighbour subjects, and I must 
 acknowledge that all in this place are fully convinced that 
 Green and his crew murdered Captane Drumond and his 
 men. However, I have writt to all the Privy Councellors 
 within fourty miles of this towne to be present on Tuesday 
 next, and wee hope, betwixt and then, to receave her 
 Ma ts orders. But, if wee doe not, I am afraid there may 
 be difficulty in obtaining a reprive for a few days. 
 
 I find the New Party willing to doe any thing that may 
 serve her Ma*y in the next Parliament, provyding there 
 service be not rejected. 1 I doe what I can to keep them 
 well disposed, and I find them intirely disatisfied with 
 the Duke of Argyle, but, if his Grace were here, he will 
 find the whole Old Party, except such as are out of employ- 
 ment, against disoblidging of the New Party. I have 
 spoke fully w 1 Annandale, the President, and Advocat 
 and serall others of them, and they are of this opinion. 
 However, the New Party are unwilling to give there advice 
 as to measures to be taken in Parliament till they know 
 if they be to be employed. Philiphaugh hath been in the 
 countrey, so I know not his mind, but it is certain he will 
 not influence his friends to concurr, unles he be reponed. 
 But, if this be done, I heartily wish it may be with Mr. 
 Johnstones consent, for he has a great interest with the New 
 Party. 
 
 I acquainted yo r Lop formerly with what I hear of the 
 
 1 Argyle was instructed to secure the passing of one of two measures — the 
 one for settling the succession on the Electress Sophia and her heirs ; the other 
 for appointing Commissioners to treat of union. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SE AFIELD 21 
 
 designs of our opposers, but wee cannot know plainly till 
 the Duke of Hamilton come to this kingdome, who is 
 expected very soon. 
 
 By this pacquet yo r LoP will have ane acco u of the pro- 
 ceedings of the Assembly. Mr. Carstairs is moderator, 
 and the most moderate churchmen are members of it. 
 There is ane answire to her Ma ts letter, in qch they signify 
 there satisfaction w* the protection and countenance they 
 have from her Ma*y and there desyre of having the succes- 
 sion setled. My Lord Com r will certainly write to her 
 Ma^ on this occasion. I have serall friends in the Assem- 
 bly and has done what is in my power to make this 
 Assembly easy and satisfying to her Ma*y, and the minis- 
 ters and elders doe all testify there satisfaction with the 
 letter and instructions I have procured, and are very much 
 pleased that her Ma^ has allowed the expens s of transport- 
 ing the libraries that are mortifyed by serall charitable 
 people in England for the Highlands. 
 
 I have not heard from yo r LoP since I parted from 
 London, but, so long as I am allowed, I will airway es 
 presume to acquaint yo r LoP with what occurrs and 
 receave inclosed the coppy of the Assemblies answire to 
 her Ma ts letter. 
 
 [No signature.] 
 [Endorsed:] 4 L d Seafield. No date or year.' [Not 
 autograph.] 
 
 [ [4] April 1705.] / 356. 
 My Lord, — I receaved the honour of yo r LoP s letter of 
 the 31st March, and, seing her Ma*y had then no particular 
 commands, I shall presume to give yo r LoP ane acco* of 
 what has occurred here. I find in the Assembly there will 
 be no difficulty. The Ministers that are members of it 
 are all most moderate men. Mister Carstairs 1 is Moderator, 
 who has great influence w* them, and they are intirely 
 pleased w* there instructions and her Ma ts letter, and, as 
 they tell me, they will have there affairs ended by Tuesday 
 or Wednesday next. 
 
 Rev. William Carstares, the most influential minister in the church. 
 
22 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april 
 
 As for my Lord Montross, I find him very well inclyned 
 to her Ma ts service, and it is not yet knowen here that he 
 is Admirall. I have spoke w* him fullie ; he is inclyned 
 to serve her Ma^ in that station and is willing it be pub- 
 lished when and in what manner is thought best, but he 
 sayes he does not inclyne to accept of the sallary of 
 1000 pound, which her Ma^ has annexed to it, because 
 the Thesaury is in a very low condition, and the demands 
 of others are exorbitant. I told him that I thought the 
 place of High Admirall very necessary in this kingdome, 
 and that, seing her Ma^ had recovered it again to the 
 Crown by her own money, it was reasonable that a sallary 
 should be annexed to it that it might defray the charges 
 and be some encouragement to any person that should be 
 imployed in that station. But, whatever objection might 
 have been made, if this sallary had been given to ane 
 other, yet he had a just pretension of 700 Is. a year, qch 
 was setled on his family for the sufferings of his great 
 grandffather for the Crown. He seemed very well satis- 
 fied with what I said to him, but he has since been with 
 the Earle of Roxburgh and he still inclynes not to accept 
 of the sallary, and is returned to his house. My Lord 
 Roxburgh 1 and I will speak to him when he returnes, and 
 I am convinced that he will not think himself so much 
 engaged to prosecute the Queens measures if he accept 
 of no sallary. 
 
 As for the New Party, they seem to be clossly united 
 together and doe not speak plainly concerning the pub- 
 lict measures. As yet I find them sometimes pretty 
 tractable and att other times ill pleased as they have 
 accompts from Mr. Johnstone or Mr. Wadderburn. If 
 they were secure that they were not to be removed from 
 there posts, they would serve (I beleeve) very dutifully, 
 but, as it is, they doe not break measures with the Countrey 
 Party. I cannot complain of them as to myself, but that 
 they treat me with all civility, and, if I knew positively 
 
 1 John, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Roxburghe, one of the leaders of the New- 
 Party. .,; , ';. * ■. ; . : . , . , .-. m<Ja / .v< • 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 23 
 
 what were resolved concerning them, I could write my 
 opinion plainly to yo r LoP what they would doe. 
 
 As for the Old Party, I found them pretty well inclyned 
 att first to unite with the New and willing that there 
 should be very few alterations, att least, till after the 
 Parliament, but I cannot say that this will continue long 
 if my Lord Argyll, when he comes, endeavour to perswade 
 them to desyre changes. Yet there is one thing I am 
 informed of from a pretty good hand, that they will divyde 
 among themselves as to the persons. There are some of 
 the Old Party that are for my Lord Glasgow 1 to succeed 
 Mr. Johnstone, and they are for Mr. Baillie 2 of Jeriswood 
 continuing Thesaurer-Depute ; others are for Philiphaugh 
 to be Register, and they think that my Lord Glasgow 
 might be made Justice-Generall. If he would accept of 
 this place, I know not. It is said that Argyle is for 
 Broadalbines 3 being on the Thesaury. Few of the Old 
 Party will aggree to this, and I find Annandale very much 
 inclyned to recommend friends of his own that he may 
 make a separat enterest from Queensberries. I find the 
 Earle of Glencairn 4 and his friends will be uneasy if he 
 get not Dunbartone Castle. I have told him that the 
 Queen would doe it, but that the Duke of Argyle insists 
 for his brother to be in that post. However, when Argyle 
 comes, I shall use my endeavours still w* him. 
 
 As for the letter and instructions, nothing can be done 
 in them till the Duke of Argyle come, nor dare I offer to 
 advyse any measures, for he will be against any thing 
 that is offered w^ut his knowledge. His staying so long 
 att London will certainly occasion a new adjournment, 
 for wee shall not have time to give advysce and receave 
 her Ma ts answire. There are sevalls that say to me that, 
 if the Duke of Argyle will be perswaded to carry moder- 
 ately, there might be very good hopes of success, and others 
 have said expressly to me, even of those who have been 
 in opposition that, if a person who is not concerned in 
 
 1 David, 1st Earl of Glasgow. 
 
 2 Robert Baillie.of Jerviswoode, the most influential leader of the New Party. 
 . 3 John, 1st Earl of Breadalbane. 4 William, nth Earl of Glencairn. 
 
24 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april 
 
 either parties had been made Comm r , the Duke of Hamilton, 
 Athole, and many others would have aggreed to a moderate 
 supply and a treatty with England. However, affairs 
 must be now managed as they are. For my own part, I 
 shall discourage factions as much as I can. 
 
 I still find the ferment encress against Captain Green 
 and his crew. I hope her Ma*y has left, this matter to the 
 Privy Council, and y t there shall be no further reprive, 
 for in this matter I could gett no assistance from the Old 
 or New Party. I advertised the Earle of Leven by a letter, 
 but both the Councill dayes he was absent. I wrote also 
 to the President of the Session, 1 and, though he came to 
 towne and spoke w 1 me of that and serall other things, 
 yet he went out of towne that morning and came not to 
 the Council. The Generall, 2 att my earnest desyre, went 
 to the Council, but did not vote the reprive, and went 
 out before it was signed. The Earle of Lautherdale 3 was 
 pntt the first day, but would not come the second. The 
 Earle of Southerland was also absent. The Advocat gave 
 me little or no assistance, only he drew the representation. 
 The Earle of Hoptone, the Marques of Annandales sone- 
 in-lawe, went out of towne that morning. The Justice- 
 Clerk 4 gave some assistance, but did say that there was 
 no need to expect any answire to the second representation, 
 since the Council had so plainly delivered there opinion 
 in the first letter. I have spok with Annandale and Leven, 
 and they both aggree that they beleeve Green and his crew 
 guilty and that, therfor, they ought not to be pardoned, 
 and wee are all sensible that it would doe a vast deal of 
 prejudice to her Ma ts affairs in Parliament, for all I speak 
 with say that, since God in his providence has discovered 
 this barbarous murther, it will be hard if they be not 
 allowed to putt so just a sentence in execution against 
 those who have taken the innocent blood of their fellow 
 subjects ; and those who are for stirring up of faction 
 say further that the English they see now will be protected, 
 
 1 Sir Hew Dalrymple. 2 The Earl of Leven. 
 
 3 John, 5th Earl of Lauderdale. 4 Roderick Mackenzie of Prestonhall. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 25 
 
 though they should murther, robb, or pillage Scotts men, 
 either by sea or land. As for the New Party, yo r LoP 
 heard what they did the first Council day upon the reading 
 the Duke of Argyles letter. And the last Council day 
 some of them were against granting a reprive but for 
 meetting again upon Wednesday, qch was the day ap- 
 pointed for the execution. Others were for repriving till 
 Friday. Att last, my Lord Roxburgh and I having 
 insisted for a longer time, wee gott my Lord Twedale, 
 Jeriswood, S r John Hume, Belhaven, my Lord Marr, Hynd- 
 ford, my Lord Loudoun, E. Forfar, E. Rosebery, E. 
 Dunmore, the Advocat, 1 the Justice-Clerk, Mr. Francis 
 Montgumrie, and the provest of Edin r to signe a reprive 
 to Wednesday next, and the Earle of Glencairn did att 
 last signe it, though he did not vote it. I have given yo r 
 LoP the detail of this matter, least there may come repre- 
 sentations from others. I desyre to accuse nether of the 
 parties nor doe I pretend to justify myself further than 
 to tell true matter of fact and to acknowledge that never 
 any thing troubled me more than seeing her Ma ts preroga- 
 tive contraverted on the one hand, and yet the yeilding 
 to the free exercise, of it on the oy r hand, was so prejudiciall 
 to her Ma ts service and dissatisfying to many of her people. 
 I would gladly hope that her Ma^ is satisfyed that no 
 more could be done. I have been blamed by many of 
 my friends for being too forward for her Ma ts prerogative 
 in this caise. I hope her Ma ts answire will come soon, 
 that there may be time to appoint a new meetting of 
 Council in caise of necessity. 
 
 [No signature.] 
 [Endorsed :] 4 L d Seafield. No date.' [Not autograph.] 
 
 Edr. f April the 4, 1705. /. 150. 
 My Lord, — I send the inclosed Memorial for her 
 Majesties information, and I shal use my indeavours in 
 her Majesties service to the utmost of my pouer ; and, tho 
 I have informed nothing bot what is true, yet it would 
 
 Sir James Stewart. 
 
26 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april. 
 
 doe me prejudice wer it knowen, and I design none to 
 anie. I find Mr. YVederburn thinks himself e uncertan 
 of his post ; this will discourage my Lord Roxbrough. 
 He is nou in the countrey. I shal accquant him with 
 what your Lo. wreats concerning my Lord Montrose. I 
 sent the M. of Annandale what was inclosed for him, bot 
 have not seen him since. The recruits for the Scots 
 regements are verie good, and are sailed some dayes since 
 with a fair wind, and thos for the Dutch service continou 
 hier til ther come a convoy from Holland. — I am, with al 
 respect, my Lord, etc., Se afield. 
 
 Edr., April the 7th, 1705. 
 My Lord, — I have neaver had so much t ruble in anie 
 affair as in this of Captan Green and his men. I am verie 
 hopful that her Majesties letter to the Councel and my 
 Lord Commissioners to me come by the flying packet this 
 morning will be verie satisfying to al. I shal improve 
 both for her Majesties service and the Commissioners 
 advantage to the utmost of my pouer. I have appointed 
 the Privie Councel to meet on Tuesday, and hes writt to 
 about thirtie of the Privie Counclours to attend then, and 
 in the draught of my letters took the advice of my Lord 
 Advocat, so I hope wee shal have a quorum, bot what they 
 will doe is verie uncertan. Both the Old and New Pairties 
 endeavour to praeserve ther popularitie in this affair, and 
 the peopel are eagerlie disposed to have justice done on 
 thes dilinquents. My Lord Roxbrugh is in the countrey, 
 bot I have sent ane express to him that I may have his 
 advice and assistance, and your Lo. shal have ane accompt 
 of the issue of this whol affair. I long for my Lord Com- 
 missioner, for, till he comes, nothing can be done, and our 
 time is prseitius, and much to be done. The inclinations 
 of the Old Pairtie to have al and the uncertantie of the 
 Neu Pairtie and union that is alwayes in opposition, is 
 hard to be overcome. I may fail in my opinion, bot not 
 in my inclinations to serve her Majestie, and I shal ever 
 continu to be, with al sinceritie, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Seafield. 
 
1705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 27 
 
 Edinburgh, Apryle 11th, 1705. / 154. 
 My Lord, — This morning the flying pacquet concerning 
 Captain Green arrived ; her Ma ts letter was very gracious, 
 and wee, being in expectation that a letter would come 
 about that time, I had the night before appointed all the 
 Councelors that were in towne, qch were about ten or 
 elevin in number, to be att my house att eight a cloak this 
 morning. They brought me accompts that the people 
 were conveening from all places, and that there was great 
 appearances of a tumult. All wee could doe was to 
 acquaint the Magistrates of Edinburgh and Generall 1 to 
 be carefull, and, in the mean time, wee read her Ma ts 
 letter, and a Committee read those papers and affidavits 
 that were transmitted, and reported what was contained 
 in them to the Board. Wee considered that wee were but 
 few in number and divyded in our opinions, and her Ma ts 
 prin 11 Servants were all absent. Nothing that I could 
 doe could perswade them to attend the two last meettings 
 of Council. However, wee thought it our duty to goe to 
 the Council chamber together that what wee did might 
 have the greater authority. As wee went along the 
 streetts, the whole people and mobb were crying for 
 justice, and desyred wee might grant no reprive. After 
 wee were some time in Council, wee came to be convinced 
 that there was no possibility of preserving the publict 
 peace without allowing some that were thought most 
 guilty to be execute, and, therefor, Captain Green, Captain 
 Mader, and Simpsone, the gunner, were condescended 
 upon, and wee reprived the rest to the nynteinth instant 
 and appointed a full Council to meett on Tuesday pre- 
 ceeding, and I was appointed to write a letter to her 
 Ma^ qch I have done and sent herewith. As I was 
 returning home, the people that heard some were to be 
 execute did give huzza' s, but att a further distance the 
 mobb, being informed that a reprive was past, did first 
 ask me what was done with those murtherers. I told 
 them they would have satisfaction very soon, but some of 
 
 1 David, 3rd Earl of Leven. 
 
28 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april 
 
 them, not beleeving, they stopt my coach, and those att 
 a little further distance threw stones. Att last, I was 
 forced to come out and expose myself intirely to there 
 fury, but, when they saw me, they fell imediately calm, 
 for I did not in the least seem discomposed, and they 
 separated to each hand, and I went in to a friends house, and 
 none of them offered to follow. The General conveened 
 some of the regiment of Guairds, and secured the port of 
 the towne, and then the mobb went and attended the 
 prisoners to the place of execution. Many of the nobility 
 and gentry came and waited on me home to my house, and 
 now all is quiet and there is no disturbance. Our divisions 
 and factions among ourselves occasions the authority of 
 the government to be very low, and I have but a very bad 
 prospect of our affairs, unles wee come to a better under- 
 standing after my Lord Comm r arrives. There are few 
 of the New Party have been in towne since Mr. Johnstone 
 was laid aside, 1 so I cannot informe yo r LoP what they will 
 doe upon it. The Thesaurer-Depute 2 attends very closs, 
 and I cannot denay but he gives me assistance. Both 
 parties will be here att the time of the Comm rs comeing to 
 towne, and I shall endeavour to understand there minds 
 and shall write fully. 
 
 The magistrats and ministers that did attend Captain 
 Green and the other two that are execute doe informe me 
 that they all three dyed declaring there innocencie of the 
 crimes for which they were condemned. This is all I have 
 time to write to yo r LoP att pntt. — I am, with all respect, 
 my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 [Not in Seafield' s handwriting, but signed by him.] 
 
 Edr., April the 14, 1705. 
 My Lord, — Since my last al is quiet and peaceable 
 hier. I have called a full Councel on Tuesday, and, in the 
 mean time, the magistrats are taking upp severals of the 
 mobe that insulted my coach, bot I will move no further 
 
 1 He had been dismissed from the office of Lord Clerk-Register. 
 
 2 Raillie of Jerviswoode. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 29 
 
 in that mater bot by advice of the Privie Councel, since 
 I have the honor to be ther President and that I think 
 the whol Goverment concerned in what was done to me. 
 It is stil my opinion that her Majestie continou this affair 
 of Captan Greens creu in the hands of the Privie Councel, 
 by which her Majestie is intierlie free of it, having sent 
 us al that was done for thos prisoners by ther friends att 
 London. The Officers of State and most of the Privie 
 Councel have been absent when ther assistance was verie 
 necessarie, bot I have given full information of this formerlie. 
 It is necessarie I trouble your Lo. with my thoughts of 
 her Majesties affairs till my Lord Commissioner come. I 
 find both New and Old Pairtie delay to take ther measurs 
 till then, and in the Duke of Hamiltons absence thes who 
 are lyke to oppose are also undetermined. I find the M. 
 of Annandale would not have been for Philiphauch being 
 Register had he been advised, tho he was not for Mr. 
 Johnstons continouing, and, the feuer alterations be made, 
 the Old Pairtie will continou the more unite, bot as yet I 
 cannot offer advice on good grounds till I see hou the 
 Commissioner and the New Pairtie agree at meeting. I 
 shal give your Lo. no further trouble att present. — I am, 
 with al respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 Edinburgh, Apryle 17th, 1705. /. leo. 
 My Lord, — This day the Council was pretty well con- 
 veened, especially those of the New Party came in. I 
 mett first with her Ma ts Servants and acquainted them 
 with what past last Council day in relation to Captain 
 Green and his crew and with the particulars of the insult 
 on my coach and the tumult against the Privy Council. 
 They seemed all very much concerned for q u had happened 
 against the Privy Council and my self and willing to concurr 
 in any measures might be proposed for supporting of the 
 government. I did then goe to the Privy Council, attended 
 by most of the Privy Councelors, and, after I had given 
 a full deduction of this whole matter, the provest of Edin- 
 burgh, in name of the magistrates and Towne Council, 
 did make a very humble submission and did assure us of 
 
30 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april 
 
 there ready concurrance for the punishment of the rabblers, 
 qch wee receaved, being convinced that they were not in 
 the knowledge of any designe of the tumult and that they 
 had since taken up seralls of the principall persons that 
 were guilty and that they were useing there endeavours 
 to find us out probation. Wee concluded in appointing 
 the Advocat to prosecute these rablers and in emitting 
 a very high proclamation in qch there is a plain intimation 
 that, if any such tumult did again happen, that, if her 
 Ma^ did not remove the judicatories from Edinburgh, att 
 least, the government would take care of bringing in suffi- 
 cient guards within the towne, and it contains severe 
 pains against such rablers and insulters of those in the 
 Government. I shall take care to transmitt y r LoP a coppy 
 of it how soon it is printed. Then the Council read again 
 her Ma ts letters concerning Captain Green and his crew 
 and also read all the affidavits and certificats sent with it, 
 and thereafter past a reprive to the eight that stand con- 
 demned, to four of them till Friday come seven night, and 
 to the other four to Friday come a fortnight, by which 
 there is time for the Commissioner to be here severall 
 dayes before any execution, and then the whole Privy 
 Councellors may be conveened if it be thought necessary. 
 A great many of the Old Party was this day absent, par- 
 ticularly the Marquis of Annandale and his friends. The 
 Earle of Leven, the President of the Session, and severall 
 others, most of my friends of the Old Party, were there, 
 such as Earle of Marr, E. Loudoun, Earle Dunmore, 
 E. Buchan, Mr. Francis Montgumrie, and Lord Justice- 
 Clerk. The Marquis of Annandale was att his countrey 
 house since Saturnday last, but, before he went, he said to 
 me that, he having been absent formerly and the New 
 Party having been principally concerned with what 
 happened before in Council, he did not think it fitt for him 
 to medle. Both the parties have so much endeavoured to 
 preserve there popularity in this matter that I have truely 
 had extraordinary difficulty as ever I had in any affair 
 of my whole life, but I shall allwayes continue to use my 
 endeavours faithfully in every thing her Ma^ has any 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 31 
 
 concern. I have mett with the prin 11 men of the New 
 Party this afternoon, and I find them still inclyned to 
 concurr in her Ma ts service in the Parliament if there be 
 no more changes, and they are also willing to wait of my 
 Lord Comm r before he comes to towne and after and to 
 offer there service in conjunction with him, though they 
 pretend to have intelligence that he is for turning them 
 all out ; yet, if they gett leave to serve, they will depend 
 upon her Ma ts favour. I have spoke to seralls of my Lord 
 Comm rs friends to advyse him to take moderate courses, 
 and I shall speak to him with a great deal of freedome, 
 because I think it my duty, and I think, after he comes, 
 no time should be lost in adjusting the letter and instruc- 
 tions, and I may say it : were I allowed to have influence 
 with him, I am much mistaken if I could not prevail with 
 a great many to keep within due bounds. I have had many 
 discreett letters from all corners, and they wait for my 
 advertisement to bring them to towne, I mean the Parlia- 
 ment-men. I shall write them civil returns, qch is all I 
 can doe till measures be adjusted and the meetting of the 
 Parliament fixt. 
 
 I find my Lord Roxburgh much concerned that my 
 Lord Annandale continues of the Thesaury ; he thinks it 
 ane inconsistent post with that of the Secretaries, as 
 certain it is. There is ane omission that it was not recalled 
 expressly, but, as Tweddale succeeded him in all his posts, 
 so my Lord Annandale succeeded me as Secretary, and I 
 never thought he would have pretended to more, but it 
 is too much in fashion among us to notice our own concerns 
 more than her Ma ts true interest, and I having stated this 
 matter truely as it is, I leave it yo r Lop may doe in it as 
 you think best. 
 
 There was ane inclination to have published Montross 
 affair 1 in ane open manner, but I have perswaded his friends 
 no more to make it a secret, and I shall speak both to my 
 Lord Comm r and my Lord Annandale of it with all the 
 calmnes and care I can. Montross doth accept of it only 
 
 His appointment to the office of Lord High Admiral of Scotland. 
 
32 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [APRIL 
 
 as a mark of her Ma ts favour and ane engagement on him 
 to serve her, and has left the sallary annexed to it in my 
 Lord Roxburghs hands. This is all the acco u I can give 
 at pntt of her Ma ts affairs. — I am, with all respect, my 
 Lord, etc., Se afield. 
 
 Since writting whats above, the Council Clerk, Sr. Ro t 
 Forbes, has brought me in a letter from her Ma*y to the 
 Privy Council open adjourning the Parliament to the 
 24th May. I must say it is a great deal too long delayed, 
 for wee have not founds to subsist the troops three weeks 
 after the Parliaments meetts. 
 
 [In the same handwriting as previous letter, but signed 
 by Seafield.] 
 
 Edinburgh, Apryle 26th, 1705. 
 My Lord, — My Lord Comm r came here on Tuesdayes 
 night and was mett on the rode both by the Old and New 
 Parties, and I paid him all the respect that was due to his 
 caracter. I asked him that night if he had any commands 
 for me ; he said he could not speak to me till next 
 morning. 
 
 I did accordingly then wait on his Grace, and wee spoke 
 att lenth of severale particulars. He did, in the first place, 
 assure me that he was very ready to advyse with me in 
 any thing concerned her Ma ts service, and I answired that 
 I should be ready to concurr with his Grace in serving her 
 Ma*y to the outmost of my power. 
 
 Wee then spoke concerning the New Party, and I told 
 him they were ready to concurr in all measures could be 
 proposed for her Ma ts service and were ready to attend his 
 Grace when he pleased to call them, and would signify 
 so much to himself. However, I said I would answire for 
 none of them. He might call them and speak to them 
 particularly. He seemed to me not to be ready to dis- 
 course of the measures to be taken in the Parliament, by 
 which I understood he was to speak with his particular 
 friends first, and I doubt not but y r after I shall have ane 
 oportunity of leting him know my sentiments, but, till I 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 speak with his Grace concerning measures, I can give no 
 advyce to yo r Lop, least it might contradict what the 
 Comm r is to propose. All that I speak with of the Old 
 Party are of one of these two opinions, 1°, that there be a 
 treatty sett on foott for ane intire union betwixt the two 
 kingdomes or for commerce and other advantages, leaving 
 the nomination of the Comm r s to her Maty, or, 2°, that 
 there be ane act of succession with conditions and limita- 
 tions on the successor, and that wee have free trade and 
 commerce established with England, as wee had before the 
 Act of Navigation. These things are only suggested for- 
 yo r LoP s informatione. I still wish that there were a good 
 understanding betwixt the Old and New Parties, for 
 without that I see little hopes of success, though either of 
 them alone were as willing as could be wished. The New 
 Party doe litle at pntt ; they wait till they understand the 
 issue of the deliberationes of my Lord Comm r and his 
 friends. I shall be very glade to have yo r LoP s opinion, 
 for I have no rule att pritt but this one, that wee should 
 endeavour to have a clear majority before we venture 
 any thing that is of consequence, and I shall take the 
 oportunity of reading the list of Parliament with the Old 
 Party, which is the surest method. It is easy to speak of 
 success and of union, but all that signifies nothing without 
 a majority. My Lord Roxburgh and I wrote to my Lord 
 Montross when the Comm r was on the rode that, since her 
 Maty understood him willing to serve her, he might now 
 declare his having a commission to be Lord High Admirall. 
 Wee gott very discreet ans wires from him, and after this 
 both his friends and wee mad no secret of the matter and 
 he sent on his Commission to be past the seals. It was 
 kept some dayes in the hands of the Director of the Chan- 
 cellary, so that it was not presented to the keepers of the 
 seals under me till the night my Lord Comm r came to 
 towne, and then he sent Sr. Gilbert Elliott to me, desyreing 
 it might be stopt till he saw it, and I said it should be done. 
 When I mett with his Grace, wee discoursed fully of this 
 matter ; what he said was that nothing of this consequence 
 ought to be done without his knowledge, and, had he been 
 
 c 
 
34 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [april 
 
 acquainted, he would have consented to this or any thing 
 els that might have been reasonably proposed for my 
 Lord Montross. I said that I thought his Grace should 
 principally endeavour the success of her Ma^ affairs and 
 that it was of great consequence to gain Montross, and I 
 thought he might take this oportunity of writing to 
 him and giving his consent heartily. I told him, also, 
 that Montross had accepted it without any sallary, and 
 that, if he did not act well in it, he had gott it but durante 
 beneplacito, and that his Grace needed not think that there 
 was any slight designed to him, either by her Ma*y or any 
 of her servants, for it was signed before his commission, 
 and it was kept secret, because wee did not know if Mon- 
 tross would inclyne to accept. I know seralls of the Old 
 Party would be very glade that wee may goe on calmly 
 and surely that wee may bring this kingdome to some 
 setlement, but others of them push to have all the employ- 
 ments in there own hands and y r by to have the Government 
 of a peece, as they call it, but some time this week I shall 
 speak plainly to the Comm r , and, according as I know 
 his mind, I shall write my thoughts with all freedome 
 and submission, for I sincerely wish success to her Ma ts 
 affairs. 
 
 As to Captain Green's crew, there being this day a full 
 Council and I having stated the matter plainly to them 
 and made ane insinuatione that her Ma^ did inclyne that 
 the execution should be delayed till the matter did open 
 more clearly and that I thought some further enquiry 
 might be made by confronting those who confess with 
 those that are condemned, after some litle difficulty, the 
 Comm r having prepared the one side and I the other, a 
 reprieve was granted, some to the first Wednesday and 
 others to the second Wednesday of June. I appointed a 
 committee in the mean time for examining them all again, 
 and wee allowed the Advocat and Judges of the Admiralty 
 to print this try all. 
 
 After the Council my Lord Comm r and sevalls of his 
 friends did me the honour to dine att my house, so wee 
 live in great civility together, but this is all the accompt 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 35 
 
 can be given of affairs att pntt. — I am, with all respect, 
 my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 [Not in Seafield' s handwriting, but signed by him.] 
 
 Edr.y May the 2d, 1705. / m. 
 My Lord, — My Lord Commissioner transmitts to the 
 Queen by this packet some declarations and letters of on 
 Mack Daniel, ane Irishman, concerning designs against 
 the goverment. My Lord Comissioner hes redd to several 
 of her Majesties servants what he hes writt on this subject. 
 Wee have al declaired our opinions that, tho thes declara- 
 tions and letters ought to be sent to her Majestie, yet wee 
 belive the whol to be a contrivance of M c k Daniels to get 
 monie. Our reasons are contained in my Lord Com- 
 missioners letter, and it is not necessarie I should repeat 
 them, and I heartilie join that it is most unfit for her 
 Majesties service that it be knowen what he hes said, 
 especialie as to persons, unless it wer better documented, 
 and ther is so litel probabilitie of this that wee have ground 
 to think he hes absconded. If anie thing further occurr 
 in this, your Lop. shal be accquanted. I have delivered 
 your letters to my Lord Annandale and the Justice-Clerk. 
 I shal by my next give you ane accompt of what past 
 betwixt my Lord Roxbrough and me when I made your 
 Lops, excuse for not wreating to him. This is onlie for 
 your Lops, information, since it is like the Commissioner 
 hes onlie writt to the Queen. — I am, with al respect, my 
 Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 Edr., May the 3d, 1705. /. 186. 
 My Lord, — Your Lop. knows my mind so weal that it 
 is nou ane unecessaire trouble to you to hear from me. I 
 heartilie wish success whoever be imployed, and my 
 endeavour shal not be wanting to serve the Queen. I 
 have discoursed [with] my Lord Roxbrough on what is 
 contained in your Lops, letter. He and others wer, indeed, 
 verie concerned for Mr. Johnstouns being laid aside, bot 
 that would not have hindred the agreement of the two 
 
36 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [may 
 
 pairties. The reasons your Lop. gives would have satisfied 
 al concerned, and Teviot's disapointment might have been 
 made up, since the Duke of Marlbrough was earlie in- 
 gadged to the Earle of Leaven, bot nou the whol Neu 
 Pairtie belives the united force of manie of the Old Pairtie 
 who are imploied in her Majesties service is turned against 
 them, and the Queen, probablie on this accompt, may be 
 prevailed on to throu them out of her service. So, till 
 they know what her Majestie does, they say nothing. I 
 fear I have alreadie medled to much in this mater, and, if 
 ther advice be fol'oued and business misgive, which is too 
 probable, I know not what may be the consequence. The 
 Commissioner begins to treat me fairlie aneugh and would 
 nou communicat more of his project then is fit for me to 
 understand. I have told he knows my opinion, and I 
 have laitlie told him that I can see no advantage, either to 
 the Queen or him, by puting al in the hands of Queens- 
 berries pairtie, nor, indeed, doe I think it the interest of 
 Queensberrie himselfe, and I have caused the E. of March- 
 mont, the Advocat, and several others speak to him, bot 
 I am affraid it is out of time. The Commissioner is verie 
 heartie in the Queens measurs, bot may take wrong means 
 to attain them, bot after al, when the Queen hes deter- 
 mined, I shal doe my best with al I can influence, and I 
 find manie verie sensible of the danger of bringing maters 
 to ane open breach with England. When once I know 
 the resolutions, I shal doe what is nixt best. This hes 
 ever been my way in the publict affairs, bot, being nou 
 in the dark, I shal forbear troubling your Lop. anie further, 
 and shal ever continou to be, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 I intreat your Lop. may doe me the favour to present 
 the inclosed to the Queen, it being concerning the not 
 reading of her Majesties last letter. 
 
 /. wo. Edr., May the 10th, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — I have receaved the honor of your Lops, of 
 the 5th of May, bot the flying packet is not yet come. It 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 37 
 
 is ane obligation I shal neaver forget that your Lo. belivs 
 that, if I had been advised with, I would have at least 
 made a more compleet proposal then what my Lord Com- 
 missioner hes, by advise of thos have particular designs, 
 hes sent [sic]. My wishes are for success, and, if my Lord 
 Commissioner could sheu that, by laying aside the Neu 
 Pairtie, it wer probable, I should heartilie agree, bot when 
 al conjoined are rather to feu, I wish he had advised 
 better befor he had offered so positive ane advice. Hou- 
 ever, I shal not give my thoughts bot with submission till 
 I have the honor to hear from your Lop. by the flying 
 packet with her Majesties determination. I am affraid 
 I wreat too often, bot you give me incuragement, so I 
 cannot forbear. The Commissioner seems positive to lay 
 doun if his advice be not taken. This would nou much 
 prse judge her Majesties service, both because ther is no 
 time to make ane neu skeam, and his alouences of equipage 
 and dailie alouence hes so exhausted the Thrasurie that 
 litel, if anie thing, remains for anie other, and, if business 
 should not succeed, he and his friends would say they 
 could have done it, if ther opinion had been taken. So, 
 for my oun pairt, I shal chearfulie serve the Queen in the 
 way her Majestie shall determin, bot I hope will not be 
 further accountable. The Neu Pairtie are much dis- 
 oblidged with the neglect they have mett with, bot they 
 promise al diutie to the Queen, and seem convinced of 
 what they oue her Majestie. I doe, indeed, find thos 
 have given the lait advise diffident of success, bot they 
 think themselvs necessarie, and, th° business misgive in 
 ther hands, they think they have support by a pairtie in 
 England, bot it is to be feared, when the Queen cannot 
 carie the majoritie of the Parlament, manie inconveniencies 
 will folou, which that pairtie will too lait discover. Duke 
 Hamilton steys in the countrie, as does the Duke of Athol, 
 no doubt waiting the issue of our animosities. I find 
 Montross angrie ; his Commission as Admiral hes been 
 stopt, and I belive he hes writt to the Queen. The Com- 
 missioner seems nou more against his having it then he 
 was. This is al occurrs to me at present, bot that I stil 
 
38 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [may 
 
 think my pairt in al this is to reserve my selfe intier to 
 serve the Queen, and, while I live, your Lop. shal find me 
 most sensible of the obligations you have laid on me, and 
 I am, with al sinceritie, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 I did advise the Commissioner befor I knew your Lops, 
 opinion to call the Neu Pairtie and ask assurences of them, 
 and, if they had refused, the advice sent was right, and I 
 am nou convinced I was in the right, since your Lop. 
 seems to think so. Mr. Wedderburn will inform your 
 Lop. what was done this day against the rablers in Councel. 
 
 /. 200. Edr., May 12th, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — Afeter the araivel of the flying packet my 
 Lord Commissioner called me and delivered to me your 
 Lops, letter, and he redd to me the Queens and yours to 
 him ; and I, having redd your Lops, to my selfe, I found 
 nothing in it bot what might be communicat to him, for 
 it was as I could have wished it. I did most earnestlie 
 obtest his Greace to give obedience to her Majesties most 
 gracius letter in calling her servants and trying if they 
 would ingadge and give assurences to assist in the folou- 
 ing out her Majesties measurs in the setteling the succes- 
 sion in the Protestant line and in avoiding animosities and 
 evrie thing might hender success, and, if they refused, he 
 would then have just ground to insist on laying them aside, 
 and, if they would concurr, I thought the Old Pairtie ought 
 to be satisfied to take ther assistance, of which I am sure 
 they would have great need when they meet in Parlament, 
 and I wished he had tried this befor he wrot to the Queen. 
 He said he could not doe it and seemed to be positive that 
 it was nou impossible to join the two Pairties, and, since 
 that seemd to be her Majesties inclinations, he wished he 
 wer aloued to give up his Commission, and, if another wer 
 imployed, he and his friends would concurr in al her 
 Majesties measurs. I told him that I hoped he would not 
 be rash in doing a thing of so great consequence to the 
 Queens service, to the Old Pairtie, and to himselfe, and 
 intreated that he might take good advice befor he made 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 39 
 
 anie ansuer to her Majestie and your Lops, letters and that 
 he might perceave her Majestie reposed intier trust and 
 confidence in him and his friends, bot soon found that 
 what I said was like to have litel influence on him, so I 
 went and spok fullie with the Advocat, who hes been 
 alwayes of my opinion, bot I am airraid to no purpose. I 
 am grived for the trouble the Queen meets with and am 
 affraid to think of what is like to hapen in this kingdom ; 
 our devisions will in al probabilitie bring us to ruin and 
 confusion when wee have a Queen that places the honor 
 of her reign in promoting the happiness of her peopel ; 
 hed her servants united, ther was great appearance of 
 success, either in setling the succession on conditions or in 
 seting on foot a treatie, for, tho in manie of the northern 
 shirs endeavours have been used that ther should be in- 
 structions to ther representativs aganst the succession, 
 yet none have been granted, bot, my Lord, I can offer no 
 advice. Her Majestie knows much better then I what is 
 best for her service and my weak assistance and endeavours 
 shal be given to the utmost of my pouer. If the Com- 
 missioner lay doun, he and his friends will say both hier 
 and, I am afraid, in England that al would have succeeded 
 in ther hands, and, perhaps, this may be belived by thos 
 that desirs to have a handle to advance ther oun designs, 
 and, on the other hand, I think the Neu Pairtie may be 
 convinced that the Queen inclins to protect and incurage 
 al her servants that are faithful, and that our particular 
 concerns most yield to thos of her Majesties and the 
 kingdoms. Yet hou can it be expected that such as are 
 disoblidged, as they think, without ground, will concurr, 
 or rather that they will not oppose, at least, thos they 
 think have maltreated them, and by this the Queens 
 affairs may be stopt, tho nothing be done openlie against 
 what her Majestie proposes. I find the New Pairtie sayes 
 nothing to me, bot are waiting the issue of what is nou 
 under consideration. I know not if they wreat to your 
 Lop., and what presses most is the fonds can give subsist- 
 ance to the troops no longer then the first of Julie, and the 
 fonds of the Civil List are intierlie exhousted, so what can 
 
40 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [may 
 
 I doe bot act my own pairt after I know her Majesties 
 determination ? I find also the Commissioner and his 
 friends will give no assurences of success, tho ther advice 
 be taken, and they pretend the delay hes done hurt, and 
 in this I agree that ther is too much time lost, bot who is 
 to bleam, for wee have not concerted so much as anie 
 thin[g] to be proposed by her Majestie in Parlament neither 
 letter nor instructions. I would advise ane adjornment 
 of the Parlament for some time and the calling some to 
 Court, bot this is impracticable, because ther is no time 
 for it, the fonds being exhousted and al in expectation of 
 the praesent meeting of the Parlament and the other cir- 
 cumstances of the nation, particularlie the scarcitie of our 
 monie and manie things els, I am afraid, would be ob- 
 jected against us, wer the meeting of the Parlament putt 
 of, and I know not what it would signifie, and the fonds 
 of the Civil List could not bear ther charges. Thus I have 
 with freedom and sin[c]eritie gone through al occurrs to 
 me, bot can offer no advice ; your Lop., I hope, will doe 
 much better then I can propose ; besids M. of Annandale 
 is to be in toun on Tuesday, and I belive my Lord Register 
 will also come about that time. Your Lop. will certanlie 
 hear from them, and, when al is befor you, can best judge 
 what is fitt to be done, and so I leave it for this time and 
 shal continou to wreat, since I have your alouence. Your 
 Lops, opinion of M c Daniel is just ; he is gone ; wee have 
 heard no more of him. I most oun, befor I end this letter, 
 that my Lord Commissioner treats me with al civilitie, 
 and I am trulie sorie for what hes hapned, for I would 
 have assisted him with heart and hand, and I am, with al 
 sinceritie, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 If your Lop. continou to wreat to me on for my par- 
 ticular direction seems stil necessarie. 
 
 Edr., May the ISih, 1705. 
 My Lord, — Having written to your Lop. last night by 
 the ordinarie packet I have litel to add, save that my 
 Lord Commissioner hes advised with his friends and 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 41 
 
 <certanlie now wreats by ther advice. He spok to me too 
 day to the same purpose as befor. I did indeavour to 
 diswad him, bot I am airraid he lies written to your Lo. 
 plainlie that, unless what was proposed by him be granted, 
 that he cannot serve as Commissioner. I wreat no more 
 on this subject, bot I doe agree that a speedie ansuer is 
 necessarie, because now nothing will be concerted ; on 
 the contrarie, devisions and animosities will increase, and 
 after June ther is no money to subsist the troops. If the 
 New Pairtie be laid asaid, ther posts most be filled ; at 
 least, assurences given, bot in that caise ther is nothing 
 I can advise. If the Commissioner be not gratified in this, 
 then a neu Commissioner most be thought of, bot that 
 will not be easilie adjusted. Of the Old Pairtie feu will 
 accept or are fit ; of the Neu, I can say litel. Its like the 
 Old Pairtie would not concurr with anie of them, and ther 
 are too great objections against anie of the opposing 
 pairtie, so the Queen, I know, will have great difficultie 
 to determine. Bot what ever be determined, a short 
 adjornment of the Parlament is nou necessarie. The Neu 
 Pairtie, I find, confids in her Majesties favour to them, 
 ^and think they will not be laid aside without they refuse 
 to serve her Majestie in the measurs she proposes, bot al 
 agrees in a speedie determination, and wishing al may 
 end in the good of her Majesties service, I continou to be, 
 my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 [This letter is plainly dated 13th May, but is endorsed 
 30 May.] 
 
 Edr. } May the l&h, 1705. /. 198. 
 My Lord, — Just nou the Commissioner tells me he is 
 to dispatch a flying packet. Al I can nou doe is to ackno- 
 ledge the honor of your Lops, two letters. The first I 
 could communicat to none, the last was concerning the 
 intelligences of St. Paul, and thos ships sailed from Dun- 
 kirk. 1 It was not thought fit to lay this mater as yet befor 
 the whol Privie Councel, bot his Greace called severals of 
 
 1 The reference is to a threatened invasion of Scotland by a French squadron 
 under the command of Admiral St. Pol. 
 
42 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [may 
 
 us. Wee have accquanted Brigadier Maitland to be on 
 his gaird and to get us accompt what the Hylanders are 
 doing, and the officers are al ordered to ther posts. The 
 troops are pritie ful ackording to ther establishment, bot 
 are ill armed and ther is no amonition in winter. Wee 
 told your Lop. and my Lord Duke of Marlbroug of this. I 
 know not if the Queen will send us anie, bot wee have 
 no money to provid anie. Blist be God, wee have as yet 
 had no alarum from our costs ; al shal be done that is in 
 our pouer, and I doubt not if ther is anie invasion bot wee 
 shal have assistance from England, for manie honest men 
 hier will ventur ther lives in the Queens service. Nothing 
 shal be wanting that is in my pouer. The Parlament is 
 adjorned till the fourteenth of June, 1 and after the first of " 
 Julie ther is no fond for the troops. The Commissioner 
 seems positive to doe nothing for adjusting measurs till 
 he gets a return to what he wrot last, so I can add nothing 
 to what I wrot formerlie, bot leave it to your Lops, pru- 
 dence to doe what you think best. The New Pairtie 
 would have concurred, bot it seems nou impossible to 
 cement and join the two pairties. I shal wreat fullie to 
 your Lop. by the morous packet. I shal nou onlie assure 
 your Lop. that I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Seafield. 
 
 I shal ansuer your Lop. first letter by my nixt. 
 
 Edr., May the 17th, 1705. 
 My Lord, — I belive befor this can come to your Lops., 
 hands your Lop. will have returned a plain ansuer to my 
 Lord Commissioner, in which I shal accquess. I know 
 it is difficult for me to offer anie opinion, thq ther wer yet 
 time for it, bot I ou such obligations to the Queen, and I 
 have had so great a share of your ffriendship that I shal 
 ever be readie to doe what service is in my pouer. I can 
 say on good ground that severals of the Old Pairtie are 
 affraid of the consequences of laying aside the New Pairtie, 
 for, even in that caise, the whol Old Pairtie would not 
 
 1 It did not meet till June 28. 
 
I 705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 43 
 
 unite, and, if they did, yet they are most uncertain of a 
 majoritie, and it is also certan the Neu Pairtie, beeng 
 neglected and, as they called it, contemned, will easilie 
 join with the opposers. Houever, this henders not a good 
 manie of the Old to desire the places in ther hands, being, 
 they prsesum, they would be supported by ther friends in 
 England, bot her Majestie would have great dincultie in 
 caise the Pari anient misgive. The armie would have no 
 fonds, and the peopel would adress against the advisers ; 
 on the other hand, I doe not see the conjunction of the 
 two pairties so practicable nou, for the New Pairtie knows 
 certanlie even from some of the Old what hes been advised 
 against them. They wer brok with the opposers, and 
 would have concurred. That I know positivlie, and in 
 that caise ther was great probabilitie of success, either in 
 setling the succession in the Protestant line or, at least, of 
 setting on foot a treatie, and, in the mean time, al things 
 would have continoued in peace, whch would have been of 
 great use and would have given reputation to her Majesties 
 affairs abrod. So I doe heartilie join in the reasoning of 
 your Lops, letter, and by what appears to me M. of Annan- 
 dale seems satisfyed with what your Lop. wrot to him. 
 I am to meet with him to morous morning, and shal leat 
 your Lo. know what passes and what ever may hapen. 
 I find some of the Neu Pairtie sensible of your Lops, justice 
 and friendship to them, bot, if the Commissioner is aloued 
 to lay doun, will it not be said in England that, if his 
 advice had been foloued, he would have succeeded ? 
 What weight this may have your Lo. can best judge. I 
 shal not determin if he get his will and misgive. Then a 
 neu sceam may be proposed, bot then the affairs will be 
 in disorder, and manie will have taken ther measurs and 
 will not be so able to alter. Thes maters are trulie above 
 my capacitie : some say, could not a Commissioner be 
 found yet that would endeavour a conjunction of the 
 two Pairties. I doe think that verie uncertan, and ther is 
 noe monie, so that whoever would adventur would risk 
 his oun reputation and ruin his privat estate. I am 
 afraid your Lop. may blame me for wreating with so great 
 
44 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [may 
 
 freedom, bot, when I have stated this afair in its true 
 light, I know you can determin what is best. I am trulie 
 grived that wee are plunged into so great difficulties, bot 
 so it is, and wee must make the best of it. The Earl of 
 Roxbrugh compleans that he hes not heard from your 
 Lop., bot I know you are not yet determined what to 
 wreat to him. Wee have receaved no further advice of 
 St. Pauls fleet ; wee are in a bad condition if invaded, ful 
 of animosities, ane armie without monie, and, I may say, 
 arms and ammonition. I most oun nou the Commissioner 
 treats me with freedom. I find he hes had several advisers 
 in what he hes done, and he is trulie of great consequence 
 to the Revolution Pairtie. This, I hope, will satisfy your 
 Lop. that as yet neither letter to the Parlament nor in- 
 structions can be adjusted. — I am, with al respect, my 
 Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 / 196. Edr., May the 24, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — I have the honor of your Lops, two letters 
 by the flying and ordinarie packets. I find my Lord 
 Commissioners hes nou full pouers with regaird to the 
 Neu Pairtie. His Grace hes been pleased to accquant me 
 with it and assure me of his friendship, and that he will 
 communicat with me in everie thing concerns her Majesties 
 service. I returned his Grace thanks and assured him 
 I was most willing to join my endeavours with his Grace 
 for promoting her Majesties measurs and, as for thos to 
 be turned out or concerning who shal succeed, I shal say 
 nothing, I having been for conjoining the two pairties, 
 bot shal submitt to her Majesties determination with al 
 chearfulness and give my assistance. I know not if as 
 yet anie skeam be adjusted. I did indeed say that the 
 Duke of Queensberrie ought nou to come doun and 
 without that his friends would not so heartilie concurr 
 and that methods should be taken to unite al the Old 
 Pairtie. I have since mett with Earle of Stair, 1 the Lord 
 
 1 Sir John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 45 
 
 Register, and the Advocat, and they are of opinion that 
 the most probable way to unite the Old Pairtie and to 
 obtain success is that the measur be the treatie and the 
 leaving the nomination to the Queen. This justifies what 
 I ever said that mainie of the Duke of Queensberries pairtie 
 would join in the supplies and the treatie that would not 
 in the succession, and that the joining the two pairties 
 was the onlie way to obtain the succession, bot this observa- 
 tion, I hope, may be of use to your Lop. what ever hapen. 
 I have obeyed you in advising the Commissioner to con- 
 tinou in his post, and I hop he will, bot I am to wreat to 
 your Lop. the morou by the flying packet concerning his 
 being a peer of England, which he desirs may be done nou, 
 tho he is willing not to leat it be knowen till after the 
 Parlament. I find the pairtie will not agree concerning 
 the filling the vacancies, bot that is none of my business. 
 Ther is no occasion to think of anie other Commissioner. 
 I am satisfied the Queen hes done weel att this time. As 
 for the two first you mention, they would have had no 
 interest with the neu and opposing pairtie, and I also 
 know manie of the D. of Q. friends would not have con- 
 curred in that caise. As for the 3 d , he is verie sensible 
 of the particular support was offered, and it is lyke it 
 might have produced some setelment, bot it is much better 
 as it is. I am for trying it with the present Commissioner, 
 especialie nou that it is knowen that he hes got thos 
 pouers he desired. Therfor I have no pairt to act, bot to 
 influence whom I can in the Queens service. It is a loss 
 I cannot wreat by cipher, not being sure if it would be 
 acceptable and that they know when I receave letters 
 from your Lop., and the last wer what I could not com- 
 municat ; this with al freedom and confidence that it will 
 not be knowen what I wreat. I have noe reason for 
 desiring to continou in my post, if it be not that I hope 
 it may be in some measur usful to your Lop. to be im- 
 partialie informed, which is indeed al the return I am 
 capable to make to the manie obligations I have receaved. 
 I almost forgot to accquant your Lop. I have been in the 
 countrey two dayes upon the occasion of the death [of] 
 
46 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [may 
 
 my step mother, the Countes of Findlater, and that being 
 near to Kiniel, a house of Duke Hamiltons, wher he was, 
 he sent to invite me to dine, and withal said he be honerd 
 to see me. I went and was verie weal receaved ; he said 
 he would have been readie to have served and that he 
 made insinuations of this and that as yet he hes not 
 ingadged in anie measur with anie of the opposing pairtie, 
 bot I could say no more to him bot that his onlie method 
 to be employed suitablie to his qualitie and merit was to 
 make the first step by concurring in the Parlament, bot, 
 as things goes, I know not if anie thing can be expected 
 of him. This is the sum of what past.— I am, with al 
 respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 Notwithstanding of what is granted, the Commissioner 
 seems positive not to continou if his patent to be a pear 
 of England be not granted, bot he layes it on me to wreat, 
 bot, till I wreat again, you need take no notice of this. 
 
 Edr. 9 May the 29th, 1705. 
 My Lord, — I have not heard from your Lop. thes three 
 or four last posts, I supose because you are expecting an 
 ansuer to your Lops, by your last flying packet, which 
 befor this will be with you. Al I can add to what I 
 wrot formerlie is that I find my Lord Commissioner, the 
 Earle of Stair, and the Lord Register convinced that the 
 measur that hes the onlie probabilitie of success is nou 
 that of the treatie, for in the succession upon the Limita- 
 tions or conditions of Goverment ther oun pairtie cannot 
 be united, and, if ther friends devide, they can succeed 
 in no thing. I am also convinced of this, so I hope this 
 will make it clearlie evident that what I have frequentlie 
 informed your Lop. is true, that the D. Queensberri's 
 friends and thos wee called the Old Pairtie could never 
 setel the succession and that the onlie probable method 
 to obtain that was the conjoining the two pairties, at least, 
 such of them as wer for the succession. This was brought 
 a great lenth by what was done this last year by your 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 47 
 
 Lops, mediation, 1 bot, this being overturned by the Old 
 Pairtie, ther is a necessitie to doe what is nixt best, and 
 it is my satisfaction that thos in England that supported 
 the Old Pairtie will have nothing to object against your 
 Lop., and I shal prsesum to add my selfe, what ever be 
 the success. I find Annandale and som of thos pressed 
 most the turning out the Neu Pairtie sees this, and would 
 nou pretend to be for a conjunction, when they themselvs 
 have rendred this impracticable ; and too necessitat the 
 Commissioner to lay doun would give stil to that pairtie 
 in England ther handle to bleam the Queens measurs. 
 This is onlie to your Lop., as a return of that diutie I ou 
 you. I shal continou to serve her Majestie faithfulie and 
 to endeavour to keep this nation from prsesent confusion, 
 and in time maters may mend, bot till after the Parlament 
 no advice can be offered, bot to leat the best be made of 
 what my Lord Commissioner and the Duke of Queensberrie 
 and ther friends advise. I ever depended on the Queen 
 and on no pairtie, and shal desire to doe so so long as my 
 service can be useful. The Commissioner continous to be 
 verie kind to me, and, your Lop. having desired that I 
 should make the best of what is now resolved, I shal doe 
 so, and in a feu dayes the letter and instructions will be 
 sent, which will clear al this further. As for the cheanges, 
 I doe not interpose, because I was against them, as your 
 Lop. knows, and, if I recommended anie in place of thos 
 to be laid asaid, perhaps the Old Pairtie might afterwards 
 bleam what I did, and the Neu might think I had deserted 
 them, so I leave this intierlie to my Lord Commissioner, 
 who, I know, will doe what he and his friends thinks best 
 for joining the Old Pairtie, who wer eneugh devided in 
 the last Parlament, and, when the skeam is once knowen, 
 I shal praesum to give your Lop. my thoughts of it. The 
 Duke of Queensberries friends have writen for him to come 
 
 1 It had been Godolphin's express desire that, in the session of 1704, an Act 
 should be passed settling the succession on the Electress Sophia and her heirs. 
 Tweeddale, the leader of the New Party, whom Godolphin had made Commis- 
 sioner, had failed to carry the measure owing to the opposition of the Old 
 Party. 
 
48 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [june 
 
 doun, and I am sure nou he cannot refuse to doe it. The 
 sooner the Parlament meet it will be the better for the 
 Queen, for the fonds of the civil list will be intierlie ex- 
 housted by the delay and the extraordinarie charge. As 
 for my selfe, I am spending my oun privat estate, which 
 cannot support the expense I am necessarlie put too, and 
 most goe on with till the Parlament is over, but I shal 
 readilie ventur what I have in the Queens service, especialie 
 when I have so good a friend as your Lop. to represent 
 what concerns me, bot what presses most is the fonds of 
 the armie have been managed to the best advantage to 
 gain time, and after the first of Julie they are intierlie 
 exhousted. I still find the Commissioner more convinced 
 of the M. of Annandals cheangablness. If he finds that 
 he hes counteracted him in anie thing, ther will soon be 
 a breach ther, bot it is like resentments will now be delayed. 
 For the Queens service on of her Majesties frigats of this 
 kingdom hes taken on the cost of Kintyre a S 1 Maloes 
 privatier of eight guns and sixtie men, who are nou 
 prisoners. This is al I have to truble your Lop. with, bot 
 that I am, with al respect, my. Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 Edr., June tJie 2d, 1705. 
 My Lord, — I have not heard from your Lop. for some 
 time, bot this next week will certanlie bring her Majesties 
 determination of al hes been proposed. What I wrot 
 formerlie to your Lop. will be sent on Moonday. My 
 Lord Register is to send the Memorial recommending the 
 measur may be a treatie, and, as maters nou stand, ther 
 remains nothing els to be done, and I most acknouledge, 
 tho the Old and Neu Pairties had been joined, it would 
 have been difficult to have caried the succession, but nou 
 it is not to be expected, and in this session a reconciliation 
 of thes two pairties is not to be proposed. My Lord 
 Commissioner will also expect that I shal wreat for the 
 treatie to be the measur, which I shal doe when the 
 Memorial and the draught of the letters are sent. I find 
 
1705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 49* 
 
 ther will be a necessitie for a further adjornment for some 
 feu dayes. I heartilie wish wee may nou obtain the 
 supplies and a commission to treat; it would at least keep 
 us in peace, and more, perhaps, may be afterwards got.. 
 Wee have again reprived Captan Greens creu till August, 
 so that ther hes as yet been no necessitie to produce her 
 Majesties letter to the Privie Councel. Wee have heard 
 no more of S l Paul, so I hope the danger for some time 
 is over. — I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 Edr., June the 8, 1705. / 218. 
 My Lord, — This packet caries the draught of the 
 instructions for the Commissioner and draught of the 
 letter to the Parlament. They are proposed either for a 
 treatie or the present setelment of the succession, as her 
 Majestie shal think fit to determin. I know the succession 
 is most desirable, bot I am verie afraid it will not succeed 
 at this time, and manie of her Majesties most faithful 
 servants and who heartilie wish the setelment of the suc- 
 cession are of this opinion, and, if it fails, it will be a 
 prejudice to it, and I am affraid give great strenthe and 
 advantage to the opposing pairtie, wheras that of a treatie 
 seems more probable to succeed, bot as for my selfe I shal 
 chearfulie obey her Majesties commands, as I have alreadie 
 done in this last Parlament in this mater. Ther is a 
 Memorial sent by my Lord Register, wherein I am men- 
 tioned, bot my name is onlie made use of in place of manie 
 others who reasoned for that opinion, and I hope it will not 
 be mistaken. I doe earnestlie wish for success, and I 
 am for the most probable method to obtain it. Ther is 
 litel hops of success nou if the D. of Q. come not doun, 1 
 and I doubt not your Lop. will give him al incuragement to 
 doe it, and, thes cheanges being agreed too, it is indeed in 
 my opinion necessarie to take my Lord Commissioners 
 
 1 Queensberry gave out that his coming was delayed by the state of his 
 health : his enemies said that he was afraid to face the Parliament lest the 
 question of the Plot should be raised. 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILYY 
 
 JUNE 
 
 advice, who will certanlie doe al that is in his pouer to 
 serve her Majestie effectualie. I have had so muche 
 privat business that I have had no time to wreat till just 
 nou that the packet is readie to be dispatched, and, it 
 being alreadie to long delayed, I shall onlie assure your 
 Lop. that I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 Edr., June tlie 9th, 1705. 
 My Lord, — I find the Queen hes nou granted thos 
 alterations my Lord Commissioner and his friends desired. 1 
 I am sensible of the necessitie ther hes been for this. I 
 wish it may be for her Majesties service. For my oun 
 pairt, I shal doe what is in my pouer. I find my Lord 
 Commissioner verie much concerned that the Duke of 
 Queensberrie is not Privie Seal and Lord of the Threasurie. 
 If this is not done, then it will be said that this hes hendred 
 the success. So, since my Lord Rothes place is declaired 
 vacant, as I am informed, I can not see anie reason why the 
 D. of Q. is not incur aged ; and, then, what can be said if 
 the Queens affairs doe not succeed ? I belive that the 
 Pairtie in England are for pressing the succession, bot, as 
 I wrot formerlie, my Lord Stair and the Lord Register are 
 verie sensible that it will devyde Q'beries friends and that 
 it will not succeed. Houever, direct this as you find it 
 best for the Queen. This mater is fulie explained, and I 
 shal obey. I most inform your Lop. that my Lord Phesdo, 
 on of the Lords of the session and a verie eminent judge, 
 deed this morning. My loss is the greater that he was my 
 jDarticular friend. I am indeed concerned for him, because 
 it is a national loss. Your Lop. knows Sir Alexander 
 Ogilvie was disapointed of the last vacancie, and the con- 
 cern I had in that mater. I am most sensible of your 
 Lops, friendship to my selfe then, and your Lo. may 
 remember that you was plesed at my desire to wrcat a 
 
 1 On the dismissal of the New Party, the Earls of Loudoun and Annandale 
 were made Secretaries ; the Earl of Glasgow, Treasurer-Depute ; and Queens- 
 berry, eventually Lord Privy Seal. Seafield retained his office of Chancellor. 
 
1705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 51 
 
 verie oblidgeing letter to Sir Alexander, which gave him 
 intier satisfaction and hops of the nixt vacancie. Al I 
 shal say for him is that he is ane honest man and of long 
 experience in business ; he hes ever served the Queen 
 and K. William, whilst he lived, faithfulie, and, if it could 
 have anie weight, he is my particular friend and relation. 
 His post he nou hes may provid ane other and advance 
 the Queens service, bot, my Lord, I am passive, and on 
 this occasion hes recommended none. So in this I might 
 hope for the better success. Houever, I thought it my 
 diutie to leave this request with the Queen with al submis- 
 sion, and her Majestie ought to doe in it what she finds to 
 be best for her oun interest, and I belive you will find 
 great opposition to this, tho I am sure thir is not on of 
 the fifteen judges of my recommending, tho I have the 
 honor to prasside in that judicatur. Sir Alexander will 
 wreat to your Lop., and, I hope, with al submission, and 
 whatever be the effect of this recommendation, I shal 
 alwayes continou, with great respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Seafield. 
 
 I know my Lord Commissioner and al the rest recom- 
 mends Sir Gilbert Elliot, and that he will take it ill I have 
 recommended anie other, bot your Lop. knows my ingadg- 
 ments to Sir Alexander. 
 
 Since wreating what is above I understand that the 
 Commissioner and his friends have dispatched a flying 
 packet in favours of Sir Gilbert. I have convinced Sir 
 Alexander Ogilvie of the difficulties the Queen and your 
 Lop. will have in this mater at present, and, to convince 
 you hou faithful he is to the Queen, I did perswad him to 
 goe to the Commissioner and leave this mater to his Grace, 
 which Sir Alexr. saves hes oblidged him intierlie, and Sir 
 xAlexr. will depend on your Lops, favour for the nixt, in 
 which the Commissioner and his friends hes promised ther 
 assistance. Your Lop., I hope, will approve of this, for 
 I am intierlie on my gaird not to give that Pairtie anie 
 handle to bleam your Lop. for ther want of success in 
 caice it happen. 
 
52 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [JUNE 
 
 /. m. 
 
 Edr., Jane the 12, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — I have writ so fullie to your Lo. in my 
 former letters, so that I have nothing to add till I receave 
 ane ansuer concerning the measurs of the Parlament ; 
 onlie this is to accquant your Lop. that this day the 
 Queens letter was redd laying aside from her service the M. 
 of Tweeddal, the E. of Rothes, Roxbrough, Selkirk, My 
 Lord Belhaven, and Jeroeswood [sic]. They are al out of 
 toun except the last, bot, as I fear they are verie disatisfied, 
 I wish what is done may prove weal. The Commissioner 
 tells me he wreats this night that the Earls of Mar 1 and 
 Hadingtoun 2 and the Lord Orrerie may get the Green 
 Ribban. I know her Majestie was spoke too for this 
 befor I came from London, bot the Queen delayed till 
 after the Parlament and the Earls of Rothes and Rox- 
 brough got the same ansuer, bot perhaps her Majestie 
 may nou inclin to dispose of it to thos proposed by my 
 Lord Commissioner, soe I doe submit to her Majesties 
 pleasur. He has laid it on me to concurr with him, which 
 I am resolved to doe in al things concerns the Queens 
 service in the insuing Parlament. I desire to have no 
 ansuer to this, bot to know what the Queen resolvs to doe 
 in it. I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 I think my Lord Commissioner also said the Queen had 
 promised the Riban to the M. of Lothean. 
 
 My Lord, — I most aprove of what your Lop. lies been 
 oblidged to doe on this occasion, and I hope the Com- 
 missioner and al his friends will be so just as to oun that 
 al hes been granted that they proposed. If ther be 
 success, it is weal, and, if not, I hope they have none to 
 bleam. I shal nou doe, as I have ever done, that is, to 
 
 SE AFIELD. 
 
 / 928. 
 
 Edr.. June the 23d, 1705. 
 
 1 Tohn, nth Earl of Mar, subsequently the leader of the Rising of 
 I7I5- 
 
 2 Thomas, 6th Earl of Haddington, a supporter of the New Party. 
 
FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 endeavour that al may be done that is for her Majesties 
 satisfaction. The members of Parlament are dailie coming 
 to toun. E. of Selkirk 1 lies been with me, and I have 
 also seen the E. of Rothes. 2 They have not yet taken 
 ther measurs, bot it is like, in what concerns the Queen 
 they may concurr, bot of this I can give no assurence. I 
 dare not use anie interest with them, least I may disoblige 
 thos in the goverment. I am sensible of the dificulties I 
 shal have during the Parlament. I am glaid I have your 
 Lops, approbation in what I caused Sir Alexr. Ogilvie 
 doe. Both he and I shal depend on your Lops, assistance 
 on some other occasion. I find M. of Annandale will not 
 quit the Thraesurie at present with good will, and the E. of 
 Loudoun would be willing to be out of the Thraesurie, for 
 none of them should be continoued ; this the Commissioner 
 and evrie on of the goverment thinks. Bot the best 
 expedient I think in this mater is that her Majestie acc- 
 quant my Lord Commissioner that she alous them both 
 to continou till after the Parlament. This wee think may 
 satisfie them and doe no praejudice, bot the E. of Loudon 
 will expect to be used equalie with my Lord Annandale 
 that they be both continoued in the Thraesurie or both 
 laid assyde. The Commissioner transmitts our opinion 
 concerning the adress that past last Parlament. It is 
 advised with the E. of Stair and my Lord Register, and, 
 therfor, it most pleas D. Q., and it is safe for the Queen. 
 I shal continou to wreat when anie thing occurrs of conse- 
 quence, bot I have forbore this last week, being airraid 
 I have been too troubelsom, bot I am, with al respect, 
 my Lord, etc., Se afield. 
 
 I did not recommend the Earle of Loudoun to be Secre- 
 taire, bot he is my cousin-german and hes desired me to 
 recommend him to your Lops, favour, which I hope you 
 will leat him know I have done. He is son-in-lau to the 
 Earl of Stairs. 
 
 1 Charles, 2nd Earl of Selkirk. He was a strong opponent of the 
 Union. 
 
 2 John, 8th Earl of Rothes. He was a member of the New Party. 
 
54 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [JUNE 
 
 f. 236. 
 
 Edr., June the 30th, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — The Parlament did meet on Thursday, bot, 
 several of the members being absent, it was thought best 
 to adjorn till Tuesday and to delay presenting the Queens 
 letter. Till then the opposing pairtie seems to be devided. 
 Thos laitlie turned out seems to be for limitations, others 
 are for a treatie, and a great manie against both. I am 
 onlie affraid that they join in some previus resolve ; if 
 not, it is probable either the limitations or the treatie 
 will carie, bot, had the Old and Neu pairties joined, it 
 would have done weal, bot that is nou past. If the Duke 
 of Queensberrie wer hier and the measur rightlie con- 
 certed with his friends, it would be more probable then it 
 is nou. Bot, not to take up your Lops, time, I cannot 
 yet inform with anie certantie what success wee are like 
 to have. I shal wreat again on Tuesday, and have onlie 
 nou time to assure your Lop. that I am, with al respect, 
 my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 I have receaved the honor of your Lops, of the 23d, bot 
 have had no opportunitie of speaking with Belhaven. 
 
 My Lord, — I know my Lord Commissioner hes ordered 
 my Lord Register to give your Lop. ane accompt of yester- 
 days proceedings in Parlament, and, therfor, I shal give 
 your Lop. the less trouble. My Lord Commissioner had 
 called the Officers of State and some others to advise what 
 was fit to be proposed. Wee al concluded it necessarie 
 to obey her Majesties commands in proposing the taking 
 to consideration such limitations as may be proper for 
 the nixt Protestant successor in the royal line. The 
 opposing pairtie spoke much of the state and lou condition 
 of the nation, and proposed a resolve that, previus to al 
 other business, they would proceed to the regulation of 
 coin and tread. The M. of Annandale, by the Com- 
 missioners appointment, proposed the Limitations and 
 the E. Marishal, 1 the other. The dcbeat, at first, as wee 
 
 1 William, 9th Earl Marischal. He was a strenuous opponent of the Union. 
 
 f.W. 
 
 Edr., Julie the 7, 1705. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 55 
 
 had agreed, was against al resolvs as praelimiting the 
 Parlament, and that wee should take both to considera- 
 tion as overturs, and, if this wer yielded, then a vot might 
 determin which should be first considered and proper 
 propositions concerning both might be receaved, wheras 
 a resolve might fix us to the tread and coin, perhaps 
 several months, being what comprehended manie particu- 
 lars. It seemed by the debeat that the praesent necessitie 
 would determine the House to go first on the consideration 
 of the coin and tread, yet the advantages of limitations 
 and the setling the Protestant successor was fulie argued, 
 and I am sure I spok ass much for this as anie in the 
 House, bot al the Servants spoke most against al resolvs. 
 Att last, wee come to this conclusion that ther was two 
 vots stated ; the first, take to our considration first the 
 Limitations, or coin and tread, and it caried by a great 
 majoritie, by fiftie three or four vots, for coin and tread. 
 Al my friends voted for limitations, and I hope it will be 
 accknouledged that I acted my pairt, for which I have 
 the Commissioners thanks and approbation, so I hope you 
 shal have no bleam for your friendship to me on this 
 occasion. In this vot the Neu Pairtie joined the Caveliers, 
 as did most of D. Q. berries friends, except thos inpoyed [sic], 
 so it is plain hou this was lost, bot it was necessarie to vot 
 this in obedience to the instructions and her Majesties 
 letter. The nixt vot was, if wee should proceed by resolvs 
 or by overturs, and wee caried it by a majoritie of thirtie 
 three against resolvs. In this the Neu Pairtie joined with 
 us, and severals of D. Q. friends. The observe from this 
 is plain, that your Lop. and I wer in the right in endea- 
 vouring to conjoin the two pairties, for in this al the 
 Caviliers wer beat, bot, as maters nou stands, I know 
 not what too expect, for I am airraid that they may make 
 the regulations of tread deminish the customs and leav 
 no fond for the civil list, bot wee most doe what is in our 
 pouer in this. 2 d lie, the Limitations will be verie great, 1 
 
 1 The most important of the ' Limitations,' proposed by Fletcher were as 
 follow: That there shall be annual elections; that the sovereign shall 
 
56 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [july 
 
 so that the successor will have onlie the name, and the 
 pouer will be in the Parlament. 3 d lie, when the Limita- 
 tions are past, I am affraid some conditions from England 
 will be demanded befor the nomination and that a treatie 
 be also voted praevius to the setelment. Others hes 
 better hops, bot it depends much on the Neu Pairtie and 
 on some of D. Q. friends. If it prove better, I shal use 
 my endeavours with them. I find some thinks our onlie 
 remidie nou would be to goe into a treatie, which may 
 be voted nixt sederunt, for the Earl of Mar proposed the 
 treatie, and it may yet have a vot for preference to both 
 tread and the Limitations. If this would be acceptable, 
 I belive it would doe, and, had the measur been the treatie, 
 it would have caried praevius to al. I hope to be able to 
 wreat more fullie in my nixt. The D. of Hamilton caries 
 with more moderation then I could have expected, and I 
 belive would have assisted in a treatie, bot he joined for 
 the resolve with the Duke of Athol and the Caveliers. 
 The Commissioner is verie observant of her Majesties 
 commands and does al in his pouer. The E. of Forfar 1 and 
 the Lord Ross 2 concurred. The M. of Annandale, I belive, 
 hes good hops of the succession. I shal be glaid it prove 
 so, and shal doe al that is in my pouer for to obtain success 
 if your Lop. wreat me a particular ansuer. Leat it be by 
 the ordinarie post, bot my other leter by the Secretaries 
 packet may be secret [?], as the Commissioner and his 
 friends may see, and his opinion will be better knowen by 
 the Registers letter or his oun. If the Neu Pairtie give 
 heartie assistance, they will have a great dail of merit. 
 This is with al freedom from, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 I desire it may not be knowen what I wreat of Q. 
 friends, bot you will have it from others. 
 
 sanction all laws passed by the Estates ; that without the consent of Parliament 
 the sovereign shall not have the power of making peace and war ; and that, if 
 any sovereign shall infringe these conditions, he shall be declared to have 
 forfeited the Crown. 
 
 1 Archibald, 2nd Earl of Forfar. 2 William, 12th Lord Ross. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 57 
 
 Edr., Julie the 14, 1705. / 946. 
 My Lord, — I have receaved the honor of two from 
 your Lop. since I wrot last. I am unwilling to trouble 
 you when nothing of consequence occurrs, and I doubt 
 not bot my Lord Commissioner and the Secretaries wreats 
 frequentlie. I have also much to doe, being in the sessions 
 or the Parlament almost evrie day from nine a cloak till 
 six or seaven at night. Wee make smal progress in the 
 Parlament, it having caried to begin with tread. Wee 
 have been on the consideration of two prohibitorie laues 
 on prohibiting the importation and wearing of forain 
 museling, damask, dornick, and holand for the incurageing 
 of our lining manufactories, and this hes been twice readd, 
 bot is not as yet past. The other act is discharging the 
 importation of butter and chiess except for export. This 
 is past, and, tho thes two acts may a litel prejudge her 
 Majesties revenue araising from the customs, yet wee 
 have delayed to propose that what the revenue is therby 
 deminished may be made up. For this wee shal have a 
 better opportunitie when they proceed to acts of greater 
 consequence and when our pairties have come to some 
 material difference. The Cavalier Pairtie have not yet 
 fullie adjusted. The Duke of Hamilton, the Earle of Eglin- 
 toun, 1 and several more of them are for a treatie and a 
 moderat supplie. The New Pairtie are for limitations, 
 and, I belive, a supplie, bot I am sure wee have not a 
 majoritie of our oun to carie anie thing. I am also con- 
 vinced that, if wee goe on limitations, that after they are 
 voted the nomination will stop till ther is a prsevius treatie, 
 or they will onlie declair on the condition of granting a 
 full communication of tread with England and the taking 
 of the Acts of Navigation, 2 as being contrarie to our privi- 
 leges as being subjects. I belive they may be deverted 
 from insisting so positivlie for the comunication of tread 
 
 1 Alexander, 9th Earl of Eglintoun. 
 
 2 The English Navigation Act of 165 1 prohibited the importation of all 
 commodities into England or its dependencies except in English bottoms. The 
 Scots partly indemnified themselves by extensive smuggling with the American 
 Plantations. 
 
58 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [july 
 
 to the Plantations, bot this is the summ of what I can 
 understand is intended. I know ther are some that think 
 that, after the limitations, the successor may be declaired, 
 bot I am sure it is a mistake. I shal stil continou to use 
 my endeavours faithfulie, and shal accquant your Lop. 
 with what occurrs. If a treatie and suplie wer al that 
 had been demanded, I belive it would have been easie to 
 have brought maters in the Parlament to a calm issu, bot 
 wee most nou goe on and doe our best. I find ther is 
 some difficultie in granting a commission for examining 
 concerning Captain Greens creu after the trial. The 
 Advocat thinks it might doe prejudice hier, and I hope 
 ther is no more danger. They will be again reprived 
 when it is needful. Houever, my Lord Commissioner wilL 
 advise with al the Servants and consider what is to be 
 done in it. What was done in dismissing the creu of the 
 privatier of Ostend was upon the application of manie of 
 our merchants, and the Councel agreed too it unanimuslie, 
 except that my Lord Annandale made some dificultie ; 
 bot the creu of the other privatier shal be sent to Neucastle, 
 and wee shal observe what seems to be her Majesties 
 commands. It is a great satisfaction to me when I have 
 the honor to hear from your Lop., and I am, with al 
 sinceritie, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 Two or three hundred of the Dutch dogers for herin 
 fishing are just nou coming up this river, being persued by 
 some Frensh men of warr. Some mistake haveing hapned 
 betwixt the Earle of Roxbrugh and Mr. Fletcher of Salton 
 in the House, the last sent my Lord a chalenge, and they 
 went to the field, bot it was agreed the Earle of Roxbrugh 
 behaved verie weal. The two 2 ds did perswad them both 
 to ane agreement. The Commissioner sent a detachment 
 of the Gairds after them, having done what he could befor 
 to praevent it. 
 
 Edinburgh, Jully 18th, 1705. 
 My Lord, — Your Lop is acquainted with what past 
 in Parliament before yesterday, but, what past then being 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 59 
 
 very matteriall for yo r LoP s information, I presume to send 
 yo r LoP this Memoriall. 
 
 On Monday wee understood that severalls of the oppos- 
 ing party designed some resolve with regaird to the act 
 past in England last session concerning the succession 
 and treatty. They were divided amongst themselves, 
 but, att last, they aggreed upon the resolve they presented 
 last year. So, after the reading of the minutes of the 
 former sederunt, the Duke of Hamilton proposed the 
 resolve, of qch I send to yo r LoP a coppy. It was fully 
 reasoned on both sides, but it was thought the safest way 
 for us to argue against all resolves as being a prelimitation 
 of our freedome in Parliament. Besides seralls spoke to 
 what was contained in the resolve as hindering the setle- 
 ment of the succession in this Parliament, and that it was 
 much better to begin with limitations. After these were 
 established, wee might either setle the succession or pro- 
 pose a treatty and consider which were most for the 
 enterest of the nation. But, after six or seven hours 
 reasoning q r in the opposing party did insist upon a treatty 
 previous to the setlement, wee endeavoured to have a vote 
 if wee should proceed to the consideration of the resolve 
 by way of overture or resolve, the other party insisting 
 closs that the state of the vote might be, ' approve of the 
 resolve or not,' and most of our friends in the House haveing 
 expressed themselves to be satisfied with that state of 
 the vote, because all that were against resolves or the 
 subject matter of it could vote, ' No.' So the vote 
 being putt, 4 approve of the resolve or not,' it carry ed, 
 approve, by a majority of 43. The Duke of Queens- 
 berries friends voted as last year ; Cromarty 1 voted none, 
 but all his friends and dependers voted for the resolve, and 
 seralls that are truely for the succession voted for the 
 resolve, as being of the opinion that it is impossible to 
 setle the succession till there is a treatty. All my friends 
 voted against the resolve, and there was none of the 
 
 1 George, ist Earl of Cromartie (originally Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat). 
 He was a keen supporter of the Union. 
 
60 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [july 
 
 Comm rs or my Lord Annandales that ffailed them. The 
 New Party, except Selkirk and Belhaven, voted against 
 the resolve. 
 
 The Comm r has called seralls of the Servants this day, 
 and wee all aggreed that there remains nothing now to be 
 done concerning the succession in this session of Parlia- 
 ment, and that wee ought to endeavour to have ane act 
 for a treatty in such termes as that wee might hope to 
 have some success. So wee are to try what influence wee 
 can have upon the members of Parliament for obtaining 
 ane act for a treatty, leaving the nomination to the Queen, 
 and, if we cannot prevail in that, to joyn that there be a 
 good nomination. If this cannot carry, wee will be neces- 
 sitat to bring the session to a close as soon as wee can. 
 
 A supply was never more needfull, for the funds are 
 intirely exhausted. The Comm r adjourned the Parlia- 
 ment to Friday that wee might have time to concert 
 measures, and, as little can be done that day, so wee are 
 hopefull that the Duke of Queensberry will be in before 
 Tuesday. I am sorry that I cannot give yo r Lop a more 
 satisfying acco n of our affairs. After all, if a treatty and 
 a supply were granted, it would keep this nation in peace 
 and quiet, and I hope it would end in a right setlement att 
 last. 
 
 The Duke of Hamilton does say that he is for a treatty 
 and against breaking up the Parliament, and sayes he 
 heartily wishes a good correspondance betwixt the two 
 kingdomes. If he concurr and act in this, it would be of 
 great advantage. A little time will now discover what he 
 and others will doe, and till then yo r LoP needs take no 
 notice of q u I write concerning his Grace. Seralls of the 
 Servants have again this year voted for the resolve, but I 
 am hopefull they will be usefull to us in obtaining a good 
 act for the treatty. This is all I can acquaint yo r Lop. 
 with att pntt. I long to have yo r LoP s answire concerning 
 the Marquis of Annandale and the Earle of Loudouns 
 continuing in Thesaury, for, whatever be done in that 
 matter, it should be with equality to both, in qch case the 
 Earle of Loudoun is intirely satisfied with q^ever her 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SE AFIELD 
 
 61 
 
 Ma*y shall determine ; and, if yo r LoP be pleased to write 
 but kindly of the Earle of Loudoun to me, it will be en- 
 courageing to him and to the family of Stairs, for, as I 
 acquainted you formerly, he is married to the Earle of 
 Stair's daughter. 
 
 My Lord Comm r doth expect that there will be ane 
 allowance for his brother Lord Archbald 1 for carrying the 
 purse ; S r David Nairne will informe you what hath been 
 given to others. I know yo r LoP will have full accompts 
 of what is past, both from my Lord Comm r and my Lord 
 Register, so that what I have write concerning the Duke 
 of Queensberries friends and the other Servants that were 
 for the resolve needs not to be knowen. However, I have 
 write nothing but what is truth in that matter, and I am 
 apt to beleeve the Duke of Queensberrie could not have 
 altered many of them if he had been on the place. This 
 is what I ever said to her Ma^ and yo r LoP on all occasions. 
 I did indeed acquaint yo r Lop. that the succession would 
 not carry, and so it hath happened, although wee had the 
 concurrance of the New Party, but still the obtaining of 
 the succession was the conjunction of the two parties. 
 But that is now impracticable, nor doe I know what to 
 advyse till this session of Parliament is intirely over. I 
 am hopefull that the Old Party will have nothing to com- 
 plain of, having gott all done by her Ma^ that they pro- 
 posed, and no doubt it will be advyseable to continue to 
 give them no discouragement, for I beleeve they will 
 clossly unite in bringing this session of Parliament to a 
 peaceable issue. I have not been able to write with my 
 own hand, being so much fatigued with the session and 
 Parliament, but it is write by one I can trust, and I shall 
 only add that I am, with all respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 [Same handwriting as the other letters that have not 
 been written by Seafield, but signed by him.] 
 
 Resolved that this Parliament will not proceed to the 
 nomination of a successor till wee have had a previous 
 
 1 Afterwards Earl of Hay and 3rd Duke of Argyle. 
 
62 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 treatty with England in relation to our commerce and 
 oy r concerns with that nation ; and, further, it is resolved 
 that this Parliament will proceed to make such limitations 
 and conditions of government for the rectificatione of our 
 constitution as may secure the liberty, religion, and 
 independancie of this kingdome before they proceed to 
 the said nomination. 
 
 [Same hand.] 
 
 /. 265. Edinburgh, August 1st, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — My Lord Comm r and I receaved yo r LoP s 
 letter, whereby you signifyed to us that, in respect the 
 Parliament had by a resolve postponed the setlement of 
 the succession to a treatty, that, therefor, we should use 
 our endeavours to obtain such ane act of treatty as her 
 Maty could give her royall assent to. Wee did, in con- 
 junction with the Duke of Queensbery, use our outmost 
 endeavours to prepare the members of Parliament for 
 this, and I spoke to above fourscore of them myself that 
 had been for the resolve, and found a great many of them 
 well inclyned to a treatty. The Duke of Queensberry 
 was mighty dilligent in this measure, and did effectually 
 prevail with many of his friends. The high Cavaleer 
 Party and New Party, finding this, did reconcile upon this 
 point to prefer limitations to a treatty. 
 
 Yesterday wee recommended it to my Lord Lothean 1 to 
 propose the giving the act for a treatty a first reading. 
 Att first, wee mett with nothing but high and studied 
 speeches complaining of the English act of treatty, and 
 that it was inconsistant with our soveraignety and inde- 
 pendancy to treat untill the menaceing clausses in the 
 English act were recinded. It was said, on the other hand, 
 if there was anything hard or severe upon us in that act, 
 the only way to obtain redress was to treat, and it was not 
 to be doubted, if this method was followed, but by her 
 Ma ts interposition and assistance, the two nations might 
 
 1 William, 2nd Marquis of Lothian. He was a steady supporter of the 
 Union. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 63 
 
 be brought to a good correspondance and all grounds of 
 difference removed. 
 
 I did what was agreable to my principle in this matter, 
 and, not to trouble yo r LoP with the arguments I used, 
 after some of them had said what Scotts men would pro- 
 pose treatting so long as these menaceing clauses continued 
 over us, I did say that I should ever [be] for the honour 
 as well as for the interest of my countrey, but I could 
 never be for a separate king or a separation from England 
 so long as there was any possibility of getting our differ- 
 ences removed, and that I was very hopefull a treatty would 
 doe it. My reasons for conjoining with England on good 
 termes were these : that the kingdome of England is a 
 Protestant kingdome and that, y r for, the joyneing with 
 them was a security for our religion. 2°, England has 
 trade and other advantages to give us, which no other 
 kingdome could affoord ; 3°/, England has freedome and 
 liberty, and that the joyning with it was the best way to 
 secure that to us ; and 4°/, that I saw no other method for 
 secureing our peace, the two kingdomes being in the same 
 island, and forreign assistance was both dangerous to our- 
 selves and England and that, y r for, I was for a treatty. 
 
 After this, serall others having spoke to the same pur- 
 pose, the vote was near being stated to give the act of 
 treatty a first reading or approve of the resolve presented 
 by Mr. Fletcher of Saltoun and the addition offered by the 
 Duke of Hamiltone (herewith sent), but, they being 
 sensible that wee would carry this, there was a new debate 
 upon limitations and rectifying our constitutione before 
 entering upon a treatty. Wee said that, if limitations 
 were offered in order to the setleing of the succession 
 pnttly, and, if the resolve concerning a treatty were laid 
 aside, wee were willing to enter upon them, but limitations 
 without setling the succession would both postpone the 
 succession and treatty and ruine the monarchy, and that, 
 y r for, wee could never aggree to limitations but in ane 
 Act of Setlement. Att last, the vote was stated, ' proceed 
 to limitations or to the act of treatty,' and, the Cavaleer 
 and New Party having fully conjoyned, it was carry ed by 
 
64 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 a majority of three votes only to proceed to limitations. 
 If two or three off our friends had been in the House that 
 were absent, it had come to my casting vote and I would 
 have given it with all my heart for a treatty. The Comm r , 
 the Duke of Queensberries friends and my own acted 
 there parts to our satisfaetione. I prevailed upon Earle 
 of Eglingtone and serall of my north countrey friends to 
 be for a treatty, whom I could not influence to be for the 
 succession before a treatty. E. Cromarty voted for us, 
 but his whole friends against us. E. Marchmont and 
 those of his friends who are in the Government voted for 
 limitations ; the Earles of Lautterdale and Glencairn 1 
 were absent, but I am hopefull to prevail with them, they 
 having voted for us in every thing els. I shall make this 
 observation, that this of a treatty was the only probable 
 measure from the beginning, and, if wee had been allowed 
 to have prosecute it, then there are many who never would 
 have left us who are now engaged in opposition ; 2°/, 
 Queensberry can influence his friends in a treatty but not 
 in the succession ; 3°/, I continue still in my opinion that 
 limitations are only tollerable when they can obtain a 
 majority for a setlement, but otherwise doe both preju- 
 dice to the succession and treatty. The Comm r having 
 called seralls of the Servants together this day, wee all 
 a^greed in opinion that wee should yet try if wee can gain 
 a majority to be for a treatty, and that, in order to have 
 time, wee may proceed to some acts of trade and limita- 
 tions, and, if this can result in the obtaining ane act of 
 treatty and a supply, it is well, but, if not, wee must give 
 it over for this time, and wee thought it proper that her 
 Ma*y should have information of what is past and what 
 wee are adoeing, I write this memoriall to yo r LoP with a 
 great dale of concern, both for her Ma ts service and the 
 good of the two nations. I have seen this day some of 
 both the parties that joyned against us, and I have spoke 
 very plainly to them, particularly to the Earles of Rox- 
 
 1 William, nth Earl of Glencairn. He was a Privy Councillor and a 
 supporter of the Government. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 65 
 
 burgh and Belhaven, 1 and I beleeve I have disoblidged 
 both them and there friends with my plainness. I have 
 also done what I could to perswade Duke Hamiltone to be 
 for the treatty, and I had very good hopes till yesterday. 
 But I am afraid that he is now gone on so farr that it will 
 be difficult to obtain his concurrance. However, if he 
 could be prevailed with, I should still think it of conse- 
 quence. Now that I have writt with so much freedome 
 and plainnes to yo r LoP, I am hopefull that it will only 
 serve for her Ma ts information, and I desyre it be noticed 
 no further but that the Comm r and Duke of Queenberry 
 know that I have acquainted yo r LoP with there dilligence 
 and that they and there friends have served very faith- 
 fully, and I am perswaded they will be ready to give me 
 the same testimony. I can offer no further advyce as yet, 
 but that wee be allowed to try what can be done for 
 obtaining the treatty and supply, and I shall think it a 
 good session if wee can yet compass these. I beg yo r 
 Lop s pardon that I could not write this with my own hand. 
 I am, with all respect, my Lord, etc., Se afield. 
 
 [In the same hand as previous letter signed by Seafield.] 
 
 Resolve presented by the Laird of Saltoune. 
 
 Resolved that, in pursueance of a resolutione made last 
 session of Parliament and now again confirmed in this 
 the Parliament, notwithstanding the unneighbourly and 
 injurious useage receaved by ane act lately past in the 
 Parliament of England, intituled an Act for the effectuall 
 secureing of the kingdome of England, etc., is still willing, 
 in order to a good understanding between the two nations 
 to enter into a treatty with England, but that it 's not 
 consistant with the honour and enterest of this independent 
 kingdome to make any act or appoint Comm rs for that 
 end, untill the Parlia u of England doe propose the same 
 in a more neighbourly and friendly manner. 
 
 1 John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Belhaven. On being deprived of the office of 
 Commissioner of the Scots Treasury, he became a violent opponent of the 
 Government and of the Union. His anti-Union speeches are historic. 
 
 E 
 
66 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 Added and given in by the Duke of Hamiltone, Re- 
 solved to proceed to the necessary acts for regulateing our 
 trade, the rectificatione of our pntt constitutione, and the 
 limitations in the terms of our first resolve. 
 
 [Same hand.] 
 
 Edr., August the 5, 1705. 
 My Lord, — Since my last, litel hes occurred bot that 
 the opposers tryed to carie a resolve for finishing acts 
 necessarie for regulating our export and import and for 
 limitations praevious to ane act of treatie, and tread and 
 limitations having been preferred to the act of treatie by 
 former vots, wee wer afraid it would carie, and so wer 
 necessitat to agree to four sederunts for tread and four 
 for limitations befor the treatie or cess be proposed, bot, 
 notwithstanding this concession, the resolve was pushed, 
 and wee caried the vot for limiting the time, as above. 
 By this and some other vots I begin to hope that wee may 
 at last carie the act for a treatie and a supplie, and, this 
 being so necessarie, it is worth our pains and trouble, and, 
 if wee fail, it is some satisfaction that wee have done al 
 that is in our pouer. The Neu Pairtie, at least some of 
 them, say that, if limitations on the successor be voted, 
 tho not past, they will then be for the treatie. Bot what 
 I fear most is some regulations of ther constitution to take 
 place in her Majesties oun time, such as the triennial 
 Parlaments and the excluding farmers and taksmen of 
 the revenu from being members after this Parlament, 
 which may lessen the Queens pouer. Bot this is onlie 
 for information. I shal offer no advice bot in conjunction 
 with the rest of the servants. In the meantime, our 
 fonds are intierlie exhousted, both civel and militarie. I 
 most stil hope the best ; it is so reasonable for our selvs. 
 The D. of Q. does, indeed, what is in his pouer, and I can 
 doe no more then I am doing. The Earl of Eglintoun is 
 nou verie assisting to us, and I hope will prevail with 
 several others, and, therfor, if the Commissioner and 
 D. Q. shal recommend it, I hop your Lop. will not be against 
 reponing him to his place of Thraesurie. If they doe not 
 
1705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 67 
 
 wreat of it, I shal not press your Lop. in it. At praesent, 
 they are both out of toun, the first at the Earl of Murrys, 1 
 and the last at the M. of Annandals. If I could give him 
 incouragement, I know he would be most useful. Ther 
 are others of consequence that begin to speak mor calmlie 
 of a treatie. I am unwilling to give your Lop anie further 
 trouble at praesent, bot that I continou, with al respect, 
 my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 The Commissioner comes back on Moondays morning 
 and Q. this eavning. 
 
 My Lord, — I shal onlie at praesent concurr with the 
 Duke of Queensberrie and the Earle of Loudoun in desiring 
 your Lop. may be pleased to desire from her Majestie in 
 favours of my Lord Commissioner a prolongation of the 
 assise herings taken on the west cost, as he and his father 
 had it from her Majestie and her royal predecessors. He 
 puts a valu on this, and I know he hops it will not be 
 refused. I wish he may knoii I have desired it. Wee have 
 been al this day on the act for incurageing fishing, and I 
 am airraid the premiums voted will diminish her Majesties 
 revenue, bot it will be hard to refuse the royal assent to 
 ane act for the improvment of fishing. Houever, I as 
 yet can offer no advice till the act is voted. I am fatiged 
 and can onlie add that I am, with al respect, my Lord, 
 etc., Seafield. 
 
 The Commissioner lies a lease of the assise herings for 
 nine years yet to run. I know not to what time he 
 proposes it now. 
 
 My Lord, — I have had none from yo r LoP these seven 
 or eight dayes, but I have seen yo rs to my Lord Comm r , 
 wherein you approve of our continuing to endeavour to 
 obtain a reasonable act of treatty and a supply for the 
 
 Edr., August 8, 1705. 
 
 /. 272. 
 
 Edinburgh, August 11th, 1705. 
 
 / 271 
 
 1 Charles, 6th Earl of Moray. 
 
68 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 (forces. This, indeed, was the unanimous opinion of all 
 the Servants whom my Lord Comm r called, but since that 
 time there are two acts voted, the first for the encourage- 
 ment of fishing, q r by her Ma ties revenue may come to be 
 diminished in time by the premiums that are appointed 
 to be given to the exporters of herrings. But, since this 
 will probably improve trade, I am hopefull that the 
 customes may be y r by as much augmented. Wee that 
 are her Ma ts servants did all argue that it was not reason- 
 able to appoint these premiums to be paid out of her 
 Ma ts revenue, since what her Ma^ : hath is not sufficient for 
 the support of the government, and that, y r for, they ought 
 to grant a fund for the payment of draw-backs and pre- 
 miums for the encouragement of fishing and improveing 
 of our manufactures. On the other hand, they represented 
 the low condition of the kingdome, and that it was un- 
 certain what diminution the revenue might sustain by 
 these premiums, and, y r for, they did not doubt but her 
 Ma*y would give the royal] assent to this act, and her 
 Ma*y might be assured that the Parliament would take 
 care to grant what was necessary for the support of the 
 government on ane other occasion. I shall not trouble 
 yo r LoP further with what was reasoned on either hand, 
 but the act was carried against us by a majority of eleven 
 or twelve votes. The second act is for establishing a 
 Council of Trade and constituting in this Council a juris- 
 dictione for the determining in all complaints against the 
 contraveeners of all laws concerning trade and for putting 
 in due execution our prohibitory laws. Wee did propose 
 that the nominatione of this Council might be left to her 
 M&% it being her Ma ts undoubted prerogative to nominate 
 and appoint all judges. On the other hand, they acknow- 
 ledged her Ma ts prerogative in nameing the judges of the 
 ordinary judicatories, but tins was ane extraordinary one 
 which could be only constitute by authority of Parlia". 
 and that the Estates of Parliament could give her Ma'> 
 better advyce in this matter than any she could have 
 from her Privy Council or other Servants, and they made 
 insinuations against English influence, qch might be ye1 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 69 
 
 more dangerous in a Council of Trade than any thing els. 
 I did argue this point very fully, as did serall others of 
 her Ma ts Servants, to this purpose that her Ma ts preroga- 
 tive in nameing all judges was clearly established by 
 serall acts of Parliament, and that this did extend to the 
 extraordinary judicatures as well as ordinary ones, as in 
 the commission for valueing of tythes, the Commission 
 of Justiciary for the Highlands, and commissions for 
 regulations of judicatures, and in all these the nomination 
 had been left to her Ma^ and her royall predecessors, 
 though the Commissions had been voted by Parliament, 
 and that the reasons adduced for nominating in Parlia- 
 ment in this caise might be applyed against her Ma ts 
 prerogative in nameing other judges or Privy Councelors, 
 and, though the nominatione were left to her Ma^, it 
 could not be denayed but it would be as usefull as if the 
 nominatione were made by Parlia", seing they would still 
 be accountable to succeeding Parliaments for what they 
 acted, and I truely think that wee had greatly the advan- 
 tage of them in reasoning, for wee argued that, as the 
 legislative power was in the Queen and Parliament, so 
 the executive power was by our constitutione in the 
 Queen. But, not to trouble yo r LoP with all our argu- 
 ments, it was putt to the vote, and it was carried against 
 us by a majority of nyne votes. In this all the New 
 Party and the Cavaleer Party, with Duke Hamilton, 
 joyned. After this they endeavoured to have the nomina- 
 tion made in the whole House, by qch they would have 
 probably carried whom they pleased, but, seing there is 
 ane act of Parliament appointing committees to be chosen 
 by the rexive [respective] Estates, many of there own 
 party aggreed that this was the proper method, and they 
 were necessitat to let the debate fall, and, it being aggreed 
 that seven of each Estate be chosen, wee are in hopes to 
 carry both the nobility and burrows, and, if so, it will not 
 be of so great danger. It is also aggreed that this Council 
 of Trade shall continue only to the next session of Parlia- 
 ment inclusive, and it is much easier in the other powers 
 than it was when presented. I shall not offer her Majesty 
 
70 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 any advyce concerning the passing of these two acts 
 untill all her Ma ts Servants be called to give there opinions, 
 but I can doe it with the greater freedome that I and all 
 my friends whom I could influence did both argue and 
 vote against them both. However, if ane act of treatty 
 and supply could be obtained, I doe, with all submission, 
 think that it would be proper to yeild both, for by the first 
 the diminution of the revenue will not be considerable, 
 and it will be popular to grant ane encouragement for the 
 fishing, and, though the second act derogates from her 
 Ma ts prerogative, yet the act is to be but of a short con- 
 tinuance, and the powers of the Comm rs are well explained 
 that they cannot encroach upon any brench of her Ma ts 
 revenue, and it is very takeing with most of the people 
 I speak with, because it is intended for the better execu- 
 tion of the laws concerning trade. However, I am not 
 certain if I shall continue to be of this opinion, and it is 
 only for yo r LoP s information that I have writt this, for 
 wee are as yet very diffident of success as to the treatty 
 and supplies, for the New Party and Cavaleer Party have 
 joyned almost in every thing since Queensberries friends 
 concurred with us. I think it both my duty and interest 
 to doe her Ma^ all the service in my power in every thing 
 that is proposed, and I beleeve I shall incense against me 
 seralls, both of the Cavaleer and New Party, by my con- 
 curring against them so vigorously. But, though I was 
 against removing the New Party from her Ma ts service 
 att this time, yet, it being done and I continued in the 
 service, I think it my duty to use my outmost influence 
 to obtain success, and I am perswaded that nether the 
 Comm r , the Duke of Queensberry, nor any oy r of the 
 Servants will denay that I have done and am doeing all 
 that is in my power. If yo r LoP give me any answire to 
 this, it may be in the usual way, when yo r LoP doth not 
 desyre yo r letters to be seen. I resolve, after I have spoke 
 with Roxburgh and Tweedale, to write to yo r LoP again 
 and to acquaint you how I find them resolved to doe as 
 to the treatty and supply. I am, with all respect, my 
 Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 71 
 
 [Same handwriting as previous letters not written by 
 Seafield — signed.] 
 
 [Edinburgh, August 18th, 1705.] / 280. 
 
 My Lord, — Since the last Memoriall I did send to yo r 
 LoP the Parliament hath mett so frequently that I had not 
 time to give yo r LoP accompt of what occurred. 
 
 Wee had great difficulty to adjust our lists of the Coun- 
 celors for Trade. I acquainted yo r LoP they were to be 
 chosen by the rexive States. The nobility were to chose 
 those of y r own number, and the barrons and burrows were 
 to do the lyke, by which I had hopes that two parts of the 
 number would be such as we could desyre. 
 
 The Duke of Hamiltone did show a great concern to 
 be chosen one of the number, and he and his friends spoke 
 almost to the whole nobility, but very particularly to those 
 with whom he was related, even though they were immedi- 
 ately imployed in her Ma ts service, and he was extraordin- 
 ary earnest with my father and myself on this point and 
 told [that] he would take it as ane affront if he were not 
 upon the Commission. I told him that I had a great deal 
 of respect for himself and his family, but was very sorry 
 that he took such measures that I could not be usefull to 
 him, but more particularly in what he now desyred, for 
 he had had a great hand in takeing from her Ma^ the 
 nomination of these Councelors of Trade, and, therfor, her 
 Ma*y would reakon her Servants unfaithfull if wee did vote 
 for his Grace to be in that number ; but, on the other 
 hand, had he assisted us in procuring the nomination to 
 be left to her Ma*y, I should very readily have concurred 
 in recommending him to be named. He was very dis- 
 satisfied, and wee have not spoke together since that time. 
 The Comm r and the Duke of Queensbery were positive 
 not to have him named, nor any that voted against the 
 Queens nominatione, and so wee prepared for the election 
 with all possible care, and wee found that he had pre- 
 engaged seralls before they knew of the consequence of it, 
 and one of our reasons for this measure was that wee 
 thought, if the Duke of Hamilton and the Duke of Athole 
 
72 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [AUG. 
 
 and oy rs of that party had not the interest to be chosen 
 of that Committee for Trade, they would not insist to 
 have the nomination of Comm rs for the treatty named by 
 the Parliament. 
 
 On Tuesday, so soon as the rolls of Parliament were 
 called, I proposed that the Estates might separate and 
 proceed to the nomination in there usuall manner, but the 
 Earle of Marchmont proposed that wee might give in to 
 the clerks our lists closs by way of ballatt. The Duke 
 of Hamilton and seralls of his friends were of this opinion ; 
 on the other hand, wee thought it of very dangerous 
 consequence and proved it to be quytt contrary to our 
 constitutione, for in the year 1661 1 there was ane express 
 Act of Parliament discharging in all time comeing the 
 voteing by balletting, so that, unless that Act were re- 
 scinded, they could not vote in that manner, and, seralls 
 of y r friends having spoke to this purpose, the debate was 
 let fall. 
 
 The Estates did then separate and proceeded to a nomin- 
 ation. I did, as Chancelor, give in my list first, as was 
 concerted with the Comm r and it carryed in the Estate of 
 the nobility, and Duke Hamilton and all in his list were 
 excluded. Wee did likewise carry our concerted list in 
 the Estate of the burrows, and, as for the State of the 
 barrons, though wee did not carry it, they have chosen 
 some very moderate ; so that, had her Ma l > r nominate, 
 the nomination could not have been more moderate, and, 
 as I acquainted yo r LoP formerly, there is very litle in this 
 Act that can give her Ma^ any trouble, it being but 
 temporary and there powers very much restricted. 
 
 On Wednesday wee begun to be upon limitations. The 
 Earle of Rothes moved his act, which was a limitation on 
 the successor, giving the nomination to the Estates of 
 Parliament of the Officers of State, Lords of Privy Council, 
 Excheq r , The saury, Lords of Session, and Justiciary. 
 Mr. Fletcher of Saltone presented eleven limitations by 
 way of petition of right, plainly constituting a rcpublict 
 
 This Act was passed in 1663 {Acts of Parliament of Scotland, vii. 47 1 -2). 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 73 
 
 after her Ma ts death, of which I send yo r LoP a coppy, 
 and he made a long formall speech, holding out the necess- 
 ity and advantage of such a government. There were 
 seralls that joyned with him in the method of goeing on 
 by way of clame of right, but, when wee, on the oy r hand, 
 explained our constitution, that in her Ma ts time, without 
 her authority interposed, no vote of the Estates could be 
 of any force or binding on the subjects, and that, y r for, 
 his clame of right, though voted, would fall and be of no 
 consequence after the adjournment of Parliament, so, 
 after a considerable time was spent in this debate, this 
 proposition of a clame of right was let fall, but the prin 11 
 arguments that carryed this point were that monarchy 
 and the prerogatives of the soveraign were clearly estab- 
 lished by Acts of Parliament, and, till these were re- 
 scinded, it was not the right of the people to clame these 
 prerogatives to be taken from the soveraign and placed 
 in the Parliament and these Acts could not be rescinded 
 but by consent of the soveraign. 2°/. No clame of right 
 could be setled unless the successor were declared, and, 
 if that were to be done, it behoved to be by ane Act of 
 Setlement, and her Ma ts consent to that Act is absolutely 
 necessary, for the Estates, without her Ma ts consent, 
 cannot setle the successor. 
 
 After this debate was over, the Earle of Rothes did 
 again move his act and severall others seconded him. 
 The Cavaleer Party presented the act for regulating our 
 constitution even in her Ma ts time, viz. for a trienniall 
 Parliament and the excluding the tacksmen and ffermers 
 of her Ma ts revenue and pensioners from being capable 
 of being members. In this debate wee were oblidged to 
 joyn with the Earle of Rothes and the New Party, it being 
 better to take to consideration the limitations on the 
 successor than her Ma^, and wee thought that this might 
 engage the New Party to joyn with us in voting that which 
 they call the regulation of the constitution of Parliament 
 to take place only as a limitation of the successor, and, 
 the New Party and wee joyning, it was carried to proceed 
 to the consideration of my Lord Rothes act first, but, 
 
74 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 however, it was also carried a first reading to the other 
 act. 
 
 Upon Thursdays morning I was informed that Mr. 
 Fletcher was to propose the act read last session for ane 
 additionall number of Comm rs for Shyres, and y* any 
 limitation that had been proposed for the successor might 
 take place in her Ma ts own reign. 
 
 The barrons did not inclyne to concurr with him in 
 that proposition for ane additionall number of Comm rs 
 for Shyres untill the limitations for the successor were 
 first considered. So Mr. Fletcher proposed that my Lord 
 Rothes act might be a limitation on her Ma^, but this 
 proposition of his was very warmly receaved in the House. 
 My Lord Stairs spoke very well on that occasion, as also 
 did my Lord Belhaven, and he said that it was very hard, 
 her Ma*y being allready restricted by the Clame of Right, 
 to which her Ma^ was allready engaged, to offer a second 
 upon her Ma*y ; and so Mr. Fletcher was only seconded 
 in his proposition by the Earlc of Hume, 1 att which Mr. 
 Fletcher was so angry that he went out of the House, but 
 I know he will return to our next meetting. 
 
 After this wee proceeded to my Lord Rothes act ; wee 
 thought it was necessary to aggree to some limitations on 
 the successor, even in the nomination of the Servants and 
 Privy Council, but wee said the most that could be desyred 
 was that the successor might be restricted, as king Charles 
 the first had consented in the year '41, 2 qch was that the 
 soveraign or his Comm rs should present the list of his 
 Officers of State, Privy Council, etc., in plain Parliament 
 to be voted and approwen by the Parliament, and, if the 
 soveraign did name any person against whom there was 
 any reasonable objectione, it might then be proposed and 
 the soveraign would, in that case, be oblidged to name 
 such as would be acceptable and had interest in the Parlia- 
 
 1 Charles, 6th Earl of Home. He was an opponent of the Union, but died 
 in August 1706, before the session of the Parliament in which the treaty was 
 passed. 
 
 2 On the occasion of Charles's visit to Scotland after the second Bishops' 
 War. 
 
1705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 75 
 
 ment, but to loadge the nomination in the Estates was to 
 divest the soveraign of all power and to extirpate the 
 monarchy and constitute a republict. 
 
 There was a great deal said for loadging it in the Estates 
 as the only remedy to prevent English influence on the 
 successor and to prevent the nobility and gentry goeing 
 up to London to seek places, qch did ruine our private 
 estates and fortunes, and exhaust the wealth of the king- 
 dome. 1 It was replyed particularly by my self that, in 
 takeing of this remedy, wee would certainly run our selves 
 in all confusion and disorder, for, if the royall authority 
 were removed from the nomination and the executive 
 power intirely loadged in the Estates, great divisions and 
 animosities would happen, and wee had no great encourage- 
 ment to goe further than what had been aggreed and setled 
 in the year 1641, for our histories informed us what followed 
 that setlement, for in the 1643 the Scotts army went into 
 England ; in the 44 wee fought the battle of Long-mes- 
 toun-moore 2 near York, where King Charles army was 
 beat ; that wee continued till 46 or 47 in England and the 
 civil warr was in the mean time in Scotland, Montrose 
 having headed the royall party ; that in the year 1648 
 there was ane army sent in to England under the com- 
 mand of the Duke of Hamilton for the relieff of the king, 
 which was beatt. In the 1649 all the Royallists had there 
 estates sequestrate and many of themselves were forced 
 to quitt the kingdome, that in the year 1650 Oliver Crom- 
 well invaded Scotland and wee called home King Charles, 
 that wee were beatt at the battle of Dunbar, that our 
 army went y r after with the king to England, and wee 
 were beat att Uster, 3 that thus wee continued in anarchy 
 and confusion till the year 1660, and in that year and the 
 1661 the monarchy was reestablished higher than ever, 
 as was clear by the serall acts asserting the prerogative 
 then past, so that wee had no reason to expect any advan- 
 
 1 A journey to London, and a six months' residence there, was reckoned to 
 cost ^600, and it is stated that only one Scottish peer could meet the expense 
 out of his own pocket. 
 
 a Long-Marston Moor. 5 Worcester. 
 
76 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [AUG. 
 
 tage by overturning the monarchy, nor had wee reason to 
 think that ever a republict would ever sute with our 
 temper and inclinationes. where wee have so many nobility, 
 superiorities, and jurisdictions, and, in short, that our 
 whole constitution was contrary to parity. Much more 
 was said by many others to this purpose, and after long 
 debate the vote was stated, if the nomination of the 
 Privy Council and Officers of State, etc., should be by the 
 successors of her Ma*, kings or queens of this realme, by 
 giving in a list in plain Parliament to be voted and ap- 
 prowen, or if all these should be nominate by the Estates. 
 It carried by the Estates by a majority of sixteen. My 
 letter herewith sent will informe yo r LoP what hath 
 occurred since. I beg pardon for this tedious accompt, 
 but "the matters contained in it are of importance and 
 necessarv for vo r information to be communicate to her 
 Ma*. 
 
 [Not signed. Endors. d : 4 Aug. 18, 1705, L*. Seafield.'] 
 [Not autograph. Handwriting as in other non-autograph 
 letters of Seafield.] 
 
 /. 290. Edr., August the 26. 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — The enclosed Memorial is for her Majesties 
 information, if your Lop. find it necessarie, and my Lord 
 Commissioner transmitts the unanimus advice of al the 
 Servants he called ; which agrees with the informations 
 I sent formerlie, tho, till now, I offered no opinion. I 
 cannot approve of what the Xcu Pairtie hes done, and 
 of which the Memorial gives a true accompt. Yet I doe 
 not discurage them to expect a share of her Majesties 
 favour if they will not insist to have the royal assent to 
 the acts for limitations, and if they will give a suplie and 
 a plan act of treatie. I dare not keep a closs correspond- 
 ence with them for fear of giving jealousie, and ther arc 
 so great de visions amongst us, it is difficult to know what 
 to say, bot more difficult to know whom to trust, and al 
 that is said or done is judged by the event. The D. of H. 
 is violent against me, because he thinks me joined with 
 D. Q. The Xeu Pairtie also thinks so, bot' I tell them that 
 
FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 77 
 
 I most serve the Queen and animosities amongst the 
 Servants most be avoided, and, if they wish to prevail in 
 ther Court interest, they most serve the Queen and en- 
 deavour to prevent confusion in this countrie and to 
 promot a good correspondence betwixt the two kingdom-. 
 I belive the Neu Pairtie will vet be assisting to bring this 
 Parlament to a good issue, bot, if they bleam the Servants 
 for opposing the limitations, they are to bleam, for wee 
 offered to concur in the setelment made in the 41. and thk 
 was the loest degree of monarchic, bot what is now voted 
 is plainlie a Commonwealth, and the trienial Parlament 
 is voted in the Queens reign. Wee agreed to this on the 
 successor, so wee have gone the greatest lenth to pleas 
 them. The Lord Belhaven is much concerned to under- 
 stand that your Lop. hes information of what he said when 
 wee wer endeavouring to have the nomination of the 
 Councelours of Tread left to the Queen. What he said 
 was, indeed, almost what you have heard, bot I belive he 
 intended it against other English lords. Houever, I wish 
 nether he nor others of the Neu Pairtie be discuraged till 
 al is ended, my onlie concern being for success. Ther is a 
 letter from the Councel too her Majestic sent to Sir David 
 Nairn, advising the granting of passes to Scots ships for 
 ther securitie in ther tread with France and Spain, thk 
 being agreable too the treatie with the States of Holand. 
 Without wee had done this, the merchants wer to have 
 applyed to the Parlament, so wee thought it better to 
 send this letter, which, wee hope, will be granted. As 
 for what your Lop. wreats of haveing a Scots Councel 
 about her Majestie, that would be found no expedient, as 
 I have told your Lop. on other occasions, so shal say no 
 more of it nou. I am. with al respect, my Lord. etc.. 
 
 SE AFIELD. 
 
 [Edinburgh. August 26. 1705.] 
 My Lord, — In my last I give yo r LoP ane accompt of 
 the voting of the act of limitations on the successor, 
 q r by the nomination of the Officers of State, Council, and 
 
78 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILYY 
 
 AUG. 
 
 Session is to be by the Estates of Parliament. The next 
 limitation proposed was that of a trienniall Parliament 
 and the excluding of the managers collectors, and farmers 
 of the revenue from being members of Parliament. 
 
 Wee did not oppose this act as a limitation on the 
 successor, for. if the Parliament was to choise all the 
 servants of the Government, it seemed very reasonable 
 that a Parliament should not continue any longer than 
 three years, and that lykewise the servants, collectors, 
 and others of the customes and excyse should be incapable 
 of being both members of Parliament and collectors att 
 the same time, but wee thought it very unreasonable that 
 this limitation should take place in her Ma ts own reign. 
 The reasons wee gave were that her Ma^' having accepted 
 of the Crown in the terms of the Claime of Right, her 
 prerogative was y r by much restricted, when we consider 
 the Acts of Parliament establishing the prerogative of her 
 royall predecessors. However, her Ma 1 ? is not desiring 
 the prerogatives of the Crown now to be enlarged, but 
 willingly governs us according to the Claime of Right and 
 standing laws of the kingdome. 2 C /. Her Ma**' doth use 
 all the prerogatives of the Crown for our advantage, and 
 has no other design in keeping of them but to protect us 
 and doe us good, and that it is never a proper time to 
 restrict the prerogatives but when they are extended and 
 streatched to the prejudice of the people. It was reasoned, 
 on the other side, that this was no limitation on her Ma*y ; 
 it was only a regulation and rectification of our constitu- 
 tione and that England had the same priviledge presently, 
 and, when it was enacted, was not considered as a limita- 
 tion, and that her Ma** would certainly grant it to us, if 
 it were found by the Parliament to be for the advantage of 
 the nation. 
 
 It was replyed that whatever restricted the prerogative 
 was a limitation and her Ma^' att pntt may continue this 
 Parliament longer than three years, and the putting her 
 Ma^' under a necessity to dissolve it was certainly ane 
 alteration of the constitution. The excluding of the 
 servants of the revenue from being members of Parlia- 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 79 
 
 ment is a novelty and did insinuate that y r could be a 
 separate interest betwixt her Ma 1 ^ and her people. But, 
 after long and full reasoning, it was putt to the vote and, 
 the Cavaleer and New Party joyning in this and the vote 
 being stated if this act should take place in her Ma ts reign 
 ir on the successor, it carry ed by a majority of sixteen 
 votes to take place in her Ma ts own reign. 
 
 The next point in this act that fell under our considera- 
 tion was the commencement of it. The Duke of Hamilton 
 proposed that this Parlia u should terminate the first of 
 Novem 1 next. Some proposed to May and oy rs to the 
 first of Novem r , 1706, but the Earle of Marchmont and 
 the New Party proposed that this act might look forward 
 and have no restrospect, and y 1 , y r for, it might be so 
 enacted that her Ma^ might continue this Parliament till 
 the end of August, 1708, qch was three years. With this 
 wee joyned, since it was offered so that her Ma^ might 
 dissolve it sooner, if she thought fitt, so, it being putt to 
 the vote, to continue the Parliament, if her Ma^ pleesed, 
 for one year or three, and it carry ed three by a majority 
 of 32 votes. 
 
 Thereafter seralls proposed that this act should take 
 place against the servants of the revenue sooner, but after 
 some reasoning this was let fall as unreasonable. Then it 
 was proposed that, att least, the collectors of the revenue 
 should not be capable to be elected members of any new 
 Parlia u whenever called, and to this wee were necessitate 
 to agree, for wee found it would carry. 
 
 Then the Duke of Hamiltone proposed that the generall 
 receaver of the revenue might lykewise be incapable of 
 being a member of Parliament. This I took as designed 
 against myself, because S r Alex r Ogilvie is my near relation 
 and has allwayes followed my opinion in publict bussines, 
 but, having had some intelligence of it before that it was 
 designed, S r Alex r and I had it pretty well prepared, and, 
 y r for, not to trouble yo r LoP with the reasoning, the vote 
 was stated, ' add the generall receaver or not,' and it carried 
 in the negative by a majority of 87 votes, so that his Grace 
 had better let this proposition alone. 
 
80 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 The act being y r after putt to the vote, it was carried 
 by a considerable majority. 
 
 The ffour sederunts appointed for trade and the other 
 four for limitations being past, her Ma ts Servants resolved 
 they would propose a supply, the funds being out and the 
 army now maintained on credit, and wee appointed my 
 Lord Thesaurer Depute to make the proposition, and with 
 it to give in a state of the funds that were granted for 
 instructing that they had been duely applyed. There 
 were many speeches made against this — to this purpose, 
 that there was much necessary to be done for the good 
 of the nation and that acts of supply uses to be the last, 
 that some acts concerning trade had been voted but had 
 not yet receaved the royal assent. There were also 
 regulations and limitations voted, but, if this session of 
 Parliament were adjourned before they receave the royall 
 assent, they would also fall and signify nothing ; that 
 supplies could not be effectuall before the terme of Martimas, 
 and that, y r for, there was time enough for passing acts of 
 supply after the nation had gott satisfaction in other 
 matters. Some spoke for a treatty and others about 
 necessary acts of trade, especially if the English acts 1 took 
 place after the 25th of Decern 1 next, and many spoke 
 against supplies. 
 
 Wee answired that her Ma^ s Servants had been very 
 unwilling to insist for a supply till the oy r affairs of the 
 nation had been compleetted, and y 1 this did plainly 
 appear, for the Parliament had continued eight weeks 
 upon trade limitations, and other matters ; that, now 
 the supplies were out, that the Army had been allready 
 a moneth supplyed on credit ; that the Lords of Thesaury 
 could doe no more. Supplies must now be granted or the 
 army disbanded. Though wee had litle money in the 
 kingdome, yet what wee gave would circulate, and it is 
 necessary for supporting the Government and securing us 
 against the attempts of our enemies, both att home and 
 abroad. After long reasoning, it was proposed to give 
 
 1 The English ' Alien Act.' 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 81 
 
 the act of supply a first reading, but, previous to a second, 
 that ane act of treatty and the branches of trade men- 
 tioned in the English act be first considered, and that wee 
 should also enact such laws as are necessary for ballance- 
 ing the export and import for our advantage. Wee found 
 the New Party inclyned for this, so all wee could doe was 
 to reason to this purpose, that it was very reasonable to 
 consider all these particulars, but in a large sense they 
 might be called a mare magnum, and, before wee could 
 gett through, the army would be disbanded without a 
 vote, qch wee beleeved was not the intention of the Parlia- 
 ment. However, a refusall, by prefering these particulars, 
 would be as plain and clear as passing a resolve for dis- 
 banding of the army. This free reasoning had some 
 influence on the New Party, and, y r for, they were willing 
 to restrict the proposall to ane act of treatty and the con- 
 sidering the clauses contained in the English act of treatty. 
 Wee found this would carry, so wee aggreed to proceed in 
 that way, but the Cavaleer Pairty were very unwilling to 
 come to any vote in this matter and pressed extreamly 
 the generall clause that they should proceed to acts for 
 regulating the export and import, but, the vote being putt, 
 to add this generall clause or not to the proposall had been 
 made by the Earle of Rothes, it carried in the negative, 
 and in this the New Party joined with us, so that now wee 
 have only before us the supplies and the act of treatty and 
 the considering the clauses in the English act in caise 
 they take place after the 25th of Dec 1 ". The act of supply 
 receaved a first reading, and wee appointed the next 
 sederunt to proceed on the treatty, qch accordingly wee 
 did, and reasoned above seven or eight hours upon it. 
 The New Party was unwilling to shew there inclinations, 
 but proposed a delay, and, it being late, wee all aggreed 
 to it. 
 
 All that remains to acquaint yo r Lop. of is, that the 
 Duke of Athole and Duke of Hamiltone did insist to know 
 if the address of Parliament, desyring the papers and 
 depositions qch had been before the Parliament of England 
 concerning the Plott to be sent downe and sisted before 
 
 F 
 
82 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [aug. 
 
 this Parliament, had been presented to her Ma 1 ^, and what 
 answire had been given to it. The Duke of Hamiltone 
 made a long speech shewing how much the honour of the 
 nation was concerned in it, and said, as a part of his speech, 
 he would read the coppy of the Duke of Queensberries 
 letter to her Ma^ whereby he pretended that many persons 
 were accused. The Duke of Queensberry made answire 
 that, in the station he was then in, he was oblidged to 
 represent to her Ma^ what informations he receaved, 
 though he had given very little credit to the informer. 
 However, he was willing that a day might be appointed 
 for inquiring to this whole affair, which had made so great 
 noise, and in this he aggreed with the Dukes of Hamiltone 
 and Athole. 
 
 I said I differed from all the three Dukes in this matter. 
 I was very sensible there had been a plott and that the 
 Duke of Queensberry was oblidged to transmitt what 
 informations he had receaved. Att the same time, I 
 beleeved Simon Fraser had been very calumnius in his 
 representationes, yet a great deal of what he said had 
 been confirmed by others ; that the hazard of this plott 
 was now over if, by inquiring into it, wee did not raise 
 new animosities among ourselves. The Duke of Hamil- 
 tone and Duke of Athole did insist to have a day appointed 
 and the Duke of Queensberry did aggree. So the Comm r 
 did speak to the House and acquainted them that he had 
 a letter from her Ma^ to himself, qch he would consider 
 and acquaint y m with her Ma ts pleasure betwixt and the 
 third sederunt of Parliament this week, qch I belecve will 
 be on Friday next, so this matter stands att pritt, and is 
 all I have to acquaint yo r Lop with concerning the pro- 
 ceedings of Parliament. 
 
 [Unsigned. Endorsed: < Aug. 26, 1705. L d Seafield.'] 
 [Not autograph. In the same hand as Seafield' s other 
 non-autograph letters.] 
 
 / 296. Edr., Septr. the 2d, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — I am confident your Lo. will be verie weal 
 pleased with the neus of our succeeding in the act of 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 S3 
 
 treatie, the accompt of which is contained in the inclosed 
 Memorial. I have seen the Earle of Roxbrough since, 
 who goes to morou to the Bath for Ins health. He satisfied 
 me that he had done al he could in his praesent circum- 
 stances with regaird to the treatie, for some of the 
 pairtie did not vot, and E. of Marchmont and some others 
 joined with us. whom he thought he could have influenced. 
 Houever. he did not alou me so much as to wreat this to 
 your Lop. So I hope you will take no notice of it, not to 
 himselfe. unless he wreat so or speak to this purpose if he 
 wait of you. He praetends to have a desire to be imployed : 
 bot pairted verie friendlie with me. I desired he might 
 stey till the suplys wer granted. He said he belived that 
 would be caried, and he hoped the Xeu Pairtie would 
 assist us. I desired he might recommend it to them. He 
 said he would. If your Lop. take anie notice of this, leat 
 it be by a seperat letter, for I oun no corrispondence with 
 anie of the Xeu Pairtie, and I am sure the Commissioner 
 and D. Q. makes me great complements and ouns I have 
 given them greater assistance then they could have ex- 
 pected. I value this act of treatie more as the supliees. 
 tho thes are also needful. I shal wreat fullie when al is 
 past, and I hop I shal have the continouence of your 
 friendship, and shal ever continou, with al sinceritie and 
 respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 The D. of Q. intreated me to wreat in favours of the 
 Duke of Douglass 1 that Ins alouence from her Majestie may 
 be augmented to 400 pound. He hes at praesent onlie 
 200 pound. This will be oblidging to al the familie of 
 Douglass. 
 
 [September 3, 1705.] /. agBL 
 My Lord, — I acquainted yo r Lop in my last Memoriall 
 that wee had given a first reading to the act of treatty. 
 The next day was imployed upon hearing of causes ; 
 Thursday was appointed for takeing into consideration 
 the papers concerning the Plott. The Comm r signify ed 
 
 1 Archibald, 3rd Marquis of Douglas, created Duke of Douglas, April iS, 
 1703. 
 
84 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 [SEPT. 
 
 her Ma ts answire to the address to this purpose, that she 
 had had the same under her royall consideration, that 
 she was desirous they should avoid all things that might 
 occasion animosities ; however, since they had desyred, 
 she had given orders for sending down the papers that 
 had been before the Parliament of England, but that the 
 witnesses, by the laws of that kingdome, could not be 
 sent but by there own consent. He also spoke to the 
 House himself, and, wee thought, to very good purpose. 
 But his Grace will no doubt give ane acco n of this himself. 
 He also acquainted the House that some of these papers 
 were allready come and that he expected the rest, and my 
 Lord Secretary Loudoun did thereafter deliver them in 
 to the Clerk-Register. 
 
 The Dukes of Hamiltone and Athole moved that the 
 address might be read, qch was done. Then the Duke 
 of Athole made a long speech, how he had been maltreatted 
 by the Duke of Queensberry, and read out of the printed 
 narrative the coppy of the Duke of Queensberries letter 
 to her Maty concerning the Plott, and spoke a great deal 
 of his own innocency. The Duke of Hamilton spoke much 
 to the same purpose, as did my Lord Belhaven. The 
 Duke of Queensberry and his friends and all of us that are 
 her Ma ts Servants spoke very little, but in the end the Duke 
 of Hamilton and those others I have mentioned proposed 
 that y r might be a new address to her Maty for these letters 
 of the Duke of Queensberryes and oy r papers which had 
 been before the Parlia n of England and not yet sent down. 
 This wee opposed as unnecessary and unfitt, because her 
 Maty had given orders allready, and wee had reason to 
 expect that the papers would come very speedily, and so 
 this was laid aside for that time. But it was ordered and 
 appointed that against Thursday next the witnesses that 
 were in this place, particularly Campbell of Glendaruell, 
 Captain M c leoud, and Mr. M c kenzie should be cited to 
 attend ; so, if they will insist upon it, I know not but most 
 of the members doe inclyne that y r should be no more of 
 this matter, att least, in this session. 
 
 Upon Friday the act of treatty was again read. The 
 
1705] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 85 
 
 first debate, qch was proposed by the Cavaleer Party, 
 that the Comm rs might be restricted by the act for treat- 
 ting of any thing but a federall union and spoke much 
 against ane incorporating union. Wee did, on the other 
 hand, argue the great advantages of a treatty and the 
 good correspondance with England and that wee thought 
 the powers of the Comm rs should be as large as these con- 
 tained in the English act and that the Treatters might 
 perhaps find it necessary to treatt the termes not only of 
 ane intire union but of a federall union and the adjusting 
 of commerce betwixt the two nations, that the two Par- 
 lia ts might have a full view of the best method of estab- 
 lishing a solid union and good correspondence betwixt 
 the two kingdomes. The New Party did att first appear 
 favourably for our opinion, but, att last, they joined with 
 the Cavaleer Party that the Treatters should be expressly 
 prohibited to treatt of any incorporating union, but the 
 clause was conceaved in other words, yet had this import. 
 I had serall friends whom I could not intirely influence in 
 every thing, but in this I prevailed with them and, the 
 vote being stated, to add that clause or not, it carried in 
 the negative, so that, with regaird to the powers, the 
 Conun rs are no waves restricted. The Earle of Marchmont 1 
 joyned with us in this matter and left the New Party. 
 
 Wee proceeded no further on Friday but to adjust the 
 common and usuall clauses that have been in all acts of 
 treatty. 
 
 Upon Saturday the Parliament mett again, and then 
 the Duke of Athole presented a clause, qch he desyred 
 might be added, viz., that the Comm rs to be named by 
 this act should not commence any treatty until! by ane 
 act of Parliament in England the clauses q r by wee are 
 declared aliens and the other minatory and prohibitory 
 clauses concerning our trade in that act be rescinded ; 2 
 
 1 Sir Patrick Hume, afterwards (1697) 1st Earl of Marchmont. 
 
 - The English Act. entitled 4 An Act for the effectual securing the Kingdom 
 of England from the apparent dangers that may arise from several Acts lately 
 passed by the Parliament of Scotland, 5 was the reply by the English Parliament 
 to the Scottish Act of Security. 
 
86 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY 
 
 SEPT. 
 
 and there were many speeches made against the injury 
 wee had receaved by these clauses, but more particularly 
 of that declaring us aliens and that. y r for, it was most 
 dishonourable for us to treatt before these clauses were 
 rescinded. Wee found that all the parties were lyke to 
 unite not to treatt whilst wee were declared aliens, so wee 
 were necessitat to argue only that it was unfitt to have 
 such a clause in the act of treatty, and that, as to the 
 other clauses on our trade, wee did not doubt but that, if 
 a treatty were set on foott, these would be adjusted. Att 
 last, wee found it necessary to aggree that by ane address 
 or instruction wee should so order it as that the Comm rs 
 should not enter on the treatty till the clause declaring 
 us aliens be rescinded, but that it were hard to insist that 
 her Ma 1 *' should give the royall assent to ane act that 
 contained such clauses in it, she being the sovereign of 
 both nations. 
 
 Att last, the New Party, severalls of them, spoke and 
 joyned that it was necessary for vindicating the honour 
 of the nation that this clause should be in the act, since 
 the clause declaring us aliens was in the English act, so we 
 were necessitate to let it goe to the vote in these terms, 
 add this clause to the act or doe it in a separate way by 
 address or instruct ione, and wee carried it by a majority 
 of 3 or 4 that it should be done in a separate way. 1 Before 
 the stating of the vote the Duke of Athole gave in a pro- 
 testation against the act in caise this clause did not 
 carry, to which protestation the New Party adhered and 
 joyned, so that wee were in great concern to prevail in 
 this and thought it a great victory. 
 
 All that remained of the act to be adjusted was the way 
 and manner of the nomination, so I stated in the debate 
 that it behoved either to be done by leaving it to her 
 Ma**", as was done in the year 1670, where it was left to 
 King Charles the Second, and the year 1700 it was left to 
 
 1 It was carried, on the motion of Queensberry, that in a separate Address 
 to the Queen she should be informed of the indignation of the nation at the 
 interference of the House of Lords in Scottish affairs. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 87 
 
 the Queen, or it behoved to be done by the Estates of 
 Parliament. The Duke of Hamilton called to be heard 
 and made a very handsome speech. He said he was 
 sorry there were so great division and animosities among 
 us as that he was certain wee could make no good nomina- 
 tion in Parliament, and he had a great deal of trust and 
 confidence in her Ma^ our soveraign, and, y r for, he pro- 
 posed the nomination might be left to her Ma^. With 
 this proposall, you may be sure, wee heartily joyned. 
 His party was surprysed, as was also the New Party, and 
 they proposed that the determination of this might be 
 delayed till the next sederunt, and some of the Cavaleers 
 had pretty sharp speeches against the Duke, but he said 
 very boldly that he had told his opinion and saw no reason 
 to retract it, and moved that the vote might be stated, 
 proceed or delay to the next sederunt, and it carryed, 
 proceed ; and then the Duke renewed his proposall again, 
 on which there was a closs debate for some time. In the 
 end the Marquis of Twedale, the Earles of Rothes, Rox- 
 burgh, Haddingtone, and serall others of that party spoke. 
 What the Earle of Roxburgh said was as near as I can 
 remember in these words, that he had joyned in a pro- 
 testation against the act if the clause was not carried, qch 
 I formerly mentioned, and, y r for, he would be oblidged to 
 vote against the whole act, and so would not make her 
 Ma*?, for whom he had a great deal of veneration and 
 respect, the sham complement of leaving to her the nomina- 
 tion. Wee all acted our parts and proceeded firmly in 
 the matter and putt it to the vote, whether the nomina- 
 tion should be by the Queen or by the Parliament, and it 
 carried that it should be by the Queen, and the Duke of 
 Hamilton did vote for the Queens nomination. This wee 
 carryed by a greater majority, because Twedale and Rox- 
 burgh did not vote in this, though most of the New Party 
 did vote for the Parliament, and thus yo r LoP has the 
 history of the whole act, only that the Cavaleer and New 
 Party shew a great inclination to have the act throwen 
 out. However, wee proceeded to the vote, approve the 
 act or not, and it carryed by a considerable majority, 
 
88 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [sept. 
 
 approve, and so there is now voted a plain act of treatty 
 leaving the nomination to her Ma*y, qch I am very hope- 
 full, if rightly managed, may be the foundation of a lasting 
 setlement betwixt the two nations. I beleeve the Comm r 
 will give the royall assent to it how soone he has ane 
 answire to the last flying pacquet wee sent of this day 
 seven night, and I am hopefull wee shall also gett the 
 supplies. All that remains to be done is that her Ma^ 
 effectually prevail with the English Parliament to rescind 
 that clause in there act declaring us aliens, qch cannot 
 doe the least prejudice to England, and, if this is refused 
 by the English Parliament when wee have desyred it in 
 the most discreett manner and att the same time left to 
 her Ma*y the nomination of the Comm rs , then it will be 
 thought universally in this kingdome that the English 
 doe intend no good correspondance with us, and I am per- 
 swaded that now yo r LoP may have the honour of com- 
 pleetting what you have been sincerely endeavouring 
 these serall years past. But I shall say no more in this 
 Memoriall, hopeing to have ane oportunity of writting 
 more fully when the Parliament is ended. I shall now 
 only say that, since the carrying of this act, there is a 
 generall satisfaction amongst those who wish well to the 
 pntt setlement, and I know that the New Party are well 
 enough satisfyed with it, for I have seen some of them 
 since who have said so to me. 
 
 [No signature.] 
 [Endorsed :] ' L d Seafield. No date.' [Not autograph.] 
 
 [21 Septr. 1705.] 
 My Lord, — I have receaved the honour of yo r LoP s of 
 the 15th from Windsour, and it is a great satisfaction to 
 me to know from so good a hand that her Ma^ is satisfyed 
 with what service I have been capable to perform in this 
 Parliament. Perhaps every thing is not so well done as 
 wee wished, yet the Parliament has had ane issue very 
 farr beyond what in reason wee could have expected as 
 matters stood at the beginning of the Parliament and a 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 89 
 
 considerable time y r after ; and, seing yo r LoP does encour- 
 age me to offer any advyce for the future in what may 
 concern her Ma ts service, I shall doe it with all submission 
 and fidelity. I think much depends upon the unity of 
 those imployed in the service for this end. Many of the 
 most considerable of the Servants did propose the setling 
 of the Secretaryes office in such hands as will make this 
 there measure and prevent her Ma ts having the trouble 
 of different skeames, and I am very glade to find that 
 what was desyred of changing the Marques of Annandale 1 
 from Secretary to be President of Council and one of the 
 Thesaury and of conjoyning the Earle of Marr with the 
 Earle of Loudoun is so agreable to yo r LoP s opinion, and 
 that the only difference is as to the time of doeing it. The 
 Comm r , the Duke of Queensberry, and those others, who 
 write again on this occasion,, doe still think that it were of 
 the greatest advantage to make that alteration now, for, 
 if the Marquess of Annandale be allowed to come up in 
 the prospect of being Secretary and after having ordered 
 the affairs of his family in that view, ane alteration will be 
 certainly very uneasy to him, and, though the removing 
 him from Secretary now may be a disappointment to him 
 in his ambition of governing, yet the setling him so well 
 here will be for the solid advantage of his family, and, 
 though he may be very usefull as a servant kept within 
 bounds, yet, as Secretary, he would soon either lose him 
 self or others that are more necessary for the Queens 
 service. 
 
 The Queens great advantage in this is that the Servants, 
 being once setled and out of all jealoussies of one ane 
 other, and, if they find themselves too waike to under- 
 take the next Parliament, they will easily aggree to allow 
 of such changes as may be att that time most usefull. 
 The doeing of this will also prevent the desyres of some 
 
 1 William, 1st Marquis of Annandale, one of the two Scottish Secretaries 
 of State. Opposed to the Union, he had quarrelled with Argyle, and was 
 dismissed from office. From his own correspondence it appears that he was 
 really convinced that the settlement of the succession was a preferable measure 
 to a treaty. 
 
90 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [sept. 
 
 of the Servants from comeing up, who otherwise will not 
 reakon them selves secure. 
 
 The Parliament ended this day very calmly and is ad- 
 journed to the 20th of Decern 1 ". 1 Those acts receaved the 
 royall Assent, for qch my Lord Comm r had her Ma ts 
 instructions. The acts concerning the limitations, 2 tri- 
 ennial] Parliament, and the nameing of ane ambassadour 
 have the negative. The two last were most desyred. 
 However, there will be time to consider of these before the 
 next Parliament. Wee have supplies for maintaining 
 the Forces, so I hope no disorder shall happen within this 
 kingdome, and there is ane act of treatty, qch, I hope, may 
 be a mean of setling ane intire correspondence betwixt 
 the two nations. Seing her Ma^ hath the nomination of 
 the treatters for both kingdomes, much depends upon this, 
 and I am very hopefull that the English will make a right 
 use of this oportunity and that yo r LoP, under her Ma l >", 
 will have the honour to establish what hath been so much 
 desyred and difficult to obtain. 
 
 The Parliament had continued a day or two longer, but 
 wee found that our opposing party would probably have 
 insisted on ane address to her Ma** to have called the 
 Parliament in the next spring, whereas the funds, rightly 
 managed, may, in caise of necessity, subsist the troops and 
 garrisons to August, and, whatever may happen, it is 
 good to have time. 
 
 Before the instructions came by the last flying pacquet 
 the merchants brought in a petition to the Parliament 
 desyring there recommendation of the Estates of Parlia- 
 ment to her Maty for passes to protect them in there trade 
 with France and Spain against her Ma ts ships and those 
 of her allies, the States of Holland. This wee diverted 
 the first sederunt, but the next they insisted upon it 
 again, and the petition was presented by the Marquis of 
 Tweeddale and seconded by the Dukes of Hamiltone and 
 Athole. And many of our ow n friends inclyning to have 
 
 1 It did not re-assemble till October 3, 1706. 
 
 2 The 'Limitations' on the royal prerogative proposed by Fletcher of 
 Saltoun. 
 
FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 91 
 
 it, because the French trade is the foundation of our 
 customes and the encouragement of our fishing and support 
 of the government, wee, therefor, yeilded for preventing 
 ane address that it should be marked in the minutes that 
 the Estates of Parliament recommended to my Lord 
 Comm r to represent to the Queen there concern in this 
 matter. Sir David Xairne 1 can show yo r Lop what past 
 concerning this in the printed minutes. 
 
 I cannot conclude this memoriall without giving my 
 testimony to my Lord Comm r that he hath served her 
 Ma^" in that station with very great fidelity and concern, 
 and I must also own that the Duke of Queensberries friends 
 have given very great assistance since he came to Scotland. 
 
 S r David Xairne sent down a warrant for a remission 
 to be past the great seal in favours (as I suppose) of all 
 Greens crew, but, the names not being insert in the warrant, 
 I could not pass it. It was sent to my Lord Comm r , and 
 I have given his Grace the names, and he will certainly 
 transmit t them with the warrant to S r David Xairne to 
 be insert y r in, and, if it be returned by a flying pacquet in 
 answire to this, it will come in time. 
 
 [Xo signature.] 
 
 [Endorsed :] 4 L d Seafield. Xo date or year.' [Xot 
 autograph.] 
 
 Edr., Septr. the 22d, 1705. /.SIS. 
 My Lord, — The inclosed Memorial contains al that 
 occurrs to me at praesent. I find the Commissioner and 
 the Duke Queensberrie verie hopful that what they have 
 proposed concerning the M. of Annandale will be granted 
 nou, and, if not, they will certanlie desire some of the 
 Servants to be called. 2 The Commissioner hes said so to 
 me this morning. The sooner wee have her Majesties 
 ansuer it will be the better, for al that is needful in Councel, 
 Thrsesurie, or Exchequer will be done this week. I hope 
 your Lo. will be pleased to leat me know her Majesties 
 
 1 Under-Secretary of State. 
 
 2 Annandale was offered the office of Lord Privy Seal, of which he had been 
 deprived, and which he now refused to accept. 
 
92 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [sept. 1705 
 
 commands, to which I shal give al obedience. Ther hes 
 been insinuations to me to goe if Annandale continou, 
 bot doe in this what your Lo. thinks best for the Queens 
 service. Bot if the Commissioner desire me, be pleased 
 to let me know what I shal doe, for the Queens letter to 
 his Greace stops al the servants, unless they ar called, 
 and what your Lop. wreats in ansuer to this may be in a 
 seperat letter. I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 /• 322. Edr., Octr. the 6, 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — That her Majestie has been pleased to 
 remove my Lord Annandale from being Secretarie to his 
 former post will be found for her service and the satis- 
 faction of her servants and his oun advantage, tho, at 
 present, he seems disatisfied and sayes he will not accept 
 till he sees the Queen. I would have writen fulie of this 
 and concerning her Majesties other affairs, bot her 
 Majestie, in her last letter to my Lord Commissioner, 
 having called me to London, I shal forbear till meeting. 
 Since the Parlament wee have had frequent meetings of 
 Council, Thraesurie, Exchequer, and I hope to be able to 
 give her Majestie ful accompts of al her affairs in this 
 kingdom and to leave al things in peace and good order. 
 The Earle of Mar being nou Secretarie, his regement cannot 
 be better dissposed of then too the yong Laird of Grant, 
 who has a good esteat and great influence both in the 
 Parlament and the countrie, and has behaved verie weal 
 in the Parlament. My Lord Commissioner has written of 
 this to Sir David Nairn and desired me to wreat of it to 
 your Lop., which I doe most willinglie. The D. of Q. 
 seems resolved to excuse himselfe from coming up for some 
 time because of his privat affairs, bot it was verie right to 
 call him. I had, indeed, much to doe also in my privat 
 business, bot I have laid thes aside, since it is like Scots 
 affairs may be under her Majesties consideration about 
 the time of the meeting of the English Parlament. I con- 
 tinou, with al respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
oct. 1706] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 93 
 
 [1706] 
 
 Edr., Oct. the 4>th, 1706. / 318. 
 My Lord, — I prsesum by this to send your Lo. a copie 
 of my speach to the Parlament, 1 which I intreat you may 
 doe me the honor to deliver to the Queen, for I have nothing 
 worthie her Majesties trouble to wreat to her or I would 
 have prsesumed to have sent it by a letter. After her 
 Majesties letter was presented and redd, and when my 
 Lord Commissioner and I had made our speaches and 
 that thes wer ordered to be printed, I told them the 
 articls of the treatie wer readie to be reported to them, 
 so they wer redd and ordered to be printed. The Duke of 
 Hamilton and several others desired that the minuts and 
 journal book of our proceedings might also be printed. 
 I said that by the Act of Parlament on which the treatie 
 proceeded wee wer onlie oblidged to report to the Parla- 
 ment the articls agreed on, bot for ther satisfaction the 
 minut book shal be presented nixt sederunt, and, if 
 therafter it should be thought necessarie to print it, it 
 might be then ordered. Bot, when we found them con- 
 tinou to desire it might be immediatlie ordered to be 
 printed and that it would occasione a delay, wee did, 
 therfor, agree that it should be printed and it was ackord- 
 inglie ordered. Wee had a great majoritie in the House 
 yesterday, as apeared in a vot wee had concerning the 
 admitting Sir Alexander Bruce as Earle of Kin[c]airne. 
 The vot was stated, ' admitt or hear my Ladie Marie Bruces 
 prsetentions.' Wee caried it to ' hear befor admission.' He 
 is certainlie to be against the Union, therfor all that pairtie 
 wer for admitting him prsesentlie. I belive he will carie 
 it nixt sederunt, bot wee onlie took this opportunitie to 
 trye. I find they have not yet joined in ther measurs 
 concerning what they will oppose to the Union. Some, 
 
 1 The Parliament had met on October 3 — the day before this letter was 
 written. 
 
 2 Sir Alexander Bruce of Bromhall had his claim to the title of Earl of 
 Kincardine recognised during this session. Lady Mary Bruce was heir of line. 
 
94 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY oct. 
 
 as I hear, are for setling the successor presentlie with 
 limitations and with a condition that England grant a 
 communication of tread ; others are for altering the 
 articls of the treat ie, which last is in my opinion the most 
 dangerus measur. For. as [sic] I onlie wreat this for your 
 Lops, privat information, as I also send you my Lord 
 Advocats peaper, of which I promised you a copie, bot I 
 wish none els to see it, because I hope stil that he will 
 concurr, and, if your Lop. on occasions wreat me two 
 letters, I can wreat with the greater freedom. The 
 Marques of Annandale and al he can influence, as I hear, 
 are to oppose the L'nion. He did not wait of the Com- 
 missioner yesterday, bot the Duke of Hamilton and the 
 Xeu Partie did. The D. is, as I hear, violentlie against 
 the Union, bot knows not hou to unite his pairtie. I shal 
 doe my diutie faithfulie to obtain the L'nion and my 
 friends will al concurr with me. I shal writt to none of 
 the English that treated with us till somthing occurr 
 worth ther noticeing. I hope for the continouence of 
 your Lops, favour in leating me know her Majesties 
 commands, and I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 SE AFIELD. 
 
 I hope you will excuse the manie faults of my speach. 
 It is a great disadvantage to speak on the same subject 
 after the Queens letter and my Lord Commissioners 
 speach, bot I hope it will be found to be weal intended. 
 
 f. 324. Edr.. Oct. the IUK 1706. 
 
 My Lord, — Since my last nothing has occurred befor 
 nou worth your Lop. trouble. I have taken al the methods 
 I was capable to use to keep the Neu Pairtie from con- 
 joining with our Torie Pairtie, and the Marques of Montrose 
 has concurred most activlie in this, and I doubt not bot 
 that they will al concurr with us, which, I think, will 
 make the cariing the Union certan. The Earle of Eglin- 
 toun, Cromertie and severals of the moderat Tories gives 
 us hops, bot what our opposers begins with, is to obtain 
 a delay till ther constituents be informed, since, as they 
 
i 7 o6] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 95 
 
 say, the constitution of this kingdom is intierlie altered 
 by the treatie. Some of them spok out this plainlie in 
 Parlament yesterday, bot ther chiefe managers insisted 
 on a delay, even not to read or receave the articls under 
 our consideration till the records of Parlament wer made 
 patent to the members that they may have information 
 of what had been done formerlie att treaties of union and 
 commerce, and some moved that al that was on record 
 concerning thes maters might be printed, bot this last 
 point was let fall, and it was agreed that anie of the 
 members might see the records and take information, and 
 I belive it will prove for our advantage. Then it was 
 proposed that, befor wee proceeded further, that ther 
 should be a national fast appointed that wee might beg 
 direction from God Almightie in this great affair. The 
 Earle of Marchmont, my Lord Justice Clerk, Jerriswood, 
 and severals oppos'd this, and wee had by what was said 
 in the debeat the assistance of the whol Neu Pairtie, so it 
 was lett fal for that time ; bot wee know that our opposers 
 will endeavour to bring this again upon us by influencing 
 the Commissioner of the Assemblie to desire that a fast 
 may be appointed. Wee have prepaired the best wee can 
 against this. We have spok to al our friends that are 
 members of that Commission and to several ministers, 
 and your Lo. shal be accquanted with what shal be done. 
 The movers of the fast wer the highest Tories. 1 The 
 artecls wer after al this reedd, but nothing was spok for 
 or against them, bot it was agreed that wee should proceed 
 to the farther consideration of them on Tuesday, to which 
 time the Parlament was adjorned. I think the Neu 
 Pairtie deservs al incuragement, if they continou to doe 
 as they have begun. All our treaters continou fixed to 
 what they did, bot wee belive Mr. Lockart of Carnwath 
 will be against us. The E. of Cromerties friends are not 
 
 1 It was the hope of the Opposition that the Commission of the General 
 Assembly, a permanent body appointed to look after the interests of the 
 Church, would petition the Parliament to sanction a fast : if the Parliament 
 should refuse, this would further embroil the Government with the Church and 
 throw fresh obstacles in the way of the Treaty. 
 
96 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [oct. 
 
 yet come, so I cannot yet wreat concerning them further 
 then that he and his brother sayes they will be hier verie 
 soon. My Lord Rankilor, on of the Lords of Session, is 
 dead, and was a Parlament man and verie much for the 
 Union. Ther are manie pretenders to his place ; he was 
 also of the Justice Court. Al I shal writt on this subject 
 is, if it is disposed of during the Parlament, manie will be 
 disoblidged, and, tho it is not to be noticed that I give 
 this opinion, yet I have said to the servants that I belived 
 that the Queen would delay the disposing of this post till 
 after the Parlament. The Justice Clerk has been most 
 earnest with me to wreat this to your Lop. The Duke of 
 Argyl is nou with us, 1 and seems readie to concurr, bot 
 both he and his brother are most pressing with the Com- 
 missioner, the Secretaries, and myselfe, to desire that her 
 Majestie may conferr on my Lord Archbald the title of 
 ane Earle, and what ever objections ther may be to this, 
 and of which they are fullie accquanted, yet I am sure 
 they will not be pleased unless it be granted, and it is 
 certanlie necessarie to keep them right at present. I 
 promised my Lord Duke to concurr in using my interest, 
 which I could not refuse, for I am much oblidged to him. 
 Your Lo. will easilie determin what is fit to be done. I 
 am for al measurs [that can] strenthen us in the carving 
 the Union, and, if I be favored with ane ansuer, I desire 
 it may be such as I may shou to my Lord Duke. I forbear 
 to give your Lop. further trouble, and I am, with al 
 respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 The Marques of Annandale has not visited the Com- 
 missioner as yet, and in al thing appears against us. 
 
 Edr., Oct the 16, 1706. 
 My Lord, — What occurred yesterday in Parlament 
 gives so good hopes of success that wee thought it neces- 
 sarie to accquant you with it by this flying packet. Our 
 opposers proposed evrie thing they thought could perswad 
 
 1 It was only after receiving the commission of a Major-General that Argyle 
 consented to appear in Parliament and support the Union. 
 
;- FIRST EARL OF SE AFIELD 
 
 97 
 
 the Parlament to delay entering upon the consideration 
 of the articls of the treatie for a considerable time that 
 they might have the opportunitie of geting instructions 
 from the shirs and broughs concerning the Union. I shal 
 not trouble your Lo. with the debeat. bot they found they 
 could not carie anie considerable delay, and. therfor, at 
 last, the Lord Belhaven and the Marques of Annandale 
 proposed at least that wee might grant a further delay, 
 onlie for eight dayes, bot the Xeu Pairtie, I mean, the 
 Marques of Tueeddal. Rothes. Roxborou, Hadington, 
 Marchmont. Jerreswood. and al their friends and several 
 others who had been in D. Hamiltons pairtie having con- 
 curred with us in the debeat, and the E. of Roxborough 
 having fullie declaired his opinion in favours of the Union 
 and that I perceaved that the strenth [of] both pairties 
 would appear by this vot, it was stated, proceed nou to 
 the consideration of the articls of the treatie or delay till 
 the first sederunt nixt week, and it caried to proceed by 
 a majoritie of sixtie six. The Marques of Annandale 
 had feu or none of his friends concurred with him, and I 
 belive, nou that he sees the L'nion in so fair a way., he and 
 several others will join with us. I doe al I can to incour- 
 age the Xeu Pairtie, for its of great consequence to have 
 a considerable majoritie, and severals of them are men of 
 qualitie and of good esteats. Al her Majesties Servants 
 and ther friends acted ther pairts faithfullie. The Com- 
 mission of the Assembhe have also acted verie prudentlie 
 in the mater of the national fast, for they have appointed 
 Friday nixt to be a day for prayer for direction to the 
 Parlament in the great affairs before them, so that I 
 belive that of the national fast is laid aside. It is said the 
 opposers will try ther strenth against the intire union and 
 propose a neu treatie for a federal union, bot they will 
 also lose this. The greatest difficultie will be that amend- 
 ments or alteration of some of the articls will be tryed, 
 bot I hope wee shal succeed in this whol affair, and beside 
 the satisfaction I have in thinking this will be a great 
 advantage to the whol iland, it rejoises me to think it 
 will be verie satisfying to her Majestie to have this great 
 
 G 
 
98 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [oct. 
 
 affair accomplished in her reigne, and, therfor, I shal doe 
 al that is in my pouer in this mater, for this, added to 
 the glorius sucesses that her Majesties forces and thes of 
 her Allies have attained, will make your Lo. administra- 
 tion under her Majestie most acceptable to us and our 
 posteritie. I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se afield. 
 
 Wee readd the first article of the Union and the minuts 
 relating to it, and explained them and adjurned the 
 further consideration of the articls til the nixt sederunt, 
 which is Thursday nixt. 
 
 / 314. Edr., Octr. the 2d [? 21], 1706. 
 
 My Lord, — The inclosed Memorial is so long that I shal 
 offer your Lop. no further trouble bot to accquant you 
 that the Neu Pairtie, both in Parlament and Assemblie, 
 gives us al the assistance wee can desire, particularlie my 
 Lord Roxbrough, the E. of Marchmont, and Jerveswood. 
 The Duke of Argyl is so usful to us that wee al agreed that 
 he might exped his brothers patent when he pleased. 1 So 
 he hes sent it to the seals, and he oblidged the Com- 
 missioner also to exped his son my Lord Charls patent. 
 As for the vacancies of the Session and Justice Court, thos, 
 I belive, will be delayed till after the Parlament. The 
 Memorial, tho it may be used for information, yet I hope 
 my having writ with so much freedom will not be knowen 
 bot wher it is necessarie. I am, with al respect, your 
 Lops., Seafield. 
 
 /. 330. Edr., Novr. tlie Sd, 1706. 
 
 My Lord, — I know my Lord Commissioner and the 
 Secretaries takes care to send your Lop. ane accompt of 
 what occurs, which makes me unwilling to give your Lop. 
 too frequent trouble. I have also great fatige in presiding 
 and more in giving frequent interteanments to the members, 
 which is most necessarie on this occasion. Wee continou 
 
 1 According to the Secretary, the Earl of Mar, the passing of the Treaty of 
 Union was due to Argyle above all others. 
 
1706] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 99 
 
 to have a majoritie in Parlament, and the Neu Pairtie 
 continus to act verie zealouslie in conjunction with us, as 
 does the E. of Cromertie and Marchmont, so that wee have 
 stil good hopes of succeeding in Parlament, bot great pains 
 is taken in the countrey by the opposers to incense the 
 gentrie, touns, and common peopel against us, and in 
 places disaffected they procure adresses against ane intire 
 union signed by manie of the genlmen of this countrey, 
 bot in other places feu as yet concurr with them, and, if 
 wee can bot pleas the ministers in the securitie of the 
 Church, our greatest difficultie will be over. We stil 
 continou Gairds of the regular forces within the town, and 
 so al continous peaceable. The inclosed copies of the 
 minuts will inform your Lop. what progress wee have 
 made. Wee caried the two questions that wer stated, 
 and then ther was a long deabate upon the first article, 1 
 which both sids reackoned of the greatest importance, and 
 this continoued til eight at night, by which time wee had 
 been nine hours in the House, and then wee used al possible 
 endeavours to obtain a question, approve of the first 
 article or no. It was proposed, on the other side, to 
 adjorn the debeat, and, when wee offered to state the 
 question, they had alwayes some of ther side offered to 
 speak, and, a delay being much insisted on, some of our 
 oun friends accquanted us that, if ther was a vot stated, 
 proceed or delay, that wee would either lose it or carie it 
 by a smal majoritie, and therafter wee would not have 
 time to obtain the vote of, approve the article or not. The 
 Commissioner, my Lord Montrose, the Secretaries, the 
 Earle Leaven, and my selfe wer accquanted with this, 
 bot the Duke of Argyl and the Neu Pairtie did not know 
 that wee had several of our friends that advised us to 
 delay. At last, I asked if I should order the calling of the 
 vots, proceed or delay, or, would they agree, either to 
 proceed or delay without a vot. Ther appeared a great 
 inclination to delay, and the Duke of Argyl and Niu 
 Pairtie thought that wee should have insisted longer to 
 
 Enacting the incorporating union of the two kingdoms. 
 
100 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [nov. 
 
 have this mater determined, and, therfor, seemed to be 
 somwhat displeased when the debeat was adjorned till 
 Moonday. Bot I doubt not bot they will be satisfied when 
 they know what advertisments wee had from our friends. 
 What I acted was with a sincer intention for obtaining the 
 clase to be approved, and I am sure I did resume the 
 debeats and argue the mater als weal as I was capable, 
 and in al the vots al my friends have concurred to the 
 satisfaction of al the Servants. I hope, on Moonday, the 
 article shal be approved and the act for securing the Church 
 presented. I am convinced if wee succeed not in this 
 mater nou, when wee have her Majesties protection, this 
 kingdom will be in confusion befor wee can obtain a 
 setlment, and, if the Parlament had once determened the 
 Union, I hop it will render the peopel peaceable. The 
 Marques of Annandale continous on of the chiefe opposers. 
 My Lord Belhaven had a speach contrived to incense the 
 common peopel ; 1 it had no great influence in the House. 2 
 If it is printed, I shal send it. The Duke of Hamilton was 
 with the Commissioner and yesterday with me. He sees 
 he will lose his designs in Parlament if wee goe on nou, 
 and, therfor, tells us that the nation is against what wee 
 are doing. Bot I pray God wee may carie the Union in 
 Parlament, so as it may be approved in England, and then 
 I hope al danger of confusion in this iland will be past. 
 I had almost forgot to accquant your Lop. that my Lord 
 Belanden 3 is dead and left a great manie children and 
 almost no estate. He was my Lord Roxbroughs uncle, 
 and my Lord is much concerned that the nou Lord Bel- 
 anden be provided with Lord John Kers post in the Gairds. 
 If Lord John get the leat Lord Belandens, the Duke of 
 Argyl being Collonel of the troop, it most be done by his 
 advice, and, if he consent, my Lord Roxbrough should 
 
 1 This was the speech in which occurs the well-known passage beginning, 'I 
 think I see our ancient mother Caledonia,' etc. 
 
 2 The Earl of Marchmont's comment on Belhaven's speech was, 1 Behold, he 
 dreamed, but lo ! when he awoke, he found it was a dream.' 
 
 3 John, 2nd Lord Bellenden, son of William Drummond, 2nd Earl of 
 Roxburghe. 
 
i;o6] FIRST EARL OF SE AFIELD 
 
 101 
 
 be satisfied ; if not, I think it should at least be delayed 
 till after the Parlament. I have not as yet spok with the 
 Duke of Argyl. I am affraid I have given your Lop. too 
 great trouble. I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Seafield. 
 
 Wee caried the adjoining of the session by a great 
 majoritie, tho al the opposers concurred against us. 
 
 Edr., Novr, the 7th, 1706. / 3*4 
 My Lord, — Since my last to your Lop., wee have caried 
 by a majoritie of 32 vots the first article of the Union in 
 the terms of the resolve I formerlie mentioned, bot, ther 
 being a memorial concerning this and several other par- 
 ticulars, which my Lord Commissioner and her Majesties 
 servants finds to be necessarie to obtain the Union to be 
 past hier, I hope that wee will be aloued to make thes 
 alterations. I shal give your Lop. no further trouble 
 with relation to what is contained in it. Ther have been 
 several adresses against the Union presented to the Parla- 
 ment, bot what troubls me most is that from the Com- 
 mission of the Assemblie, which declairs the Union incon- 
 sistant with ther principels, it being contrarie to the 
 Covenant that the bishops sitt in the Parlament, bot I 
 have not seen it. 1 I hear it is to be presented to morou. 
 A copie of it shal be transmitted. The majoritie of a 
 convention of borous have also addressed against it. 
 After al wee hope, if the alterations be aloued, wee will 
 carie it in Parlament. The Jacobit Pairtie continou to 
 oppose it with violence. The Xeu Pairtie. the E. of 
 Marchmont and L. of Cromertie gives us al the assistance 
 wee can desire. The D. of Argyl influences the M. of 
 Lothean and his oun friends, so your Lop. sees wee have 
 a majoritie that I hope will not fail us. bot without thes 
 alterations nothing can be done that will pleas the treading 
 peopel. The M. of Annandale continous to oppose the 
 
 1 On November 7, Mar wrote : ' One thing I must say for the Kirk, that, if 
 the Union fail, it is owing to them. 5 
 
102 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [nov. 
 
 Union. The minuts will inform your Lop. of his proposel 
 of a federal union or the succession with limitations, bot 
 he had verie feu that concurred with him. Wee have 
 given a first reading to the act for the Church, and wee 
 have also given a first reading to ane act for a supplie. 
 This could be delayed no longer, for the fonds are out 
 and a great arear diu to the armie. Wee shal make what 
 haist wee can, bot, tho wee continou with the majoritie 
 wee have, wee cannot end so soon as is desired. I have 
 onlie time to add that I am, with al respect, my Lord, 
 etc., Seafield. 
 
 Sir David Nairn will shou your Lop. the list of al thos 
 voted for or against the first article of the Union. I also 
 send Belhavens speach, by which your Lop. will see what 
 pains is taken to incense the mobe. 
 
 f.888. Edr., Nov. the lltk, 1706. 
 
 My Lord, — Your Lop will receave together with this a 
 letter from my Lord Commissioner and some others of us, 
 her Majesties Servants. What is proposed in it is, indeed, 
 necessarie. This is al I shal trouble your Lop. with on 
 this subject. Since the voting the first article of the 
 treatie, the Parlament has given to her Majestie eight 
 moneths cess, which is, indeed, rather more then the 
 countrie can weal spair, bot it was necessarie, and it was 
 given with a great daile of chierfulness. The Dukes of 
 Hamilton and Athol concurred in it, and feu or anie 
 opposed it. This satisfies the armie, and will make them 
 undergoe ther present fatige the more willinglie, and it 
 will be of use to us that, whatever happen, wee can adjorn 
 without anie confusion. Wee have also proceeded to the 
 2 d reading of the act for the securitie of the Church 1 and 
 have voted several paragraphs of it and caried al the 
 vots as wee desired. Wee proceed farther upon it the 
 nixt sederunt. It will be of great consequence if wee get 
 this act weal adjusted. They will endeavour to have 
 
 1 It enacted that the Church, as it now existed, was 1 to continue without any 
 alteration to the people of this land in all succeeding generations.' 
 
iyo6] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 103 
 
 the sacramental test in England taken of, bot wee have 
 fullie informed the friends of the Union of the danger of 
 this, and it is most reasonable to leave it intier to the 
 Parlament of England to secure the Church ther, as wee 
 doe for our Church hier. The 2 d point they intend to 
 insist upon is too enclude the pouer of the Parlament of 
 Britan to grant a toleration within Scotland, bot this, 
 I hope, wee shal also prevent. The 3 d point is that the 
 opposers will join to reject the whole act after it is ad- 
 justed, and wee have dimcultie with some of our friends 
 to perswad them to vot for a perpetual securitie to Presbi- 
 terian government, bot yet, after al, I hope wee shal 
 succeed in this, for without some securitie to the Church 
 the whol Presbiterians would be disatisfied. When this 
 is past, wee resolve to proceed nixt to the 2 d article, 1 bot 
 our opposers will endeavour that the fourth article and 
 the other articls that concerns tread or taxes be first 
 explained. In this wee will have some difncultie with 
 some who are friends to the Union, bot wee shal doe our 
 best. If it wer not for the needless fears and jealosies of 
 the Church, wee would easilie have overcome al our other 
 difficulties. I have stil verie good hopes. The Neu 
 Pairtie wer with me last night and are als right in this 
 mater as I am my selfe. I belive my behavior in this 
 great affair is not misrepresented. I am sure I doe al 
 that is in my pouer, and al my friends concurr heartilie 
 and I endeavour to prevent differences amongst the 
 friends of the Union and gives al the incuragement to thos 
 concurrs in my pouer. I have as yet writt none bot to 
 your Lop., bot, as you have ever been my best friend, so 
 I hope you will leat this be known to the Queen, and I 
 belive it will not be unfit that some who treated with us 
 also know what is my pairt in al this mater, and, if your 
 Lop. aprove of it, I will wreat to my Lord Sunderland 2 or 
 my Lord Somers. Bot, if it be not necessarie, I am 
 unwilling to give anie of them trouble. We long for ane 
 ansuer to our Memorial concerning the necessarie explana- 
 
 1 It settled the succession on the Electress Sophia and her heirs. 
 
 2 English Secretary of State. 
 
104 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [nov. 
 
 tions of the treatie. If thes can be obtained, I hope the 
 Union will be acceptable to al that understand the interest 
 of this countrey. I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 /. 31,0, Edr., Novr. the 13, 1706. 
 
 My Lord, — I receaved the honor of your Lops, this day 
 and sent the inclosed to my Lord Duplin, 1 who is at present 
 in the countrey, his second son being ill. I have not 
 since seen the M. of Tweeddal nor the Earl of Roxborough, 
 bot shal to morou obey your Lops, commands as to them. 
 Wee have caried the Church Act and voted out the clases 
 wer offered by the opposing pairtie, particularlie that for 
 alouing Scots men the privilege of enjoying posts, civel 
 and militarie, in England without taking the sacramental 
 test. This day we returned to the consideration of the 
 articls of the treatie and proposed the 2 d concerning the 
 succession. The opposers proposed the 4 th article might 
 be first considered, bot after long reasoning the vot was 
 stated, proceed to the consideration first of the 2 d article 
 or the 4 th , and wee caried, to proceed to the 2 d ; and, it 
 being leat, the Parlament was adjorned til the morou, and 
 then I dout not wee shal carie the 2 d article. If wee 
 succeed in this, I hope wee shal succeed in al the articls 
 with reasonable explanations in the terms of the Memorial 
 wee sent. I am sorie wee cannot proceed with more 
 expedition, bot it is impossible, for our opposers take al 
 opportunities to delay. My Lord Annandale concurrs 
 with the opposers in evrie vot, bot has onlie the influence 
 to have on of our friends with him. It being lait and I 
 being oblidged to have companie with me, I have onlie 
 time to doe justice to my Lord Duffus. 2 He concurrs with 
 us in evrie vot. I shal not trouble your Lop. anie further, 
 bot that it is my confort my friends have as yet failed 
 me in no vot. I am, with al respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Se AFIELD. 
 
 . [Endorsed: 1 Nov. 23, 1706.'] 
 
 1 Thomas Hay of Balhoussie, created Viscount of Duplin in 1697. 
 
 2 Kenneth, 3rd Lord Duffus. 
 
1706] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 105 
 
 Edr., Nwr. 16, 1706. / 396 
 My Lord, — The Parliament has had under consideration 
 the second article of the treattie of Union concerning the 
 succession to the Crown. I acquainted yo r LoP formerly 
 with the resolve presented by my Lord Register on that 
 subject, qch satisfy ed all those that are for the Union that 
 it was not binding unless the whole termes of the Union 
 were adjusted and voted in this Parliament and approwen 
 in the Parliament of England. 
 
 Notwithstanding of this the opposers spoke against 
 this article as much as if the Union had been y r by concluded. 
 Yo r LoP was acquainted that in the first place they en- 
 deavoured that the 4th article should be adjusted before 
 the second, but [it] carried to give the sense of the House 
 concerning the second in the first place. This did coast 
 us one daye's labour. 
 
 Yesterday the second article was read and the reasons 
 for aggreing and concluding it fully explained. First, 
 that it was a necessary consequence of uniting the two 
 kingdomes into one, for, though there are instances of two 
 kingdomes under one sovereign, it is impossible there can 
 be two sovereigns in one kingdome ; 2°/, the successor 
 declared in England is, after her Ma^, the first Protestant 
 heir in the Scotts line, and, though wee continued a 
 separat kingdome, it was both just and necessary to de- 
 clare the same successor ; 3°/, if wee refused to doe this as 
 ane article of the Union, it is impossible to expect any 
 alterations in our favours of the articles, for England 
 would take the refusall of this point as the rejecting of the 
 union. 
 
 My Lord Annandale was the first that spoke against us. 
 What he spoke was to this purpose, that there was none 
 that was better inclyned for the setling of the successor 
 than he, that he had been for that setlement, that he is 
 for it and would continue to be so, but he was so much 
 against the Union, §ch he thought to be contrary to the 
 inclinations of the people, that he proposed the articles 
 might be laid aside, and that wee might proceed to the 
 setlement of the successor upon reasonable limitations. 
 
106 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [nov. 
 
 The D. of Hamiltone, my Lord Belhaven, Mr. Fletcher of 
 Saltone, and some others seconded this proposall, but, 
 finding there party did not so frankly come into it, my 
 Lord D. of Hamilton with Belhaven proposed that the 
 Parliament might be adjourned and that it might be repre- 
 sented by ane address to her Ma^ that they were willing 
 to setle the successor upon limitations. There party came 
 all into this of addressing. On our part, it was argued that 
 the treattie was sett on foott by authority of the last 
 session of Parliament after refusing to setle the succession 
 upon limitations, that then the Union was thought farr 
 preferable to limitations, even by those who now proposed 
 them, etc. ; that the Union was now misrepresented in 
 some places of the kingdome as if the establishment of the 
 Church and trade of the nation were y r by to be destroyed. 
 The best way to satisfy the people was that the Parlia- 
 ment should freely give there sentiments concerning the 
 Union. The Church is allready secured by the act wee 
 have past, and, the articles concerning trade and taxes 
 being explained, the people would soon see there interest 
 by goeing into ane union. But, not to trouble yo r LoP 
 with the dispute any further, §ch was managed for the 
 limitations by the highest Tories and by our party for the 
 Union, except that wee took notice of the limitations 
 allready past, such as the Act of Peace and Warr, the Act 
 of Security, and the other limitations, §ch were voted in 
 the last session of Parliament, particularly that of giving 
 the nomination of the Officers of State and Privy Coun- 
 cilors to the Parliament. It was plain there was no solid 
 setlement could be obtained but by ane union §ch, if it 
 were explained in some particulars, wee hoped would give 
 generall satisfaction, and, therefor, wee proposed the vote 
 might be stated, approve the second article or not. The 
 other party desyred the vote might be, address or not, so, 
 there being a previous vote Qch of these two should be the 
 state of the question, the first was carried by a great 
 majority. After this there was great opposition to the 
 calling of the rolls upon the question, but, att last, the 
 English Acts of Parliament anent the succession being 
 
1706] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 107 
 
 read, and the Earle of Marshall being allowed to give in 
 his protestation against the setling the succession in that 
 manner, wee carried, approve the article, by a majority 
 of 58 ; and then the Parliament was adjourned till Monday. 
 
 Wee have had another representation from the Church 
 against the popish successor, leaving it to the Parliament 
 to determine in what manner they think proper to secure 
 this nation against the dangers that did threaten us from 
 his pretensions. There was endeavours to have it directly 
 pointed against the Union, but it was carryed that nothing 
 for or against the Union should be contained in it, as you 
 will see by the copy I receaved from the moderator and 
 I herewith transmitt to yo r LoP. 
 
 There has been a tumult within the town of Glasgow. 1 
 The mobb proposed that the provest and towne councel 
 might, in name of the community, sign ane address to 
 the Parliament against the Union, but, this being refused, 
 a tumult did arise upon it, and the provest was in hazard 
 of his life. The windows of his house was broke with 
 stones. He is come into this place, and there is ane 
 address signed since that time, after §ch the tumult 
 setled, and wee hope there shall be no more of it, especially 
 that before this time they know that the Church is effectu- 
 ally secured. And there were serall others who favoured 
 the Union whose houses were insulted. But, if the Union 
 were ratified by the authority of Parliament, and some 
 articles explained, wee hope all these confusions will be 
 composed. 
 
 [This letter is not signed, but is endorsed : 4 L d Seafield, 
 Nov. 26, 1706.'] 
 
 Edr., Novr. the 16, 1706. /. Sji. 
 My Lord, — The inclosed Memorial contains al that 
 seems necessarie to inform your Lop. of at present. Wee 
 hope to have the 3 d article approved on Moonday, and that, 
 
 1 The mob was for a few days master of the town, and a party of the rioters, 
 under the command of one Finlay, marched to Hamilton, but the approach of 
 the Government troops dispersed them. 
 
108 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES OGILVY [nov. 1706 
 
 betwixt and then wee shal have your Lops, ansuer con- 
 cerning the explanations of the article 1 which would give 
 great satisfaction. I have as yet writt to none bot your 
 Lop., bot my Lord Justice-Clerk wreats this night and 
 sends his leters under my covert. He and al his friends 
 concurr heartilie with us. Wee meet with great opposi- 
 tion, and al methods are taken to incense the mobe against 
 us, bot I shal continou my endeavours faithfulie, and I 
 hope wee shal have success. I am, with al respect, my 
 Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 My Lord Annandale, after al his opposition, did at last 
 vot for approving the 2 d article. I hope your Lop. will 
 take the trouble to cause deliver the inclosed from the 
 Justice-Clerk to the Earl of Sunderland. 
 
 [1708] 
 
 Edr., June the 20th, 1708. 
 My Lord, — The two inclosed Memorials will inform 
 your Lop. of what concerns our elections and shal offer you 
 no further trouble on that subject. I receaved the honor 
 of the Queens letter. The person concerneng whom I had 
 her Majesties commands called on Weednesday night, bot 
 I was abroad and I expect him this eavning or to morou, 
 and then shal accquant your Lop. with what occurrs. The 
 election hath given us a great dail of trouble ; it continoued 
 till four the nixt morning. I shal take cair of what your 
 Lop. has recommended concerning the essay [of the] 
 Master of the Mint. It is unreasonable to give your Lop. 
 further trouble att present, so I shal onlie assure you that 
 I am, with the greatest respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Seafield. 
 
 I beg the favour of your Lop. to give the Queen what 
 information is necessarie concerning the election, and that 
 my Lord Chancelour may see the long Memorial, the 
 short on being onlie to your selfe. 
 
 1 That the United Kingdom of Great Britain be represented by one and the 
 same Parliament to be styled the Parliament of Great Britain. 
 
AUG. 1708] 
 
 FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD 
 
 109 
 
 Edr., Julie the 5, 1708. 
 
 /. 412. 
 
 My Lord, — The Duke of Athol by this packet has sent 
 a petition to the Queen, praying that he may be admitted 
 to bail. 1 I am informed that he is verie weak by his long 
 confinment and siknes. He has qualified himselfe by 
 taking the oths and wreats that he is readie to ventur his 
 life and fortun in her Majestie service. I doe concurr with 
 the Duke of Queensberrie and the Earls of Mar and Lou- 
 doun in recommending him to your Lops, favour in this 
 mater, considering that al the other prisoners are alreadie 
 out on bail, and he desirs to oue his liberation to the Queen 
 alon, and I trulie think it for the Queens service, for he 
 will be then als much under command as he is att present. 
 I leave this mater to your Lops, consideration, and I am, 
 with al respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 My Lord, — Since I am oblidged to goe north to see my 
 wife, who is dangerously ill, I will there have occasion of 
 seeing severalls of the Parliament-men, who are my 
 friends and who, I hope, will serve her Ma^ faithfully 
 in the Parliament, particularly the Laird of Grant, my 
 brother, S r David Ramsey, Mr. Urquhart, Mr. Aber- 
 crombie, the provests of Aberdeen and Inverness, and 
 Ross of Kilraick. My uncle, Mr. Montgumrie, will lyke 
 wise be with me. They expect to know from me what 
 time the Parliament will meett. 2 I think it necessary for 
 the Queens service that they be at London then, and they 
 are unwilling to leave there affairs sooner than is needfull. 
 Therfor, if your LoP will acquaint me, how soon this comes 
 to yo r hands, when the Parliament will meett, I shall 
 acquaint them of it. I have writt to the Earle of Marr 
 concerning a small affair of the Earle of Airleye's. 3 He 
 
 1 He had been placed under arrest in Blair Castle under the charge of being 
 accessory to the attempted invasion of Scotland in 1708 in favour of James, 
 son of James vn. 
 
 2 This Parliament, the first British Parliament by ordinary election, met in 
 November 1708. 
 
 3 David, 3rd Earl of Airlie. 
 
 Edinburgh, August 5th, 1708. 
 
 /. 416. 
 
110 LETTERS OF EARL OF SEAFIELD [aug. 1708] 
 
 will acquaint yo r LoP of it. It is but off small value, and 
 it will secure my interest with him. He made me his 
 proxy at the last election and promises to doe so again 
 when there is occasion for it, and, therfor, I hope yo r LoP 
 will be assisting to my Lord Airley in this. I will stay but 
 very short time in the north, and, after I return here, shall 
 take journey how soon yo r LoP is pleased to direct me. I 
 am sorry to find by the letters that are writt from London, 
 both from our friends and to the Squadrone, 1 that the 
 Juncto 2 continues as ill disposed towards us, who were her 
 Ma ties Servants as ever. I presume to think that, some 
 time before the Parliament, it will be necessary, either to 
 adjust matters with them or to have a sufficient party 
 established to support her Ma^ and Servants in all just 
 concerns. Yo r LoP is the only person fittest to consert 
 this, and you shall command me and my friends in what 
 measures you shall think proper. I hope yo r LoP will 
 excuse this freedome I use, §ch I truely designe for her 
 Ma tIes service and yo r LoP s ; and I am, with the greatest 
 respect, my Lord, etc., Seafield. 
 
 [Not in Seafield' s hand, but signed by him.] 
 
 I hope your LoP will excuse my using another hand, 
 being straitned by want of time. The Earle of Kin[c]airn 
 is verie desirus to have ane ansuer concerning his daughters 
 petition, of which I wrote to your Lop. some time agoe. 
 
 [Postscript in Seafield' s hand.] 
 
 My Lord Tresaurer. 3 
 
 1 Another designation for the New Party. 
 
 2 The 'junta ' of Whigs who were pressing for a larger share in the councils 
 of Godolphin. 
 
 3 Godolphin. 
 
[1702] LETTERS OF DUKE OF HAMILTON 111 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES. FOURTH DUKE OF 
 HAMILTON 1 
 
 (State Paper*, Scotland, Series 2, vol. i.. Record Office. London) 
 
 [Ed., June 24, 1702.] Afa 15. 
 Sir. — I had yours of the 20. I was in hopes we should 
 hav had the account of her Majesty's receaving the Adress 2 
 at the saime tyme she allowed you the honor of kissing 
 her hand. The Courtiers 3 heer give it out that she will 
 not receave itt, but I shall not belive it till I see it is soe. 
 I wonder that my Lord Blanter 4 has not written one worde 
 to any bodie heer that I can lame. They have past the 
 actt for the Union and putt off the bussiness of the advocatts 5 
 till Saturday when they say they are to bring in the abjur- 
 ation. Your letters came saife to me, as Mr. Masons did. 
 by the same cover, so that way may be continued, tho I 
 shall expectt to see vow everie moment heer. for. imedatly 
 after the resoluttion is taken above as to your comission. 
 the sooner wee know it the better, winch is all at present 
 from your most affectionat and reall freind. 
 
 Hamilton. 
 
 I make noe dout you have taken care that noe copie 
 has been given of the Adress to any bodie whatsome ever 
 
 1 The following letters were addressed to William Keith, younger, of 
 Ludquhairn, Commissioner of Supply for the shire of Aberdeen. 
 
 - This Address to the Queen was a protest against the legality of the existing 
 Parliament by the Country Party, of which Hamilton was the most prominent 
 leader. This Parliament was the convention which had been elected at the 
 Revolution of 1689. 
 
 3 The name given to the supporters of the Government. 
 
 4 Alexander, 5th Lord Blantyre. 
 
 5 A number of the advocates had signed an Address in favour of the party 
 that had seceded from Parliament under the direction of Hamilton. 
 
112 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES 
 
 [1702 
 
 till her Majesty e receaves itt, and her pleasur concerning 
 it knowen. 
 
 I dont wrytt this night to Lord Blanter, so I desir you 
 may comunicatt this to him. 
 [Endorsed:] < June 1702.' 
 
 I have receaved yours of the 23 and am most extreamly 
 pleased with your conduct and manadgement. Nothing 
 could have been better then the measure you took of 
 waitting uppon her Majesty as you did, and your persisting 
 to give the Address to non but her self was the only thing 
 you could doe since the subscribers adrest only to her 
 Majesty and non els. They give it out heer that her 
 Majesty has refused the Adress, which I cant belive after 
 what you wrott of your resolution of presenting it the 
 next day in the drawing room. I hope you '1 take care to 
 read itt to her when you doe present itt. Lett itt be 
 open, and read itt and then present itt ; but I am of the 
 oppinion that is past now. However, if her Majesty 
 should be advissed to refusse itt, I begg you may come 
 off imediatly. I must still insist that you may come 
 doun with the account of what pases, for I assure you 
 you have gained great repputation with all your freinds 
 heer, and noe bodie can be more sensible then I am of 
 your zeall and affection to your countries intrest and 
 her Majesty's service then I am. You exprest it in the 
 brightest manour in what you told her Majesty ; and all 
 your constituants will thank you for itt. I am wonder- 
 fully pleassed with what the Countes of Malborough said 
 to yow. Pray make my complements to her, and tell her 
 that I am affrayed of troubleng her with my letter, els 
 she should get more of them. But I have heard nothing 
 from Blantyr of the letter I wrott to her by him. But, 
 by the manour she has treatted you, I am convinc't of her 
 goodness towards uss. Ther has been a weighty contest 
 
 T. B. 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 [Ed., June 27, 1702.] 
 
1702] FOURTH DUKE OF HAMILTON 113 
 
 this day in the Parliam* here about the abjuration oath, 
 and it was caried only by 4 whither it should recave a 
 first reading ore lie upon the table. I doe assure yow 
 ther are great heats amongest them. Tho we have left 
 them, they are fare from aggreing amongst themselves. 
 I wrot this to my Lord Treasurer 1 in the letter I sent 
 by Blantyre, and now he '1 see I have not mad a wrong 
 judgement. 
 
 The bussines of the advocatts is put off again. They 
 'continew firme to what they have done. I am sure now 
 I have troubled you with a long letter, so I shall add noe 
 more, but that I am your most reall and affectionat freind, 
 
 Hamilton. 
 
 June 1702. 
 
 [Ed., June 30, 1702.] No. is. 
 
 Upon Sunday Mr. Benerman arived heer about 2 o'clock, 
 and I had yours of the 23 by the post the day before, 
 which made what came by the express the more surprizing, 
 but now, since that is over, by noe means let any more 
 application be made for the presenting our Adress, and I 
 am verie glad you say its sealed upp. I desire it may 
 continew to be soe and that you may bring it doun with 
 you when yor convenience allows you to come hither, but 
 be sure it be kept saif in the mean tyme and wher you 
 can come at itt. I am perswaded thos who have adviesed 
 her Majesty not to receave itt have not considred her 
 service, but it 's not proper to talke of that now. It will 
 be seen who gave her Majesty the best advice, and tyme 
 will show whether it had not been better for her service 
 this Parleament had never mett. It is this day addjourned ; 
 ther having been the greattest debeats and heatts imagin- 
 able in relation to ane abjuration oath, which was caried 
 to have a first reading upon Saturday last, and this after 
 greatt cabaling one both sydes. When the matter was 
 goienge for the debeate, the Duke of Queensbery adjurned 
 the par. till the 18 of Agust. 
 
 Everie bodie hear are verie sensible of your good inten- 
 
 Godolphin. 
 
 H 
 
114 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES 
 
 [1702 
 
 tions and service to your countrie. Wee only wish your 
 zeall may not exposse you to some resentment, and, ther- 
 for, as soon as your convenience will alow you, wee would 
 be all verie glad to see you hear and desir you may be 
 circumspectt in your conversation where you are. I 
 make no dout you '1 have particulars of what passes from 
 other hands, so I shall give you noe further trouble, but 
 assure you that noebodie can bee with more reall concerne 
 your most sincer and affectionat freind then 
 
 Hamilton. 
 
 The advocats affare is remitted to the Councell. 1 I 
 assure you the heats and the devissions upon the other 
 point has been soe great that ther was noe tyme to think 
 of them. 
 
 June 1702. 
 
 [Yester, July 9, 1702.] 
 I have just now receewed yours of the 4 with my Lord 
 Blantyres postcrip to itt. I cam hither to keep our Fast 
 in good company, and I assure you all our freinds are 
 pleased with your part, only we are sory that, after her 
 Majesty shewed soe much dislike to our Addresse, that she 
 should have been importuned any farther upon the subject. 
 Yew may perseave that all the steps that has been made 
 has advanct nothing, as by the event yow find, th° vow 
 have given a copie of the addresse which, since ther was 
 soe litle hopes of its beeng recaved, was not so verie nes- 
 sarie, as our freinds heer conseave, but those upon the 
 place may have reasons that we at a distance cant soe weel 
 judge off. However, now I wish it stood with my Lord 
 Blantyre's convenience to come down, for I think both 
 he and yow will think ther 's nothing more to be done by 
 yow ther in relation to the comission of your freinds heer, 
 so I think yow should take spetiall care of the principall 
 address. I can't help saying I wish that had been sooner 
 done by bringing it hither. If my Lord Blantyre and you 
 have receaved the letters I have written, you '1 find befor 
 now that, since the first repulls that yow mett with, I 
 
 1 The Privy Council. 
 
1702] 
 
 FOURTH DUKE OF HAMILTON 
 
 115 
 
 have ever been of that oppinion. Pray, shew this to my 
 good Lord Blantyre, for I can't wrytt any more by this 
 post, fearing it won't come in tyme. When he comes 
 of, I hope he '1 aske my Lady Malborough if she has any 
 ansuer to make for what I wrott by him to her Lap., which 
 is all at present from your most reall and affectionat freind, 
 
 Hamilton. 
 
 [Endorsed :] 'For Mr. Keeth at London.' 
 Jirfy 1702. 
 
 F. B. 
 
 [Agust 7, 1702.] -v*. 11. 
 
 Upon Saturnsday last yours of the 25 Jul. came to my 
 hands. I have not seen the D. since to know the reasons 
 why yow gave a copie of the Adress to my Ladie Malb. 
 and why you dont improove the acquaintance you made 
 amongst the statsmen, but, without hearing of them, I am 
 verrie readie to approove of them and to vindicate you for 
 doing that which I am much inclined to belive you would 
 not doe without good grounds. The first time I have 
 occasion to see the D. I will endeavour to get a sight of 
 your letter upon no other account but to confirm me in 
 the good opinion I have of your conduct. 
 
 We begin now to think of our elections, though the 
 Parliament is not yet adjourned, and, so farr as I under- 
 stand, there seems to be a greater life and vigour in the 
 nation then used to be upon such occasions, if I might 
 judg of the elections throu the whole kingdome by those 
 are like to be made in the countrie I live in, and some 
 shires about. I belive our Parliament might recover in 
 some measure the sinking reputation of our countrie, but 
 there are so manie difficulties to strugle with that the 
 fear of punishment are powerfull arguments to weak minds, 
 and you know what partie lies the distribution of them. 
 However, if honest men will doe their endeavour, I hope 
 still the best, but there are too manie who I am affraid will 
 
116 
 
 LETTERS OF JAMES 
 
 [1702 
 
 lay themselves aside out of a scruple which I dont under- 
 stand, and a diffidence of doing anie thing to purpose, so 
 that there must be great pains taken to remoove those 
 scruples, and to give people such a just sence of the danger 
 wee are in that they may not be indifferent in a matter 
 which concerns the nation so much. The D. 1 is now in the 
 west countrie, and you may be sure is not idle. There are 
 a great manie more who are not to be blamed if there is 
 not a right sett of men chosen in the shires they have 
 interest in. 
 
 There is great pains taken by some of the Court Partie 
 to blind peoples understandings. They leave no ston 
 unturn'd ; they endeavour to raise the scruples of some 
 by the change is made in the oaths by the Councill, and 
 there are stories spread industriouslie, as if there were a 
 design to overturn the present constitution, meerlie to 
 blunt the edge of some well meaning people, but I hope 
 that neither English monie, nor the designs of unnaturall 
 countriemen shall be able to pervert the judgments of 
 honest men so farr as to mistake the trow interest of there 
 nation, and, if wee doe overcome, the victorie will be the 
 more glorious that wee have such powerfull enimies to 
 deall with. 
 
 By all the accounts wee get, the English Parliament will 
 be Torie, 2 whether that will turn to our advantadg or 
 prejudice is uncertain, but there may be this advantadg 
 in it, that it is so generallie beleeved that the heads of 
 that partie are ennimies to Scotland, that it may lessen 
 the creditt here of those of our countriemen who are 
 thought to be influenced by them, so that our elections 
 may be the better for it. Perhaps this is to reason too 
 farr upon uncertainties, and, therfor, I shall say no more 
 about it. Some months will determine the matter ; in 
 the mean time I hope evrie honest man will endeavour to 
 doe his best. 
 
 Wee expect dailie to hear how the difference is taken up 
 
 1 The Duke of Queensberry. 
 
 1 The Tories were returned in the proportion of two to one. 
 
1702] FOURTH DUKE OF HAMILTON 117 
 
 amongst our Courtiers who are gon from this latlie. The 
 parties seem to be strong on both sides, and by anie thing 
 wee have heard, yet it appears to be doubtfull which will 
 get the victorie. Yow will have the advantadg to know 
 how the intrigues are manadged about making friends at 
 Court and what complaints are made on both sides, but, 
 whoever gets the better, our countrie is still at a loss, for 
 those feuds and quarrels makes us more contemptable to 
 the English, and the advantadg will be purchased at the 
 expence of the nation. I will not trouble you with a longer 
 letter, and, therfor, I bid you adieu, and onlie tell you that 
 I am verrie much your servant. 
 
 Je vous prie de faire mes baismains a Monsieur Montingi. 
 
 [Endorsed :] ' To Mr. Kieth of Lutwhairn.' 
 
 Agust 1702. London. 
 
 F. B. 
 
118 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS [1703 
 
 THE FIRST CAUSES OF SCOTLAND'S 
 DIVISIONS, BY LORD TARBAT, 1 1703 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 29,587) 
 First Payer 
 
 A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST CAUSES OF 
 SCOTLANDS DIVISIONS 
 
 /. W- The Reformation from popery in Scotland being opposed 
 by the Queen Regent at first, and therafter by her daughter 
 Queen Mary, and their opposition mostly manadged by 
 the furious zeale of priests, those of the nobility and 
 people who were first reformed were violently perse- 
 cuted, and what from selfe defence, what from human 
 infirmity and strong irritations, they were driven to some 
 actions and invasions of the royall rights, which were 
 neither consonant to the Protestant principles, nor con- 
 sistent with justice, tho in some measure excusable by the 
 force of necessity : and, albeit the good and learned did 
 never oun and far less persuade them, yet, coming un- 
 happily in with the first appearance of our reformation, 
 by the more ignorant they were considered first as neces- 
 sary, then as lawfull, thereafter as duty, and at last 
 esteemed by some as a part of the Reformation, and this 
 mistake was wickedly cultivated by the hotter and more 
 ignorant of the preachers, and was propagated and sustain' d 
 at severall times and on severall occasions by factions of 
 the nobility ; for, whenever a faction was disobliged, they 
 
 1 Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat, created Earl of Cromartie and Viscount 
 of Tarbat on January I, 1703. On the accession of Anne he had been made 
 Secretary of State for Scotland. During the reign of Charles II. he had 
 strenuously supported the Government's policy in Church and State. This 
 explains his point of view in his historical retrospect addressed to Anne. 
 
BY LORD TARBAT 
 
 119 
 
 joined in to the antimonarchical party ; and ouned these 
 spurious principles, as, on the other hand, the Clergy and 
 others infected with that seditious principle did alwise 
 join in with what ever faction moved against the authority ; 
 and this appeared almost yearly during the reign of Queen 
 Mary, and king James the Sixts minority, that it did take 
 too deepe root, and was a Zeruiah too hard for the king 
 untill he came to the croun of England, but then he easily 
 supprest it, and, if his gentleness had not indulged his 
 countrymen who were infected with it, he had with the 
 same ease and more safety to him and his posterity extin- 
 guished it. This he saw and recommended judiciously to 
 his son in his excellent treatise called Basilicon down, but 
 by his indulgence the root not only remained, but was 
 secretly cultivated by, and in the succession of a party of 
 the Clergy, who might be justly named fanaticks. 
 
 But they had no opportunity to dare a public ouning or 
 putting their oppinions in practice after K. James was 
 king of England, untill a party of the Scots nobility, whose 
 pride was unproportionable to their estates, did take up 
 a prejudice against king Charles the first in the year 1633, 
 when coming to Scotland he did not bestow on them either 
 the honors or offices which they pretended. And that 
 kingdom being in the distinct notion of a different govern- 
 ment from England in different constitutions, both as to 
 civil and ecclesiastick administration, and lying at a great 
 distance from the kings person, and thereby remote from 
 the immediat influence of his Majesty, and the persons 
 and things of Scotland lying more remote from his know- 
 ledge, he having likewise taken his measurs in choosing 
 his Ministers and Officers there, rather by the wrong 
 measures of a particular party, who were in his more 
 special favor than by those measurs which wold have 
 generally pleased and obliged the body of the nation ; and 
 the clergy who were opposite to the fanaticks driving their 
 design with more haist than prudence, by and from these 
 causes the kings affairs were manadged so as that the 
 fanatick party were emboldned and encreased, and the 
 factious nobility encouraged to insult the kings Ministry, 
 
120 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS 
 
 whence a rebellion did begin about the year 1637 with 
 that boldness that the king was brought thereby, and by 
 the advice of others about him, to grant what the rebells 
 desired, through a great mistake, tliinking thereby to 
 satisfie the ambitious nobility and to oblige the fanatical 
 clergie. But, on the contrar, the one was encouraged 
 not to be satisfied with sharing in the Offices and Ministry 
 but to have it all, with exclusion of all those of the nobility 
 or gentry, who were loyall and well affected to the kings 
 person, family and government, and the clergie were 
 bloun up above all moderation, so as, not satisfied with 
 regulating Episcopacie, they reported the whole order as 
 anti christian and excommunicated their persons, establish- 
 ing a new government not only without the kings consent 
 but contrary to the standing laws and his Majestys express 
 proclamation, albeit the loyall subjects were at least two 
 to one in number, and far better qualified for the kings 
 service than the other. 
 
 However, by this wicked council given the king, and his 
 fatal choise, the whole power, civil, military, and ecclesi- 
 astick, was put in the hands of the fanaticks and the 
 factious, and they thereby emboldned and enabled to 
 ruine the king and his true friends, while, on the other 
 hand, the loyal, numerous party were both discouraged and 
 disabled. This was formed in the year 1641, and in 1642 
 these Ministers of State and of the Church raised the 
 nation in arms, opprest those who dared oun their loyalty 
 at home, and sent in their army to joine the rebells in 
 England, whence was the ruine of the king, of the mon- 
 archy, and of the loyal subjects, some of them riseing in 
 arms for their prince, tho with eminent courage, but under 
 great inequality, for the kings Ministers, his forts, his 
 revenues, his seals, and his authority fought against them, 
 and the body of them were as dead under the great dis- 
 couragements and disobligements by the kings cariage 
 to them. 
 
 In the year 1648, the loyall party, outwearied by oppres- 
 sion did (as it were) rise from the dead, and soon turned 
 the other out of the sadle of government ; but from the like 
 
1703] BY LORD TARBAT 121 
 
 causes and methods, the kingly power being ruined in 
 England and fixed in the fanatical partie there, the Scots 
 army was defeated at Prestoun, and Cromwel came in to 
 assist his bretheren of the league in Scotland, reestablished 
 them in the government of Scotland, and then the oppres- 
 sions on the loyalists were doubled, the king being necessit- 
 tat to come in to them and undergoe their severe yoak 
 in the year 1650. The loyall party in short time reestab- 
 lished themselves in the state by a great plurality in 
 Parliament, who did not as they were done by, but shared 
 the government and army with the fanatick party, think- 
 ing it prudence so to doe in the then circumstances under 
 the hazard of the English army, which soon thereafter did 
 prevaile, partly at Inverkeithing in Scotland, and shortly 
 thereafter by a total victory over the Scots at Wor Chester. 
 The English usurpers did then overrule in both kingdoms, 
 and, to be sure, with all the favor possible to the Scots 
 fanaticks, Monk only in some measure supporting the 
 loyallists from falling under the Scotish fanatick lash. 
 On Monks invasion of the English usurpers the loyall 
 party did soon possess themselvs with the appearance for 
 the nation, till the king, on his restauration, called a Parlia- 
 ment anno 1661, when the fanaticks appeared of litle or no 
 consideration in respect of the other, and then the kings 
 ministry and power was put in loyall hands ; fanaticks 
 and fanatical principles were equally contemned and 
 hated, and had been for ever extinguished in Scotland, had 
 the king pleased to have it so, and this with no greater 
 severity than the sentencing three of the most eminent 
 rebells ; albeit they during their government did execute, 
 in cold blood, the loyall subjects by hundreds, and that 
 expressly for their loyalty, and obeying the royal authority. 
 But some of them being still in place about the king, both 
 of Scots and English, who, vext to see their old party 
 totally supprest, left no stone unturned to preserve a seed 
 of them, untill by fatal circumstances opportunity falling 
 so, by the Earl of Clarendens falling from the Ministry in 
 England, the Duke of Ormond in Ireland, and the Earle 
 of Midletoun in Scotland, all about a time, and from the 
 
122 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS 
 
 same designs, the fanaticks were again in some measure 
 raised from the dead and peece-meall many of the loyallists 
 wormed out and fanaticks introduced as much as their 
 patrons dared adventure on, whereby again loyallists were 
 of new discouraged ; and so matters proceeded untill 
 king James, by unhappy council, was moved to the 
 introduction of popery, wherein he was not a litle encour- 
 aged by the fanaticks addresses of thanks from Scotland 
 for the tolleration, which they knew was intended to pave 
 a way for popery. But, the Revolution occurring, the 
 loyal party in Scotland, tho both in Parliaments 1685 and 
 86 and in all the concerns of the nation, they appeared the 
 most fixt enemys and opposers of popery ; yet they, not 
 having inclination to haisty steps in what concerned either 
 the kings person or the succession of the monarchy, did 
 not press in as the fanaticks did, laying hold on the occa- 
 sion ; whereby King William, as invited by the ones 
 blandishing intrusions, and angered by the others too nice 
 withdrawings, did with haist enough establish the fana- 
 ticks again in all their wisht for stations and power ; yet 
 the numerousness of the others made it impracticable for 
 them to retaine it, unless the king had with a vast expense 
 raised nine or ten regiments in Scotland, and sent con- 
 siderable bodies of horse, foot and dragoons, to support 
 them from England, so that, in place of their supporting 
 his government, they were a heavy weight on him, and 
 this, albeit the loyall Protestants were far from rising or 
 disturbing the government, but, according to their con- 
 stant principles, submitted to the royal family and their 
 authority : (for what was acted by the Vis-count of Dun- 
 dee and some few Highlanders was from inevitable neces- 
 sity, they refusing all quarters to him), and yet those few 
 had been too hard for the fanaticks had they not been 
 supported by the kings armies and with great expense. 
 But, when the loyall party did calmly obey and submitted ; 
 yet, what was not done and invented to force them to a 
 riseing ? And, indeed, their seing the authority and 
 power of the nation invested in fanatick hands did keepe 
 them in great disquiet, and probably might have produced 
 
1703] 
 
 BY LORD TARBAT 
 
 123 
 
 mischiefs insuperable for the Scots fanatick power had 
 occasion offered, as, praise to God, it did not, for, all this 
 while nothing was more feared by the Scots Governours 
 than that the loyal partie should qualifie themselves for 
 sharing in the government, and they alwise shewed more 
 hatred to those who did than to those who did not, and 
 their invention was streached in finding out mediums to 
 provock their disaffection by new oaths and by unheard 
 of severitys to their Episcopal clergie, notwithstanding 
 of their peaceable deportment ; so far different from the 
 cariage of their clergie under Episcopacie when they 
 preacht Episcopacy as worse than popery, called the people 
 to rebell under the paine of damnation, excommunicated 
 the king, and owned as martyrs such notorious rebells as 
 law condemned and preservation of the monarchy did 
 force to execution, yet all these incitements could not 
 irritat the loyalists to sedition during the therteen years 
 reign of the fanatical Ministry, they being retained in duty 
 by loyalty to the king and hatred to popery. 
 
 Second Paper 
 
 THE PRESENT STATE OF THE SCOTS 
 DIVISIONS 
 
 The former paper having given a general view of the . . 
 causes and consequences of the evils which did arise in 
 Scotland from the measurs then taken, to the end that 
 the same or like measurs may be evited for the future, 
 I come next to the present state of the kingdom. 
 
 And, that I may the better explicate it, it will be neces- 
 sary to expose it in different views, becaus of the different 
 relations in which they are placed. And, first, as it is 
 divided in Whig and Torie, these names (tho' barbarous 
 enough) being now of vulgar use ; but Whig in Scotland 
 hath a very different signification from what it hath in 
 England ; for by Whig I understand a party who princi- 
 paly oun a design for a parity in church Government by 
 presbytry and are enimys to what is opposite to that, 
 
124 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS [1703 
 
 for, tho they be not against monarchy absolutely, yet it 
 hath but the second place in their esteem. In this party 
 there are two classes, the one who think presbytery of a 
 divine right, and with those it is a principal head of their 
 religion, and all concerns must cede to it : others of them, 
 tho they esteem it much, yet they will not readily either 
 fight or suffer for it : those are less enimys to monarchy 
 than the first, which is truely inconsistent with monarchy 
 or any government which will not be subjected to their 
 mode of hierarchie or common- welth of pop's. 
 
 Tory, in general, signifies all who are opposite to Whig, 
 wherin there is one class who place both their religion 
 and their interest in bringing in the P. of Wales by what- 
 somever method or assistance ; the other class of them 
 are firme to the monarchy and to the true line in the 
 Protestant religion. The greatest part of these are in- 
 different as to church governments, providing they encroach 
 not on the monarchy, and be not of a persecuting principle 
 against any of the reformed religion. 
 
 In these senses and significations the Tories are thre 
 to one amongst the vulgar, and four to one amongst the 
 nobility and gentry. Whig will oun the monarchy so 
 long as monarchy ouns them, and, when it does not, they 
 will fly in its face, in arms, if they can, and, if they can 
 not, by preaching. 
 
 Tory will not resist the monarchy, but will not assist 
 it much, whilst it is joined with Whig and supports them, 
 but will very willingly subject the Whig to monarchy. 
 
 When Tory was up and Whig doun in the by past Govern- 
 ment, Whig made much noise and gave disturbance, 
 but were easily supprest by Tories when the Government 
 did not hinder that, and then Whig was too sorely prest, 
 which made them zealous for a change in the Government. 
 
 And in the past 13 years, wherin Whig was up and 
 Tory doun, Tory was silent and submissive, but in a 
 sullen, discontented silence ; and there is litle doubt 
 that from that cause they were generally disaffected to 
 the Government and may prove so if Whig continue 
 master ; for they have and will persecute Tories clergy. 
 
1703] 
 
 BY LORD TARBAT 
 
 125 
 
 It is certain that a moderat tolleration wold have 
 rendered Whig less troublesome to the late Governments, 
 had it been allowed then, and such a tolleration now wold 
 (I doubt not) satisfie the Tories who are loyall. 
 
 If her Majesty judge it for her interest to continue her 
 Ministry in the hands of Whigs, I doubt not but on that 
 condition they will be zealous for her service, so she 
 allow them to be heavy upon Tories, and will live in good 
 affection with the Whig party in England, even for the 
 names sake, but will never have affection nor good will 
 to the English Tories. But her Majesty may be assured 
 that she will want both the affection and support of Scots 
 Torries ; and, albeit they make less noise, they may be 
 far more dangerous, being far more powerfull in the nation. 
 
 On the other hand, if her Majesty place her Ministry in 
 Tories hands, she will be sure of the greatest part of the 
 nation, they being a party who are zealous for monarchy, 
 and can easily beare with any church government, which 
 will be subject to the soveraign. They will beare with 
 presbytery, the Whig can not beare with prelacy ; they 
 will frankly allow tolleration to Whigs clergy ; nay, more, 
 that the government of presbytery be continued to their 
 clergie, so that the Episcopal clergie be but tollerat amongst 
 the people and parishes of that principle, albeit Whig 
 will never acquiesce nor willingly submitt to Episcopacy, 
 tho it were by law established. 
 
 And from those positions I deduce those corolaries : 
 the Queens Government will stand upon a broader and 
 more natural base in the Tories hands than in the Whigs. 
 
 Dissatisfied Torries will make less noise and more 
 danger, and Whig make more noise with less danger. 
 
 If Whig have the Ministry of the State, he must also 
 have his will in the Church ; if Torie be in the State, he 
 will be pleased with what the Queen disposes as to church 
 government, even with Presbytery. 
 
 Whigs strength lyes in the mobe, and, if they have 
 their ministers and presbyterian government continued 
 with them, they have their will as to them selv's ; and 
 tho, perhaps, they may be angry, they will not goe to the 
 
126 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS [1703 
 
 hills again, which is the worst they could or can doe ; 
 and, if the Queens Tories be in the state, her Majesty hath 
 the power and affection of the kingdom in her hand 
 without great provocation to the Whig. 
 
 Tory in Scotland will more naturally concur or conjoine 
 with England, especially with the English Torie, whereas 
 Scots Whigs have litle less hatred to prelacy than they 
 have to popery ; but will more readily run into the same 
 measurs with Whigs in England, if occasion offers. 
 
 If Whig be discontent, I know no partie with whom he 
 can joine in his discontent, except it be with the English 
 Whigs, and, when they know other, I presume they will 
 never joine either in interest or affection ; and if Tory be 
 discontent, he can not only joine on occasion with the 
 English Tories, but, if highly provockt, can joine with the 
 Jacobite interest, and, therefore, there is more danger 
 from angry Tories than from angry Whigs, even albeit 
 they were of equal force, as they are not. 
 
 From all these I infer this conclusion, but with all 
 submission to higher and better judgements. 
 
 That it is her Majestys interest to keepe the affections 
 of both those parties, thereby to evite danger from a 
 Jacobite and, likewise, from a Republican party. And, 
 I presume, her safest way to please, at least to use both 
 at this time, is to continue presbyterian government in 
 the church with an orderly tolleration to other Protestant 
 perswasions and to put the government of the State, for 
 the most part, in Tories hands, providing alwise that who- 
 ever shall be employed by her Majesty give both evidence 
 and assureance that they will concur in the measur's 
 prescribed by her ; for any party who think that the use 
 of the government is to support them will certainly direct 
 their designs for them selv's ; but such as think that the 
 use of parties is to support the government, these will 
 design and endevor to be faithfull in their service and 
 impartial in their counsel. 
 
 There is another considerable division in that kingdom, 
 which consists rather in personal animosities and privat 
 designs than principles or national concerns, and are most 
 
BY LORD T ARB AT 
 
 127 
 
 pernicious to the sovereign government, and the quiet 
 of the nation ; but, these consisting of several persons 
 and different interests in their several combinations, it 
 will be fitter to discourse than to write upon that subject, 
 becaus of the numerous circumstances wherin they stand. 
 
 Yet there are some transcendant positions which over- 
 rule particular respects. 
 
 Such are, that, albeit good men may be in parties, yet 
 all parties, as such, are odious in and to government. 
 It is ever dangerous for a prince to put the government 
 in the hands of a part}-, and destructive to the other halfe 
 of the people. 
 
 It is inconvenient to design a mixture of parties in the 
 complex, whilst they adhere to a party* principle, for, on 
 that account, they will alwise direct their design to their 
 party advantage whatever it be to the prince, and likewise 
 to the hurt of the opposite party whatever that may hurt 
 the common-weall. 
 
 And, therefor, that as persons of no particular com- 
 binations are fitter, if they be otherwise qualified, so such 
 are to be sought for. 
 
 And, also, party-men brought in to Ministry should give 
 evidence and assurance that they will goe along in the 
 soveraign's measur's and of complacent concurrence with 
 other Ministers, tho not of their partie. 
 
 Without such assurance mixture must encreasce difn- 
 cultys, embarrass counsell, and obstruct all execution, 
 especially on more considerable emergents ; and, as in 
 physical, so in political mixtures, heterogenous parts 
 never concur so well for the whole as when they change 
 the contrarieties of their natures and enter into consonancy 
 and agreement, conducing to support the whole, and 
 then they lose the nature of parts and enter into formal 
 unity ; then and not till then they are usefull, and, if 
 they be not such, they should be purged out, and, when 
 out, never taken in. 
 
 For, I ask, whether can an opposer, when without and 
 wanting the adjunct of authority, doe more mischief, 
 than when he is within, and strengt lined with authority ? 
 
128 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS 
 
 [1703 
 
 Is not a soveraign in so favfelo de se who puts the suord 
 of authority in those hands, who owns that they will use 
 it against his person or interest ? 
 
 The application of these positions to particulars must 
 be regulated by particular and personal considerations 
 and by necessity, which sometimes breaks over the banks 
 of the best positions. 
 
 What is hereafter proposed, albeit exprest in positive 
 terms, becaus they are offered in all possible sincerity, 
 without one graine of selfe interest or partiality to others ; 
 yet the proposals are most humbly submitted to your 
 royall judgement and will ; and also to better and more 
 knowing counsellors. 
 
 The Whig party, who are of that fanatick principle, 
 never were, nor will be faithfull to the Croun, nor to the 
 royall family ; but, on the contrare, they never did serve 
 it, but when it served them, that by it they might wound 
 and ruine the true monarchical interest, both in church 
 and state. 
 
 They never had the power nor interest to hurt it, but 
 when the prince did put power and authority in their 
 hands, as appeared from the mischiefs they did when K. 
 Charles the 1 st did put the authority of the nation in their 
 hands. 
 
 The like, when K. William did so : witness the laws and 
 statut's past in those times, whereby the Church was tuice 
 overturned, and the Croun robed of almost all its preroga- 
 tive, and made precarious to every popular interest, and 
 that by the kings oun authority put into their hands on 
 design thereby to oblidge them. And, at present, they 
 employ their interest, with all diligence and influence on 
 their party to keepe all the true friends of the monarchic 
 out of the Parliament, wherein they and the Queens oun 
 Servants of that stamp have been too successfull ; and 
 the strong inclinations of the nation to the Queen appeare 
 evidently even in that there are so few of the Presbyterian 
 stamp elected, when several Officers of State and the 
 whole established clergie did both diligently and officiously 
 interpose themselv's to hinder it ; and, furder, by the said 
 
BY LORD TARBAT 
 
 129 
 
 Officers of State and clergie their obstructing the present 
 intended union of the nations with all their force ; well 
 knowing that by the union the interest of the Croun will 
 be placed above their power. Yet, they have been so 
 long invested with power of late that it may be fitt to con- 
 tinue some of them in offices if they will undertake frankly 
 to goe now into her Majestys measures, but, to be sure, let 
 them be few. 
 
 It is also dangerous to put offices in the Jacobite hands ; 
 for they may enable themselv's to disturb your Majestys 
 Government. 
 
 The Protestant Cavaleer party are certainly your 
 Majestys surest friends, have the greatest power, and 
 best will to serve you, but nothing will so much dissatisfie 
 and disable them as too great a weight of fanatick mixture ; 
 for that party are diligent, close, and closely joined, in 
 their antimonarchical principles. 
 
 CHARACTERS OF FAMILIES 
 
 Duke Hamilton's family is now the greatest in Scotland, /. 156. 
 chieflv bv its alliance. It was raised haistilv bv our kincs, 
 and hath suffered with them. The histories tell how the 
 Croun hath jealoused them, but I think they are not much 
 to be feared on that account. This, indeed, is considerable 
 that, if the authority be put into their hands, they will 
 raise dread and ill will in the other familys, and, when in 
 the offices, it will be more difficult and more dangerous to 
 pull it from them again, even by the prince. 
 
 The Duke of Argyls family is next in greatness and 
 power, but the most hurtfull of all to the Croun. Gene- 
 rally they are deepe in the fanatick principle ; and, being 
 scituate in the mountains, are aptest to rebell, and safest 
 if they doe. And, now, by the fanatick government the 
 great part of the other high-land clans are brought under 
 the Campbells, which was a wrong politick for the Croun, 
 since it only could ballance and overaw Argyle by these 
 clans ; and this should be retrived by all just means. 
 
 The third in power and estate is the Duke of Buccleugh, 
 
 i 
 
130 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS 
 
 an old family as gentlemen, and lately very considerable, 
 and the more that their interest lyes nearest to Edinburgh 
 and thereby may be either hurtfull or usefull, more sud- 
 dounly than others, who are remote. 
 
 The fourth is the Duke of Gordon, who is as great as 
 any of them, but more remote, yet they have ever weighed 
 more in all our civil wars these 260 years than any two of 
 the other, and have been of all the most faithfull to the 
 Croun, and never failed it ; but now almost useless by 
 their chiefs being papists. Yet most of the clan are not. 
 
 The fifth is the Earle or Marquis of Seaforth. He is of 
 very considerable power in the High-lands, and the only 
 High-lander who can be sett up to ballance Argyl's family : 
 which, by conjunction withe the clans of Mackdonald, 
 Mackleod, and some other lesser ones, can easily be done, 
 and the Prince should be sure to state them so, for, if 
 Argyle had those in conjunction with him, and but in 
 friendship with the Duke of Gordon, the rest of Scotland 
 could not well reduce them. This is a maxime neglected 
 of late, but carefully recommended by K. Robert Bruce 
 and alwise observed till of very late. 
 
 The ^ixth is the Marquis of Athole, very considerable in 
 his own power, and the more by his scituation in the midst 
 of the High-lands, and nearer to Edinburgh than other 
 High-landers. The family was ever loyall. It is now 
 allied to Duke Hamilton. 
 
 The Duke of Queensberry is in estate as great as any 
 mentioned, and considerable in his following ; but the 
 more by his being now the most considerable of the noble 
 family of Douglass, who ever were the most eminent 
 family and most active in Scotland, or perhaps else-where. 
 
 The Duke of Lennox is in the place of a great Scots 
 family and very considerable by vertue of his heretable 
 superioritys and jurisdictions. Having a very small estate 
 in that kingdom, and, not residing in it, he is the less usefull 
 to the Croun there, which is a great loss, becaus the offices 
 of Chamberlanry and Admirality wold have great influence 
 on the burroughs of Scotland. 
 
 The Earle of Breadalban hath a considerable power, but 
 
1703] 
 
 BY LORD TARBAT 
 
 131 
 
 is much sunk by Argyls being his chiefe ; however, he is 
 considerable. 
 
 The Lord Lovat, one of the antientest of the nobility 
 and of a very considerable power in the Highlands and 
 Innernessshire. 
 
 These are the families most considerable by their intrin- 
 sick value, tho in no employment. There are some 
 families, who, of no very great power in themselv's, yet 
 have great following and dependances in the nation. 
 Such are the Marquis of Montrose, Earl of Mar, Earl of 
 Roseburgh, Earl of Rothes, and Earl of Eglintoun and are 
 worth special notice by the prince ; for, the princes service 
 being put in their hands, by that they ballance the great- 
 ness of the other chiefs, and are fitter, on family accounts, 
 to be put in offices than those others, who have intrinsick 
 power in themselv's ; for, if such be loyall, they have due 
 measure of power in themselv's to serve by ; and so 
 accidental gratifications should be their remuneration when 
 they perform service ; and, if they be not loyall, then it 
 is imprudent to add the princes authority to their power. 
 This is alwise with proviso of personal abilities and qualifi- 
 cations for offices, however they are to be regarded in 
 themselv's ; altho, perhaps, it will be and ever was more 
 convenient for the prince to choose his Ministers of govern- 
 ment out of the lesser familys, and only with regaird to 
 personal qualifications. 
 
 But there is a peculiar concern which your Majesty hath 
 in Scotland, and is industriously kept from the soveraign's 
 knowledge, and chiefly in favors of fanaticks and others 
 who wold not have the soveraign to know his own strength 
 in that kingdom. It is in the matter of the High-landers 
 besid's those who appertaine to the Duke of Argyle, 
 Marquis of Athole, and Earl of Mar ; for the Mackenzies 
 can, on the Queens call, raise above 2000 men in arms, 
 the M c kies 600, Sir Donald M c donald 400, M c Leod of Herries 
 400, the Camerons 400, the Lord Lovat 600, M c Intosh 400. 
 All these are firm Protestants and were ever faithfull to 
 the Croun. The M c Ronald of Moydart and Barry 400, 
 Glengary and Keppoch 400 ; most of these tuo are popishly 
 
132 
 
 SCOTLAND'S DIVISIONS [1703 
 
 inclined. It was with these clans and the assistance of 
 the Atholl men that Montrose in six severall battles did 
 defeat the whole forcess of the states of Scotland when in 
 rebellion, and had ruined them totally, had not forcess 
 from England come to the States assistance, and had not 
 the king, when he came in to the Scots army, commanded 
 them to lay down arm's. 
 
 These maintain' d a war against the Commonwealth of 
 Englands forcess for more than two years after the kings 
 army's, both in Scotland and England, were ruined ; and 
 never submitted but on very good conditions. And these 
 joined with the Marquis of Athole, when Argyle invaded 
 Scotland and raised all his power in the High-lands. He 
 was forced to quite the High-lands and cast himselfe on 
 the low countrey in the west, where he was ruined by the 
 kings army. 
 
 It was with these that the Earl of Dundee defeated 
 Major-General M c kies armie, and, had not Dundee been 
 killed and also forcess sent down by K. William from 
 England, they had undoubtedly chased the Whigs out of 
 Scotland. 
 
 All these Protestant clans are fixt in affection to your 
 Ma*y and wer ever unchangeably faithfull to their king, 
 but hated in extremity by the Whigs. 
 
 Now, if two thousand pounds sterling by year were 
 discreetly, distributed amongst the principal leaders of 
 the 4800 Protestants, they will alwise have in readiness 
 2000 men well armed, with fourteen days provision, to 
 march to any place within Scotland on a call from the 
 soveraign or his lievtenent, and this besid's the High- 
 landers belonging to the Marquis of Athole, the Earl of 
 Mar, Earle of Breadalban and the Lord Rae, all which 
 are supposed to be obliged to the Queen by other tyes ; 
 and may at least have as many more in constant readiness 
 for her Ma^ service, so that, without levying of forcess 
 or keeping of an army in tyme of peace, or doing any- 
 thing contrar to law, her Majesty may have 4000 men 
 well armed and of known courage, ready either to suppress 
 sedition or oppose any enimy without any other expense 
 
BY LORD TARBAT 
 
 133 
 
 or trouble than what she wold confer, however, on Tulli- 
 bardin, Mar, Breadalban and Rae. And the said 2000 
 pounds per annum should be divided amongst the other 
 halfe, who have neither pensions nor offices, and no new 
 levied men in Scotland can stand before these. Which 
 force, joined with her Ma 1 ^ Guards and a few more under 
 pay, will make her government secure against all insur- 
 rections and mobs. And even after an Union, two 
 Lievtenancies in these parts may prove very considerable 
 in the soveraign's hands. 
 
134 
 
 LETTERS OF JOHN MURRAY 
 
 [1702 
 
 LETTERS OF JOHN MURRAY, SECOND 
 MARQUESS, AFTERWARDS DUKE OF 
 ATHOLL, KEEPER OF THE PRIVY SEAL 
 OF SCOTLAND 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 /. 66. ]V£ Y Lord, — I have the honour of two of y r lps. daited 
 Windsor, 17 and 24. In the first y r lp. uses very good 
 arguments against the Act of Peace and War, which con- 
 vinces me so much that I shal endeavour to lay it aside 
 this session, as I was formerly against its being in the Act 
 of Security, and I think it is not consistent with an union 
 and comunication of trade betwixt the two nations. In 
 y r lps. last I cannot but be satisfied with the freedom you 
 are pleased to express y r self, which, as its a new proof of 
 the freindship you honour me with, so, at the same time, 
 I must mind y r lp. that nether in freindship or justice 
 vottes in Par u ought to be misconstructed untill the reasons 
 of them be enquired into, which I did not acquaint y r lp. 
 fully off in my last, because I was in hopes to have gott 
 the alteration I had proposed to that clause of E. Rox- 
 boroughs agreed to by the rest of the Queens Servants, 
 w ch I knew was the best handle we coud take to putt 
 off all limitations this session of Par 11 . But, for y r lps. 
 fuller information of all the steps of my procedure, both 
 in the Par u and in the concerts w th the Queens Servants, 
 I refer y r lp. to the memorial here inclosed, which I shall 
 answer for is true matter of fact, and, when you have 
 considered itt, I beg y r lp. will let me kno wherin you 
 
 1 He was created Duke of Atholl by diploma on June 30, 1703, and made 
 Lord Privy Seal in April, 1703. His letters are addressed to Godolphin. 
 
1702] 
 
 DUKE OF ATHOLL 
 
 135 
 
 think I have failed. As for E. Rox. clause, as I writt 
 formerly, I never saw it nor heard of itt till it was read 
 in the House, so we coud not concert about itt. But, 
 if we had, I shoud not have differed w th others of the 
 Queens Sen-ants, but my view of it was that, if we gott 
 these words insert, that the Umitations might be made 
 any other session or at the meeting of the Est ait es. We 
 might putt them off for this time w to some other alteration, 
 as is marked in the paper inclosed, and which alterations 
 all the Queens Servants agreed to afterwards, and was 
 given in joined w m the Advocats 1 clause, but then it was 
 too late, for we coud not cary it then so fully amended. 
 It has past as neare it as we coud. 
 
 As for the Advocatts clause, the Memorial shows my 
 part in itt, in which, if I had differed from all the rest, 
 its like I shoud have been blamed for not concurring, but, 
 after we all concurred and went so far as to put our hands 
 to our opinion, and that one of the Queens Servants was 
 ordered to give it in, and most of us had spoke to it in the 
 House, and, at last, when it came to be votted, tho there 
 was not a syllable of alteration from the draught brought 
 in by the Advocat, yett some of them to votte against it 
 and particularly the Advocatt himself and others to vote 
 nothing looks as if some designed to lav more of the blame 
 on me then on themselves. Yett I am satisfied that not 
 only the Queen, but all that ever heares of such a manadge- 
 nient will justifie my carriadge in itt. But, w ch is worst, 
 thev have lost the end and designe of going into that 
 
 J o o o 
 
 measure, as is expressed in the paper we have all signed, 
 w° h is that we entered into that measure to make the 
 Queens affaires goe on this Par 11 . But now its to be feared 
 by the manner of manadgement the Servants will have 
 no greater interrest to carry affaires. There is one passage 
 I have forgott, v^ h is, when I perceaved the Comissioner 
 had a mind to gett off out of this clause againe, I went 
 to V. Tarbatt, and, after we had discoursed of the incon- 
 veniencies might follow on itt and of the impossibility of 
 
 Sir James Stewart was Lord Advocate. 
 
136 
 
 LETTERS OF JOHN MURRAY 
 
 [1702 
 
 getting out, I proposed to him that the best way I coud 
 think off was to turn the Advocats clause to an adress to 
 the Queen from the Par 1 * to intreate her Ma tie to take such 
 methods as she thought fittest w th the Par 11 of Eng. to 
 enter into a treaty of union or comunication of trade 
 with this kingdom. This immediatly took with V. Tarbat, 
 and he put the heades of an adress in writting and desiered 
 we might miet that night, being Saturday, at the Comis- 
 sioners to speake of it to him. Accordingly we both 
 proposed itt, as being perswaded it woud be easier to the 
 Queen and the best way of getting out of the clause. But 
 the Comissioner was absolutly against itt, as being afraid 
 to propose adressing, since he was not sure but other things 
 might be brought in to itt, and, therfore, he was against 
 itt, on w ch we woud not venture to propose itt in the House. 
 This I beg y 1 * lp. will acquaint the Queen off, together 
 with the Memorial I have sent, by w ch I am perswaded 
 her Ma tle will be convinced my designes and actions are 
 and shall be what I judge is fittest in the circumstances 
 we are in to carry her affaires, throw w ch I have early 
 signified I saw woud meet w th very great obstructions 
 after the parties were stated in the beginning of this 
 Par 1 *. I shall answer what els is in y r lps. letter by the 
 next. Begging pardon for the length of this, I am, my 
 Lord, etc., Atholl. 
 
 [Undated.] [June 1702.] 
 
 Aby., July 11/1704. 
 My Lord, — I came here about three weeks since at the 
 Commissioners 1 desire, and stayed 5 or 6 days and returned 
 to the country, from whence I had been too long absent. 
 But I came back here the 5th instant before the meeting 
 of the Par u , so I am sure there has been no just occasion to 
 notice my absence. The Par 11 being adjourned from the 
 6th to this day, the Queens letter was reade, and the Com- 
 issioner and Chancelor made theire speeches, as is usual, 
 
 1 Marquis of Tweeddale, the leader of the New Party. 
 
1704] 
 
 DUKE OF ATHOLL 
 
 137 
 
 and the secretary, E. Cromartie, had also a long written 
 speech, w ch was unprecedented. He took notice that it 
 had been represented that the Queens private opinion 
 differed from her publick declaration concerning the 
 succession. 1 What grounds he had for this I kno not, 
 for I am sure I never heard any insinuate any such thing, 
 and which ought not to have been said, tho it had been 
 true. I have been often tryed as to my opinion about the 
 succession, which I have answered I woud declaire first in 
 Par 11 after hearing the reasonings and the terms to be 
 granted, but I must tell y r lp. I am still of the mind I told 
 y r lp. at London that the Par 1 * woud not declaire without 
 adjusting what relaites to trade. There was this day a 
 resolve presented by a gentleman in the House against 
 declairing the succession. I doubt not y r lp. has a copie, 
 but I understand the person had not concerted it, and I am 
 perswaded it will not be insisted on. If it be acceptable 
 to y r lp., I shall acquaint you of what passes, as I did the 
 last session, and I hope I shall have al waves the justice 
 done me by the Queen and y r lp. as not to belive any thing 
 to my prejudice without hearing what I have to say, and 
 I assure y r lp. of my constant zeale for her Majesties ser- 
 vice, who am, my Lord, etc., Atholl. 
 
 Aby., July 18, 1704. f. 100. 
 My Lord, — I did myself the honour to writte to y r 
 lp. last week, in w ch I promised to give your lp. an accompt 
 of the most material passages in the Pari*. On Thursday 
 ther was a resolve presented by D. Ham., w ch was delayed 
 to be considdered till yesterday, in w ch it is declaired that 
 the Par 1 * will enter into a treaty with England previous 
 to a nomination. The reasons for this treaty were many, 
 such as the evident decay of our trade since the union 
 of our Crowns, the hardships put on us by the Act of 
 Navigation, the seising of our ships and .seamen, the 
 
 1 The belief that Anne was opposed to the settlement of the succession on 
 the Electress Sophia and her heirs was widely entertained both in England and 
 Scotland. 
 
138 LETTERS OF JOHN MURRAY [1704 
 
 hindering of our planting of colonies, as latly in Darien, 
 the high duties on linnnen cloath, xcaet., all w ch , con- 
 siddering we are under one heade, was thought most reason- 
 able shoud be regulat by a treaty before the nomination. 
 Those that inclined to a present nomination did not argue 
 against the reasonablenes of a treaty, but alledged that, 
 after we had secured our selves by limitations, we woud 
 be in a better condition to treate, on w ch the E. of Rothes 
 presented a resolve that we shoud first enter on limitations 
 and afterwards considder the treaty. In short, none 
 refused. The limitations were offered both by the Com- 
 missioner in his speech and others of the Queens Servants, 
 so both the resolves were joined and pressed to a votte 
 after 6 hours sitting. But, just before votting, the Queens 
 Servants that were for limitations, being sensible they 
 woud both pass, did then propose to seperate the clauses, 
 but it was too late, for they had the same fate that the 
 clause in the Act of Security had last year, which was 
 then offered to put off another clause about limitations. 
 
 My Lord, as to the way and method of manadging this 
 affaire, I have had no manner of hand, not being advised 
 with by the Queens servants, who are the manadgers here, 
 and, therefore, as I said in Par u , I was at the more freedom 
 to declaire my opinion, which was that I thought it the 
 interrest of Scott., as well as of Brittaine, that there 
 shoud be a previous treaty to adjust what is wanting 
 before a nomination, without which the setlement coud 
 never be lasting nor secure, and, therfore, it was also the 
 interrest of Eng. that it shoud be done in that manner, 
 and I hope no impartial Englishman will blame a Scotts- 
 man to desire such a setlement ; much less I am perswaded 
 will the Queen be dissatisfied that any of her Servants 
 shoud desire that reasonable and just terms be agreed to 
 before a nomination, which is not opposing but proposing 
 the best method for itt. I hope the Queen and also y r 
 lp. will now be satisfied that what I told at London was 
 truth, for I then said that a Scotts Par u woud never 
 nominat without a treaty, and, if others had been as 
 ingenuous, it had been better, but I hope the Queen will 
 
1704] 
 
 DUKE OF ATHOLL 
 
 139 
 
 alwayes most aprove of those who are so. And, tho all 
 the Q s Servants were of a peice, as they call itt, in this 
 measure to prefer the succession to their Queen and coun- 
 try it woud not doe, for y r lp. may depend on itt, there 
 are nine parts of ten of this nation against itt without 
 terms from Eng., and the new Register 1 is now so sensible 
 of this and so afraide to appeare for this measure in Par 1 * 
 that he never once opened his mouth for itt. I doubt not 
 but he and those he influences will misrepresent me and 
 the Justice- Clerk, 2 who also concurred for the treaty, 
 because the truth is, we prefer the Queen to her successor, 
 w ch by irregular and over zealous methods he takes, it 
 rather appears he prefers the last. I am sure nothing 
 can or shall be more affectionate then I am to the Queen, 
 which shall alwayes appeare in all my actions relating 
 to her Ma tIe . Particularly I shall show in this session 
 by supporting her goverment and the forces that I act 
 as a dutiful and faithful servant to her Ma tie . I beg y r 
 lp. will be pleased to acquaint the Queen of what I have 
 writt, who am, my Lord, etc., Atholl. 
 
 Aby., July 22, 1704. /• 105. 
 My Lord, — I doubt not but yesterdayes proceedings 
 will be misrepresented by those who pushed the beginning 
 with a suplie before we gott any good laws. Those who 
 differed from them were for beginning with some good 
 laws to satisfie the minds of the nation, which, as it was 
 alwayes the ordinar method both here and in Eng., so I 
 was realy convinced it was most for the Queens service 
 that some good laws, particularly an Act of Security, in 
 caice of her Majesties decease (who I pray God long pre- 
 serve), shoud be begun with, which woud have made the 
 suplies carie not only unanimously but with the satis- 
 faction of the whole nation, which I cannot but think 
 was worth the delaying it a few dayes, and, in the meane 
 time, it was proposed by D. Hamilton that two months 
 
 1 James Johnstone. 2 Roderick Mackenzie of Prestonhall. 
 
140 
 
 LETTERS OF JOHN MURRAY 
 
 [1704 
 
 suplie shoud be granted to subsist the Forces. I found 
 the Comissioner once inclined to this method, but his 
 advisers, considering more theire private designes then 
 ether the Queens true interrest or his, pushed the vote 
 two months or six, the last carying by a smal majority. 
 But I must tell y r lp., before it went to the votte I offered 
 that, if we passed first ether a short and plaine act for 
 security of the kingdom in caice of her Ma ties decease, or 
 the act for security that was voted last session, taking 
 out of it the clause for a communication of trade, we woud 
 immediatly therafter grant suplies for maintaining the 
 Forces for a yeare at least, and D. Hamilton offered to 
 give 8 months cess instead of six, after voting some good 
 acts. But, since this was not accepted, we were for 
 giving first but two months suplie to subsist the Forces 
 untill we had some good acts passed, wherfore I hope the 
 Queen will not think those who were for this method less 
 forward to give large suplies then the others, but that it 
 shoud be given with more unanimity, and with the hearts 
 and good will of her subjects, which I am sure is much 
 more valuable to her Ma tie then a few thousand [libs.]. 
 
 And now, my Lord, I must tell y r lp. that, as the house 
 of Lords adress about the succession and Mr. Johnstons 
 coming down an Officer of State, who has not a shilling 
 interrest in Scott., and his violent pushing that measure 
 was the cause of the last resolve about itt, so I am sure 
 his too hasty pushing the suplie was the cause of the 
 differing about itt. 1 But its too visible he designes to take 
 all methods to bring the Queens goverment to stand on 
 as narrow a foundation of one sett of people as D. Queens, 
 had done. 
 
 But I shall now only ad that I hope y r lp. will be pleased 
 to communicate what I have writt to the Queen, who am, 
 my Lord, etc., Atholl. 
 
 1 It was Godolphin's ardent desire that in the session of 1704 an Act should 
 be passed settling the succession on the Electress Sophia and her heirs, and 
 with this object he had placed the New Party in power. Johnstone, who had 
 been his chief Scottish adviser, was made Lord Clerk Register. 
 
1708] 
 
 DUKE OF ATHOLL 
 
 141 
 
 Blair Atholl, ye 22d Jully, 1708. /. W. 
 My Lord, — This day the party is removed from this 
 place on my rinding baile in the terms and for the sum the 
 E. of Leven proposed. 1 I am extremly sensible of this 
 great favour I owe to the Queens goodness in the first 
 place, and allow me to return your Lop. my humble 
 thanks for your concerning your self so much for me, for 
 which I shall allways make what gratefull acknowledge- 
 ments is in my power, as also for the great concern you 
 have shown for my brothers, which my brother James 
 who is now returned and Sir David Narin have acquainted 
 me of. 
 
 There is none more heartily rejoyces than I doe for the 
 late success of her Ma ties armes in Flanders under the 
 command of so singularly great and successfull a Generall 
 as the D. of Marlborough. I hope it shall have the happie 
 effects of making the best of Queens easie in time comeing, 
 — my Lord, etc., Atholl. 
 
 [Not autograph, but signed.] 
 
 1 Atholl had been arrested under the suspicion of being in correspondence 
 with the Court of St. Germains. See above, p. 109. 
 
142 LETTERS OF ROBERT HARLEY [1702 
 
 LETTERS OF ROBERT HARLEY, SPEAKER 
 OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, AFTER- 
 WARDS EARL OF OXFORD 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 Bramton, Aug. 9, 1702. 
 • ••••••• 
 
 Your L d P wil, I hope, forgive me if I troble you very 
 impertinently w th what I hear from Scotland. 
 
 That the Parliament there is to be dissolv'd by proclama- 
 tion they like very wel, but the immediate appointing a 
 time for the meeting of a new one gives them great un- 
 easiness. If the thing be so, they charge it upon the 
 English ministers, because D. Queensberrie came out of 
 Scotland of another mind ; and, in particular, they say 
 L d Not m presses it and hath written to D. Qberry for his 
 opinion if he cannot come up. The arguments they urge 
 ag st this are that the Queen need not do it, for she hath 
 supplys for her Forces until June 1704, w ch gives her 
 Ma tie time to calme the minds of her subjects there, and 
 choos a fitter time ; that it hath been usual in Scotland 
 to dissolve a Parlm* and not appoint the meeting of 
 another ; that the constitution of Scotland requires them 
 to elect members for the countys at Michaelmas, but not 
 for the burgs, etc., til a Parlm* be actually called, thereby 
 her Ma tle wil have an opportunity to see what elections 
 the countys make, and so have it in her power either 
 to cal a Parliam 1 if she likes their choice, or difer it 
 to another year, when they must make another election ; 
 that this wil be look'd upon as procur'd by the interest 
 
 1 Ilarley's letters are addressed to Godolphin. 
 
1703] 
 
 EARL OF OXFORD 
 
 143 
 
 of D. H. and the disserting members. The Kirk pretend 
 to be frightned at it, and their own country men (accord- 
 ing to their custome) already disown it. This is what I 
 hear from thence and I must beg your L d P pardon for 
 laying this before you as I receive it, having neither wil 
 nor skil to reason upon these heads my self. One thing 
 wil occur at the first sight, that new Parliaments in England, 
 Ireland, and Scotland in the compass of so few months 
 wil find her Ma tIes ministers business enough. 
 
 • ••••••• 
 
 1703 [?] Thursday night A 5. 
 
 I desire this may present your L°p my most hearty 
 thanks for the honor of your L°p letter and the enclosed 
 papers from Scotland, which I returne herewith. 
 
 I think that Parlm 1 have reason to be satisfied in her 
 Ma tles declarations in her letter, and the two speeches of 
 y e Commissioner 1 and Chancelor 2 give them no ground to 
 suspect any art in the managers. 
 
 The steps hitherto seem to be fortunate and Lord 
 Seafield judges very wel when he wishes a short session, 
 and to that end to get the public business dispatch' d. 
 He seems in his distribution of parties to leave none to 
 D. Hamilton but his relations and dependants. 3 He is 
 willing, I see, to christen the nonjurors by the softer 
 name of Cavaliers. He seems to have a reasonable fear 
 of the Parliament dividing into two partys ; that I doubt 
 wil be very mischeivous ; for, tho he calls them Whig 
 and Tory, it wil turne to down right Kirkmen and 
 Episcopalians, w ch wil have its influence heer as wel as 
 there, and, therefore, I hope it wil be prevented. 
 
 No side at present cares for settling the succession, 
 but, if they break into partys, it may be the weakest wil 
 attempt somewhat of that kind for their own reputation. 
 
 1 Queensberry. 2 Seafield. 
 
 3 The Country Party had been greatly reduced in numbers at the late election. 
 
144 LETTERS OF ROBERT HARLEY [1704 
 
 /. 94 July 17, 1704, Monday might, past one. 
 
 I have also receiv'd two letters from Scotland, one from 
 L d Leven, and the other from Mr. Carstares, to whom I 
 have not wrote since he went down last to Scotland, and 
 this is the first I receiv'd from him. If her Ma tie approve 
 it, I wil write to them both to encourage them to promote 
 the Queens service. The overture, as they cal it, w ch 
 Lord Leven encloses is a most insolent one, and there 
 seems too much shew of delight in several persons to see 
 the present managers in Scotland like to miscarry. 1 They, 
 the Q ns Ministers, ought to be sensible of that, and their 
 own hazard if they do not succeed. That w ch wil work 
 most upon that nation is to be made sensible the Queen 
 doth not fear them. 
 
 • ••••••• 
 
 [So signature.] 
 
 /• ■« July 29, 1704, Saturday night past 11. 
 
 I came hither in good time and immediatly applid 
 myself to y e main business. My agent hath been with 
 me and hath had that good effect with the father last 
 night that he promises to put al he knows in writing, 
 and he says he can do the greatest service ever was done 
 to England. I have ordered my agent to prevail with 
 him to come to me personally. They are now in search 
 to find him, because he, according to custom, shifts his 
 lodgings, and I hope to have him willingly tomorrow. 
 This consideration inclind Mr. Secretary Hedges, 2 to whom 
 I have communicated the whole affair, to think it best to 
 recal y* summons to the Lords upon pretence no letters 
 are come in, etc., and both of us to attend in town to- 
 morrow, either to have the father by fair means or by 
 foule in our hands. But I hope he wil point us out how 
 to have them al. As soon as anything is done, y r L d P 
 
 1 The New Party, the party in power, utterly failed to carry the measure with 
 which they had been specially entrusted — the settlement of the succession. 
 
 2 Sir Charles Hedges, English Secretary of State, 1700- 1706. 
 
1704] 
 
 EARL OF OXFORD 
 
 145 
 
 shal have an express ; but we thought it would have 
 spoyld al to have opned the business to Lords before 
 the persons were seizd. 
 
 If it be an error, y r L d P wil forgive it, and believe it to 
 be an error of zeale. 
 
 [So signature.] 
 
 [1704] July 30. past nine at night. 
 
 I receiv'd the honor of y r Lp s letter just now, and wil 
 acquaint y r L d P with the reasons at large why we could 
 not do anything last night,, and hope that the father is 
 not slip'd out of our hands. But my agent could never 
 learne of him where he lodg'd, but having on Fry day night 
 talk'd with him upon the advantages might be made of 
 his knowledge, he enterd upon it himself, and that, if 
 he might not be exposed, he could do the greatest service 
 that ever was done in England. Last night, while my 
 agent was with me. he cal'd at her house, and left word 
 he would be there this night again ; and tomorrow morn- 
 ing I expect to have him with me. I have had the same 
 jealousie as y r L d P has, and it is but reasonable : but my 
 hope is grounded upon the expectations that the father 
 and my agent have of a reward ; that not knowing where 
 to snap the father and the hopes of seizing hers that is 
 gon into the country and whose returne is expected, 
 together with the names of some others w** I want, and 
 are necessary to be known, and the fair prospect of what 
 the father can reveale, encoragd me to think a days delav 
 would be abundantly recompenc'd if the discovery succeed 
 and to send out warrants, as so much uncertainty might 
 chance to spring the birds before the nett. 
 
 I have this morning the name of a woman who is made 
 use of to convey them their intelligence when the Court is 
 at St. Jameses. 
 
 Tomorrow I wil send away an express as soon as ever 
 I have my answer, for, if he keeps not his word, there shall 
 not be a moments delay to search for him and the rest. 
 By what I shall write tomorrow y r L d P wil judg whether 
 
 K 
 
146 
 
 LETTERS OF ROBERT HARLEY [1704 
 
 it is necessary for her Mat ie to come to town, and I hope 
 we shall not be disappointed. 
 
 It is hard not to have acess in Scotland without a clog. 
 If any thing is to be conceded, it ought to be for the 
 succession. 
 
 And it is not possible for any one to judg of their Act 
 of Security but those who are upon the place and know 
 y e contents of it. On the other hand, to disband their 
 few forces at this time wil look very strange, and yet I 
 believe they want to be new moddeld before they can be 
 confided in. If they had given more time, and this 
 conspiracy be plainly made out (in y e mean time) it would 
 give a new face to affairs there. I did write last night to 
 the Lord Chan lr that I hoped in a few days I should give 
 him a large ace* of the designs ags* Scotland, but that there 
 was proof already that they carried commissions down to 
 Scotland. 
 
 I am sensible in this great affair that I am liable to be 
 guilty of great weaknesses ; but I beg you wil represent 
 to her Ma tie that I wil never be wanting in diligence, zeale, 
 or duty for her service. 
 
 [Written on the back of the page :] 
 
 I cannot find by comparing circumstances that the 
 priest hath y e least suspicion of my agent ; if he had, why 
 did he not go away yesterday ? 
 
 [Written in another hand :] 
 
 No name or date. Mr. Harley. 
 
 July 31, 1704. 
 
 By my letter last night I gave y r L d P the reasons why 
 the priest was not endeavor' d to be seizd. I am now in 
 a great measure eas'd of my paine by a letter I receiv'd 
 from him ; a copy whereof I heerwith enclose for her 
 Ma tles perusal, as also a copy of my answer, in w ch I hope 
 I have not gone too far ; and, considering what service 
 the priest is capable of performing, I thought his pro- 
 position ought to have a hearty reception and an encorag- 
 ing answer. I send also a blank warrant for a pardon if 
 
1704] 
 
 EARL OF OXFORD 
 
 147 
 
 what I have written to him do not give satisfaction 
 without her Ma ties hand. If her Ma tie is pleased to approve 
 of what is done, the expectation of a ful discovery wil 
 require her Ma ties presence as soon as suits with the 
 Queens convenience. 
 
 The priest doth not suspect my agent in the least, and 
 by the begining of his letter y r L d P wil see that he believ'd 
 I made some doubt of his sending the message to me on 
 Saturday last the better to disguise my agent. 
 
 Yr L d P wil please to keep the copy of my letter, for I 
 have no other and wil not stay this messenger to trans- 
 cribe it again. 
 
 I would have come myself to Windsor instead of sending 
 this letter, but that I think my attending on this affair 
 in town is more for her Ma ties service. 
 
 I have observd the very spelling of y e priest in y e copy. 
 
 [No signature.] 
 
 St. James [? Aug. 3, 1704], Thursday, past eight. /. 9. 
 
 Not finding y r L d P come from Windsor, and being 
 oblig d to go as far as the Tower to pay my last respect 
 to poor S r Christopher Musgrave, 1 I doubt it wil be too 
 late to troble y r L d P this night. When I return, therefore, 
 I leave enclos'd the priests letter to me this afternoon and 
 a copy of my answer. I bid my agent tell him that I wil 
 wait no longer than tomorrow to see him ; that, if he be 
 not nimble, he wil loos his reward, and others wil step in 
 discoverers before him, for I have evidence enough ag st 
 him and some others. I understand by my agent that he 
 expected letters this night. I wil wait upon y r L d P as 
 soon as I have his answer tomorrow morning that I may 
 attend her Ma tie with it. 
 
 I have written to Mr. Robinson, Mr. Stanhope, and Mr. 
 Foley upon this action of y e Swedish man of warr. 
 
 [No date or name. Mr. Harley.] 
 
 1 Clerk of the Ordnance. 
 
148 
 
 LETTERS OF ROBERT HARLEY [1704 
 
 /. 134 Sunday, Sept. 24, 1704, past twelve. 
 
 I receivd the enclosed letters, one from Lord Leven, and 
 that enclosd to the Queen. I find my letter is of an old 
 date, viz. Sept. 6, tho brought but new to my hands, and 
 my porter tells me the person who left it said he was a 
 servant of the Duke of Argiles. I doubt not but her 
 Ma tles resolution to dispatch that nation speedily, and to 
 show her resentment on those who have disserv'd her in 
 that country wil have a very good effect at home. 
 
1704] LETTERS OF GEORGE RAMSAY 
 
 149 
 
 LETTERS OF 
 LIEUT.-GENERAL GEORGE RAMSAY 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 My Lord, — I had a letter from my Lord Cromertie, /. 82. 
 wherin, amongst other fonds for payeing me what is 
 dewe to me by the Government, he accquainted me that 
 he had spoke to your Lordship of two thousand pounds 
 advanced by the treasury of Scotland to some Forces on 
 the English establishment, and that you wer pleased to 
 say that you would speake to her Majesty, finding the 
 thing just, and that I should be preferred to any in the 
 like circumstances, for which I give your Lordship my 
 humble and hearty thanks. I hope you will take some 
 course with the respitts of the Scotts Guards, of which 
 your Lordship has had severall memorialls. I am 
 ashamed to trouble your Lordship with the state of her 
 Majesties Forces in this kingdome, which are extream 
 weak. I am with respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Geo. Ramsay. 
 
 Caridden, June 1, 1704. 
 
 My Lord, — Nothing having occurred to the Queens /. 98. 
 Forces in this country I would not trouble your Lordship, 
 but, her Majesty having given instruction to her Ministers 
 here anent the succession, I thought it my deuty to 
 accquaint you of such officers of the army that are 
 members of Parliament who have voted contrary, to witt, 
 the Earle of Marr, Governour of Stirveling Castle, and 
 Colonel of a regiment of foot, and Mr. John Stewart, 
 
 George Ramsay of Carriden. His letters are addressed to Godolphin. 
 
150 
 
 LETTERS OF LIEUT-GENERAL [1704 
 
 brother to the Earle of Galloway, second L 1 . Colonel to 
 the regiment of Guards, that I may have her Majesties 
 pleasure therein, for in my sentiment it looks not well, 
 and I think none deserves a commission that will not serve 
 her, as her Majesty pleases. I lykewise intreat your 
 Lordship would accquaint her Majesty that there are a 
 hundred and twenty men in Edinburgh Castle, a hundred 
 in Stirveling, forty in Dumbarton, who are altogether 
 insufficient, and are under no direction, but that of their 
 respective Governours, nor do receive any orders from the 
 Commander-in-Chieff, and, if there were any stir here, 
 behoved to be supplied from the few forces wee have in 
 the country. Ther is also three Highlands independent 
 companies of fifty each that are of no use that I know of 
 if ther were any commotion, which are lykwise included in 
 the number of the three thousand, so that the small army 
 here is in a manner mouldered to nothing. Pardon this 
 trouble and beleive me to be, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Geo. Ramsay. 
 
 Edr., July 18, 1704. 
 
 f.W. My Lord, — I think it my deuty her Majesty be ac- 
 
 quainted that the Lords of the Treasury are not so friendly 
 to the army as might be expected, particularly my Lord 
 Chancellour, and Eglingtone, 1 for with much adoe wee 
 gott them to signe precepts for the 14 months of reckonings 
 which werr ordered by Parliament, tho att the same 
 time, the Chancellour gott his brother his yearly sallary 
 for 200 pds for his service in the west, wheras the Councel 
 had only allowed one hundred pds in all to fitt him out, 
 that being thought sufficient, he having the allowance of 
 one half of what catle or victuall he should siese imported 
 from Ireland. As for the 40 foot and twenty dragoons, 
 for which he obtained the Councels order, I permitted 
 them to stay during the sitting of Parliament, but, being 
 now to review the troops, and the winter comeing on, I 
 have recalled them. It has been often represented to her 
 
 Alexander, 9th Earl of Eglintoun. He was a Privy Councillor. 
 
1704] 
 
 GEORGE RAMSAY 
 
 151 
 
 Majesties Ministers that their being there was rather a 
 hurt than advantage to the country, so I should be glad 
 to know the Queens mind, if, after the review, they should 
 be returned. The Ministers here lykewise amongst them 
 have made a wrong calculation as to the fonds of supply 
 for a year, being short of the full pay of the army as now 
 established, 4327 pds., 4 shillings and 6 pence, besydes 
 1500 pds. which the Treasury judged necessary to buy 
 ammunition ; as also, about 2000 pds. for keeping up the 
 frigatts. To help this their mistake, the Chancellour, eer 
 he left this, was talking of breaking a corps or reduceing 
 of companies, which in my opinion is wrong, her Majesties 
 service rather requyring her Forces should be augmented 
 than diminished in this kingdome, which may be done by 
 the scheme I sent your Lordship formerly, and the army 
 kept up till next session of Parliament by the 10,000 j?ds., 
 which the commissariat are obliged to advance. I am, 
 with all esteem, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Geo. Ramsay. 
 
 Edr., Septr. 23, 1704. 
 
152 LETTERS OF DAVID MELVILLE [1704 
 
 LETTERS OF DAVID MELVILLE, THIRD 
 EARL OF LEVEN, AFTERWARDS SECOND 
 EARL OF MELVILLE, COMMANDER-IN- 
 CHIEF IN SCOTLAND 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 fltso. My Lord, — I have given you so much trouble formerly 
 in my oun concerns that nothing but the outmost necessity 
 could make me give you anie more of that sort. I find, 
 since my arryvall here, that what I told your lo. of a designe 
 against me is more certaine then I did beleive when at 
 London. I am informed my enimies have bespoke sume 
 lawers in order to prosecute me befor the Parliament. 
 They insult mightily because of my not obteaning a 
 remission, and I see very plainly that that has encreased 
 their malice and encouraged ther hops of success against 
 me. This makes both my frinds and my selfe uneasie. I 
 have waited severall times on the Chancellor, but I was 
 receved with so much coldness and he was so much upon 
 the reserve with me that its evident he neither trusts me 
 in publick matters nor designs to favour me in my oun 
 concerns, and, when I informed him that your Lo. told 
 me you was to wreat to him to take care to prevent my 
 being brought to anie trouble, he did not acknowledge the 
 receipt of anie such letter, but said that it wold be more 
 proper for your Lo. to acquent the Commissioner therof. 
 I desired he wold doe me the favour to wreat so to yow, 
 which he promised. Your Lo. will know if he has done 
 so or not. My lord, I came home in full hops of her 
 Majestys protection and with a reall designe to advance 
 
 Melville's letters are addressed to Godolphin. 
 
1704] THIRD EARL OF LEVEN 153 
 
 her interest to the utmost of my pouer, but my present 
 circumstances doe considerably obstruct my influence, 
 people now beleiving my enimies have more interest at 
 Court then I. Now, if it wer possible for your Lo. to 
 prevaill with the Queen to grant me a remission befor the 
 Parliament sitt, as it wold be a new obligation from yowr 
 Lo. never to be forgott by me, so it wold be a meen to 
 further her Majesty s affairs by preventing much heat, 
 which must necessarly fall out if I be attacqued. It has 
 been insinuat to me that, if I will not joine with the Court, 
 I shall be safe, but this is a proposition I never will listen 
 too. Therfor, I beg the Queens protection and your Lo. 
 assistance that I may be in a capacity to serve her Ma^ in 
 this Parliament, which my enimies hop to hinder me from, 
 either by frighting me to withdraw or by imprisoning me 
 upon ane accusation, and, if either of those fall out, I 
 fear it may be attended with inconveniancys by the dis- 
 curadgments that will therby be given to all those I either 
 have relation too, or influence upon. I must intreat to 
 have the honour to hear from your Lo., and must beg 
 yowr pardon for this great troble. I am, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Leven. 
 
 Edinb., June 20 [1704]. 
 
 My Lord, — I wold have acknowledged the honour of /• ® 55 - 
 your lo. letter of 28 Juine befor now, had ther been anie 
 thing worth your notice to have given yow an account of. 
 I wrot last week to Mr. Secretary Harlay and I know 
 what I wrot to him he wold give an account off to your 
 Lo., and, therfor, I forbore giving you anie troble till 
 now ; and, altho I am very sensible that yow may have 
 fuller accounts from others, because I 'm keep't altogether 
 a stranger from the management and knows nothing 
 untill I hear them in the House, yet I cannot forbear 
 giving your Lo. a short account of what has passed amongst 
 us within these few days. That resolve given in first by 
 Mr. Seaton was given in nixt day by the Duk. of Hamilton 
 with a very smal alteration, and, affter it was reasoned a 
 litle upon, was delayed untill the next meetting of Parlia- 
 
154 
 
 LETTERS OF DAVID MELVILLE [1704 
 
 ment, wher it was againe taken unto consideration, and, 
 affter sume debate and additions made to it, those that 
 pleaded for it, knowing their own strenth, pressed mightily 
 for a votte, which they obteaned ; and it carryed, approve 
 the resolve by above forty vottes, so that now the setling 
 the succession at this time is quit out of door's. I shall 
 not take upon me to determine wher the mistake has been 
 as to the calculation of our strenth (for I was made belave 
 befor the votte that the plurality was on our syde), but 
 sure sume has either litle influence or they have not made 
 use of it, else wee could never have lost it by so many. 
 But its not fitt for me to accuse anie body, so I shall only 
 say for my father and my selfe that, what ever others 
 have done, wee have omitted nothing (so far as wee wer 
 capable) that could anie way advance her Majesty s 
 interest, and I hop this will easily be beleived, when its 
 considered how unite the Presbyterian party have bin, 
 and how firm on this occasion to hir Maj s interest and 
 service. And I dare appeal even to my enimies if ther 
 be so much as on member with whom I ever had anie 
 interest or influence but who has appeared on this occa- 
 sion with duty fullness and zeall. I have met and still 
 meets with very great discuradgements from those in- 
 trusted with the management of affairs, but I intreat your 
 Lo. to beleive that nothing can divert me from my duty 
 to the best of Queens ; and I most humbly beg that your 
 Lo. will doe me the honour to lett hir Majesty know so 
 much. 
 
 What my Ld. Commissioners instructions may be on 
 such an emergent as this I know not, but, in my humble 
 opinion, the cheife, if not the only thing now to be at- 
 tempted is the obteaning a supply, and, if that wer once 
 granted or refused, the sooner the session cume to ane 
 end the better. For, if the Parliament goe unto the 
 considerations of limitations, it may be inconvenient, 
 unless all such limitations are to be granted, for, altho 
 without the royall assent a votte of Parliament is not 
 binding, yet it has been always the chief care of our 
 soveraigns to shun as much as possible the interposeing of 
 
1704] THIRD EARL OF LEVEN 
 
 155 
 
 the negative to what was once passed unto a votte. I 
 shall give yow no further troble, but begs the continow- 
 ance of your Lo. favour and protection, and that yow will 
 beleive that I am, my Lord, etc., Leven. 
 
 Ed., July 18 [1704]. 
 
 Right Honourable, — I have not given you anie /• 66 - 
 trouble of this sort for sume time, because, as soon as the 
 Acts of Suply and Security wer passed, I was dayly expect- 
 ing an end to this session of Parliament. I was obliged 
 to make use of a borrowed hand the last two letters I sent 
 to you, because I understood that sume wer very bussy 
 upon the enquiry if I keept corespondence with anie in 
 England, and wold have been glad to have gott a letter 
 under my hand to anie English Minister. But, now that 
 the Parliament is at an end, that danger is over. I wrot 
 my opinion pretty fully of the Act of Security in my last, 
 and, now that it hath gott the royall assent, ther 's no 
 more to be said ; only sume part therof seems not to be 
 much in favours of a Protestant successor upon the event 
 of the Queens death ; at least, not in favours of the suc- 
 cessor of England because of severall conditions mentioned 
 in that act. The sitting of our Parliament so long after 
 the granting of the supply has been matter of great admira- 
 tion to me and many others ; nor can wee imagine what 
 arguments have been made use of by our statesmen to 
 perswade hir Majesty to allow therof, for sure they can not 
 so much as pretend that ther has bin anie thing of import- 
 ance offered to the Parliament by them, either for the 
 advantage of the Croun or for the good of the cuntray. 
 For, as to publick accounts which has taken up a great 
 part of our time, ther is nothing done upon them ; they 
 are all remitted to a Commission of Parliament ; and now 
 its pritty evident that the great design of sume persons 
 for enquiring into those accounts in plain Parliament was 
 to reach particular persons who had been either on the 
 Theasury or anie other way concerned in the management 
 or collecting of the publick mony. The other acts that 
 
156 LETTERS OF DAVID MELVILLE [1704 
 
 have been under the consideration of the Parliament are 
 an act for enlargeing the number of burrows, offered by 
 Mr. Fletsher, an other offered by the Duk. of Hamilton 
 for free votting, as he called it, in which act all officers of 
 the army, all haveing pensions from the Queen, all con- 
 cerned in collecting of the publick mony are made in- 
 capable of being chosen or continouing to be members 
 affter they get anie such employment. Now, how far those 
 or the resolve relaiting to the House of Peers ther procedour 
 in the enquiry into the Plot and ther address to the Queen, 
 which wer equaly disobleidging to many in our Parliament, 
 altho ther wer others that did not think the Lords addressing 
 hir Majesty to use hir endevours to setle the succession anie 
 under intermedling in our affairs ; I say, how far tho[se] or 
 the address by our Parliament to hir Majes[ty], as it is 
 worded, may either tend to the Que[ens] service, the good 
 of our cuntray. or to the promotting of a good correspond- 
 ence betwixt the two nations, I leve you to judge. But 
 why the Ministry should have concurred in those acts, 
 resolves, and addresses I cannot imagine ; and that they 
 did so, I hop they will not deny, and without ther con- 
 currance it was not possible for the opposing party to have 
 carryed a votte in favours of anie of those acts ; and of 
 what bad consequence ther getting a first reading by a 
 votte in this session is easie to be judged. As to a subse- 
 quent session, and if the comissioners speach to the Parlia- 
 ment, when it was adjurned. be considered, it seems to 
 infer that such acts as have not been perfected this session 
 may be so nixt time the Parliament meets. All I shall say 
 is that the misterious manadgment of our statesmen was 
 not to be understood by such of us who had not the honour 
 to be upon ther councills. I hear they are called to Court, 
 and are therby in great expectation to have all employ- 
 ments at ther oun disposall, and, if you will take ther oun 
 testimony, no doubt they and ther frinds will be the most 
 deserving persons in the nation. I wish hir Majesty may 
 employ such in hir service as will be both zealous and 
 faithfull in the discharge of ther duty. I have presumed 
 to wreat to hir Majesty and have adventured to put it 
 
1705] THIRD EARL OF LEVEN 157 
 
 1 
 
 under your cover which I humbly beg you to pardon. 
 I must intreat the continowance of your favour that you 
 will pardon my freedom in this long letter and that you 
 will still allow me the priviledg of wreating to you, and 
 the honour of ouning my selfe to be. Right Honourable, 
 etc., Leven. 
 
 Sep. 6 [1704]. 
 
 If you please to honour me with a letter, it will come 
 safe if directed as formerly. 
 
 [Endorsed : 4 L d Leven, Sep. 6. No year.'] 
 
 My Lord, — I should not have been so long silent, had f- 306 - 
 not my Lord Commissioner and the Marquis of Annandale 
 given your Lo. so full accounts of what passed in Parlia- 
 ment that ther was nothing left for me to ad. This 
 serves to give your Lo. notice that yeasterday wee 
 obteaned a supply of six moneths cess, which serves to 
 pay the Forces for a year. I hop now this session shall 
 be very soon at ane end, ther being litle business to finish 
 but such as pass of course, except that relaiting to our 
 haveing ambassadors to represent us at the first treaty 
 of peace. How this may goe in Parliament I know not, 
 but wee will use our endeavours to get it put off if possible. 
 
 I intreat your Lo. to beleive that I have contribute all 
 that was in my pouer to bring this session to a good 
 conclusion, and I perswade my selfe that his Grace my 
 Lord Commissioner will doe me the justice to oun that 
 my interest has been of sume use to him. I shall give your 
 Lo. no further trouble, but beg the continouance of your 
 favour and protection, and that your Lo. will doe me the 
 honour to beleive that I am most intearly, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Leven. 
 
 Edinb. Castle, Sept. 9 [1705]. 
 
 My Lord, — I am unwilling to be trublesome, but yet / ¥>4* 
 I cannot be longer silent lest I should be thought ungrate. 
 
 Hir Majesty has been pleased to order the Earle of Mar 
 to acquent me that I am to be honoured with the command 
 
1.5S LETTERS OF DAVID MELVILLE :i;o6 
 
 of the Forcess of this kingdom, and. therfor, I think its 
 high time for me to make my humble acknowledgments 
 to your Lo. for your frindly assistance in this affaire. I 
 know I oue my preferment in a great measure to his Grace 
 the Duke of Marleburough and your Lo.. and, therfor, my 
 retorn of thanks is ane indispensable duty, which I hop 
 your Lo. will accept off. The trust hir Majesty has been 
 pleased to honour me with is very great, and I doe assure 
 your Lo. it shall be my great study to acquit my selfe so 
 in the discharge therof as hir Majesty may have no reason 
 to repent of the choise she has made, nor your Lo. of the 
 favour and honour vow have done me in recommending 
 me to hir Majesty. Its very probable the post I am now 
 in may obleidge me to address your Lo. sumetimes, which 
 I hop vow will allow off. I must still beg the continuance 
 of your Lo. favour and protection, etc. My Lord, etc., 
 
 Levex. 
 
 Ed. Castle, Jan. 26, 1706. 
 
1704] LETTER OF SIR GEO. MACKENZIE 159 
 
 LETTER OF SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE, 
 FIRST EARL OF CROMARTIE, LORD 
 JUSTICE-GENERAL OF SCOTLAND 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 My Lord, — My earnest desyre to be usefull to herr Maj. /• ? 6 - 
 in the matters now under consideration moved my resolu- 
 tion to wait on your G r this day, but I am taken ill, and 
 I judge the reading of this will take less of your tyme 
 then if your G r should call at me, yet always under protes- 
 tation for allowance to wait on you some minuts befor you 
 part. My Lord, I am still afraid that some who have 
 done too much for inhancing herr Maj s offices, will readily 
 undertak more as they can perform, and think that they 
 may find a pretence or excuse on failur, with more ease 
 then to gett in againe to ane unfitt share of imployment. 
 But a failure in the undertaking as to the succession hath 
 a worse veiw then they or their service can take of, and, 
 as a remedy, I have heer inclosed some of my poor thoughts 
 as to that matter which, with takeing in some consider- 
 able men to the Government, and such as may be presumed 
 to goe truly into herr Maj s measures, and are true Protes- 
 tants and sonnes of Brittaine, I hope may sett matters 
 right ; and I am sure I recomend persons without the 
 least byass on my relation or affection, but such as I think 
 will be true to the Q n and Brittain, tho they were never 
 kind to me, of which number there was one which the 
 last dayes hast left unnamed, and yet I doe beleeve may 
 be of great use on this occasion on diverse accounts ; this 
 is Mr. Jonston, nor perhaps, will any one be more capable 
 to doe good service now. I have inclosed a litle note 
 relating to my self, which some urgent occasions forces 
 from your Graces, etc., Cromertie. 
 
 28 March 1704. 
 
160 LETTERS OF CHARLES MONTAGU 
 
 LETTERS OF CHARLES MONTAGU, 
 FIRST LORD, .AFTERWARDS EARL 
 OF, HALIFAX 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 4 Septemb r 1705. 
 My Lord, 1 — I return your Lordship many thanks for the 
 honour you did me in sending the letters, v^ h I return, 
 and will freely tell your Lordship what occurrs to me upon 
 reading them, tho I will not pretend to give any opinion. 
 L d Somers went out of toun so latelv that he thought it 
 would not have a good appearance to come up to discourse 
 this matter. I sent the pacquet to him, and by what he 
 writ, and what wee have talked lately, I beleive our senti- 
 ments agree on this subject. I should never be fit to 
 offer an opinion on a matter of such consequence, on 
 which, as appeares to me, the whole affair turns. But, in 
 this case, I am the lesse capable, because I have not all 
 the information requisite to form a judgement. The 
 unanimous advice of all the Queens servants is mentioned 
 in all the letters, but that, I suppose, is in the Queens 
 hands, and I cannot judge of the weight of those reasons 
 before I know what they are. I never heard what the 
 Act of Fishery contains, and, tho I suspect a snare in 
 every thing, I can not say a word about it. 
 
 I know nothing of the contents of the Act for the Council 
 of Trade, but only have heard that the members are to be 
 nominated by the Parliam 1 without any approbation of 
 the Queen. I beleive this is w^out precedent, and, if 
 they have also power of acting without her, such an act 
 alone is enough to occasion a war between the two nations. 
 By the copys of these acts your Lordship will see what 
 
 Godolphin. 
 
EARL OF HALIFAX 
 
 161 
 
 the import of them is, and what danger there is that they 
 will be ill taken here. But it 's impossible for me to do 
 any thing but frame conjectures, who do not know the 
 contents. The subject of them is trade, which nearly 
 concerns England. One thing falls out unluckily (or is 
 done very knavisly), the Queens servants have been allowed 
 to carry this only point : the Council of Trade are chose 
 by them by which the Ministers are obliged to espouse the 
 Act, and their party will be disobliged by the rejecting it. 
 Something of this kind was attempted in England and 
 laid aside but by one vote. I remember very well with 
 what views that was set on foot, and, considering the 
 opinion the world has of our Council of Trade and Admiralty 
 Board, how far, my Lord, may a Scotch precedent be 
 caryed ? 
 
 I confesse, my Lord, I see nothing but that they are 
 bringing the Queen to the like difficultys as the last year 
 before she is well got rid of the unhappy circumstances 
 of what they then got from her. If she will have a sess, 
 she is likely to pay dear for it. She must consent to 
 change the Government in the time of her successor, at 
 least, if she does not make a great advance towards 
 doing it in her oun time. The sending for the royal assent 
 by peicemeal and expecting that, as the terms of pro- 
 ceeding farther is of dangerous consequence, and if such 
 a method was taken up in England, might prove worse 
 then a tack. The resentment the Queen has show'd 
 against such sort of proceedings should incline her to 
 checff the offering it in an other disguise. Why should 
 not the Queen hold to the answer she has sent for the 
 present ? I should think it was soon enough for them 
 to know what she would do, when she knows what they 
 will do. If the supply must wait for the Act for the 
 Treaty, should not every thing else wait for it ? And, 
 if there be realy any weight to be laid on these acts, to 
 which they desire the royal assent, will not the delay of 
 them naturally hasten the passing the other, unlesse you 
 rely on their gratitude ? The Duke of Queensberry says, 
 if the Acts for a Treaty and Supply do not passe, there 
 
 L 
 
162 
 
 LETTERS OF CHARLES MONTAGU [1705 
 
 will be danger of confusion and an irreparable breach 
 between the two nations. But he confesses the Queens 
 servants are under great diffieultys, that they must comply 
 in some measure with expressing their resentm ts against 
 England, and that there is danger this may be pushed 
 too high. Who can explain this ? And ought it not to 
 be explained before the Queen shows any complyance ? 
 Perhaps the Act for a Treaty is not designed to set a foot 
 a union but to affront England. In that case the Queens 
 choice is not difficult to make, and the lesse she has done 
 the better. I am no competent judge how uneasy the 
 Queen may be in her oun reign with a triennial Parliam 1 
 in Scotland, but I can see very plainly the New Party 
 and all of them are very well pleased this should continue. 
 And I am sure this can never (after being entangled, as 
 they are) do any good for this or any future reign. And, 
 if this Act passes, the Queen is deprived of the assistance 
 of any of the collectors of the revenue. How far that is 
 of consequence I can not tell, but, if the same care had 
 been taken of the other officers as of the Receiver-General, 
 they would have scaped better. They were excluded by 
 a small number, and he was saved by a great majority, 
 tho the most likely to influence. 
 
 I am running on without end, but, when it is impossible 
 to come to a judgement in any point, all one can do is to 
 suggest what comes to mind, and submit all to your Lord- 
 ships better judgement. I may be the easier mistaken 
 in this matter, for I never expected any good from this 
 session. I have no hopes of the publick good, and, if 
 things are so ordered, that no blame can be laid on the 
 Queens Minister here, 'tis all I can wish. I think the 
 step you have made cannot be mended, and I hope you 
 will keep your footing. 
 
 I beg leave to trouble you with a letter from one of 
 your Lordships officers in an other kingdom. I have 
 heard a great deal of the Club he speakes of, and will tell 
 you more of it when I have the honour to wait upon you. 
 I am, My Lord, etc., Halifax. 
 
EARL OF HALIFAX 
 
 103 
 
 My Lord, — I hope I have not done wrong in keeping -. sk. 
 the Scotch letters so long. I was to meet L d Somers this 
 day to finish what wee discoursed of last weeke, and I 
 thought your Lordship intended I should show them to 
 him. ^Yhen I came to toun, I found every body full of 
 discourse that the Queen had signed a warrant to Secretary 
 Hedges to fetch the seals. I was not surprised that the 
 seals were sent for, but I wonder a warrant of that kind 
 is made publick before it is executed. If I should happen 
 to be at Hampton Court, I will come to wait upon your 
 Lordship as soon as I hear you are in toun. I am. My 
 Lord, etc. Hat, it ax. 
 
 4 Octobr. 1705. 
 
164 LETTERS OF ADAM COCKBURNE [1705 
 
 LETTERS OF ADAM COCKBURNE, LORD 
 ORMISTOUN, LORD OF SESSION, AND 
 AFTERWARDS LORD JUSTICE-CLERK 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 Edinbr., 31 May 1705. 
 May it please your Lop., — The Lord Comissioner, 
 haveing last night called me with three or four of hir 
 Maties Servants to advise what was the properest measure 
 to be taken for doeing hir Maties bussines in Parliament, 
 I was of opinion that hir Matie could not get over the 
 recomending the succession and that with as much earnest- 
 nes as she did in hir letter last year, which all the Queens 
 Servants behooved to endeavour w* all the firmnes and 
 earnestnes they were capable. Others thought that 
 measure would endanger all be reason they could not get 
 theire pairty up to it, but, if a treatie was proposed, they 
 might goe along even in the giveing of supplys, which they 
 would not doe if the succession was proposed ; for some 
 of the pairty could not make so short a turne (haveing 
 gone last year in to Duke Hamiltons resolve) as to vote 
 the succession this year. 'Twas said again those men 
 ought not to be so fare indulged, as to take the measure 
 from them who look't not to be found at bottom for this 
 constitution. Besides, if the succession did not cary, we 
 had alwayes a pull for the treatie, and, indeed, in my 
 opinion the treatie is but a handle to throw off the suc- 
 cession, for I don't find ten men of the Parliament will 
 goe in to a entire and compleat union, so that there is no 
 prospect of a treaties takcing effect. The consequences 
 then may very reasonably be judged will turne more 
 against our accepting the English successor when they 
 
1705] 
 
 LORD ORMISTOUN 
 
 165 
 
 have refused us all conditions as to our trade. This 
 treatie may lykewayes be of some times continouance, 
 and, if the succession is not setled in Scotland 'ere there 
 be a peace concluded in Europe, hir Maties interest and 
 the present constitution are in more hasard then during 
 the ware. In my last I told your Lop. a thorow change 
 in the Ministry was so tender a point I took leave not to 
 touch it ; but this I will make bold to say, it had been 
 better to have concerted the measure in the first place 
 and suitted the Ministry to it then now to be oblidged to 
 take the measure from a new sett, which methode, I beg 
 pardon to say, I cannot think is for hir Maties interest. 
 I 'm apprehensive one reason at bottom for pressing the 
 treatie is, there are of those to be laid aside who will be for 
 the succession, whether in post or out of it, and some of 
 thire I know. Now 't may touch upon a point of honour to 
 have laid such aside when those brought in cannot bring 
 up there pairty to the measure ; yea, even some of those 
 continowed will not joine. I wish all my Lord Comis- 
 sioners advisers were as firme and intirely of hir Maties 
 interest and for the present constitution as he is. My 
 Lord, when I speak of the settleing the succession, I mean 
 upon terms and conditions of government. Your Lop. 
 knows my principles so well and that the Revolution 
 bottom is the only ground I cane stand upon, that I 
 cannot give my self leave to think I am in hasard of falling 
 under any jealousie or be thought to look any other way 
 then what is for hir Maties true interest. The allowance 
 your Lop. was pleased to honour me with and the con- 
 fidence I have your Lop. will take what I writtt as truly 
 designed for hir Maties service and to no mans prejudice 
 will, I hope, obtain pardon for this trouble. I am, with 
 entire respect, my Lord, etc., Ad. Cokburne. 
 
 May it pleas your Lop., — It being so much for hir /.jaw. 
 Maties honour and interest to have hir judicatories filled 
 with men fitted and qualified for dischairge of so great a 
 trust as the distributing justice to hir Maties lieges that 
 I doe make bold to joine my earnest desire with others in 
 
166 
 
 LETTERS OF ADAM COCKBURNE [1705 
 
 behalf of Sir Gilbert Eliot, a man firme and sincere for the 
 present constitution, that the Queen will be pleased to 
 name him to supply the vacancies have happened this day 
 throw the death of one of the judges. He is one that 's 
 knowing in the laws as well as ane honest Revolution 
 man. My Lord, the stile of my letter, I hope, will plead 
 pardon for what may seem presumption. I am, my Lord, 
 etc., Ad. Cokburne. 
 
 Edinbr., 9 June 1705. 
 
 Edinbr., 1st Agust. 1705. 
 May it please your Lop., — Since my last the affairs in 
 Parliament have taken very different turnes. Whill we 
 were goeing on w* matters concerne our trade, which in 
 my opinion was more to gratifie some people then any 
 reall advantage cane be expected from any act proposed 
 on that subject, save the act for encouraging the fishing, 
 there was a resolve brought in by the Duke of Hamilton, 
 the same past last year. What measures were taken to 
 obviate this, I am ignorant of them, and your Lop. may 
 rationally conclude from the majority of votes were for it. 
 and how few spoke against it, there was no great oppo- 
 sition designed. By this resolve the Parliament was pre- 
 cluded from medling with the succession. The New 
 Pairty, being all against the resolve, did nixt day bring in 
 the draught of a letter in answer to hir Maties. This was 
 not relisht, and 'twas thought fitt to put the specious 
 word trade in opposition to it, which caried by a vote. 
 The day after the draught of ane act for a treattie being 
 concerted, 'twas offered in Parliament by the Marquis of 
 Lothean, who had seconded the Duke of Hamiltone in 
 favours of his resolve. The Marquis was pleased to say 
 in my Lord Cofriissioners presence that he knew it very 
 well to be the Queens mind that we should have a treattie 
 previous to the settleing of the succession. I was sur- 
 prised at this, and said I thought hir Matie had said 
 much in hir letter as might convince the world of the 
 contraire. Endeavours were used to have this act for a 
 
1705] 
 
 LORD ORinSTOUN 
 
 167 
 
 treattie to get a first reading. The New Pairty opposed 
 this, and moved we might proceed to limitations. The 
 Duke of Hamilton and Mr. Fletcher were for clogging the 
 treattie, and they spoke warmly of the act past in England, 
 as did lykewayes the Earle of Stair. But the first two, 
 finding they could not cary what they designed, they 
 turned in to the New Pairty. I cannot say this was 
 agreable to their resolve. The Marquis of Annandale and 
 others of the Queens servants said they would go in to 
 limitations in order to name the successor, but, wfaiU limi- 
 tations were only proposed to throw out the treattie, they 
 could not comply w* the motion. The question was putt, 
 and it caried — limitations. I must take leave to say y x , 
 had y r been as great pains taken to have advanced limi- 
 tations in order to setle the succession as to every mans 
 conviction there was to advance the measure of a treattie, 
 we had been farder advanced in bussines then we are this 
 day. But my opinion haveing differed so fare in this 
 matter with those have the chief manadgment of hir 
 Maties affairs, I shall not insist ; only beg your Lop. will 
 allow me to say for my relations who voted for limitations, 
 they are as much for setleing the succession as I am, 
 and upon that foot went in to the vote, as did the Earle 
 of Marchmont and others, who deserve not the name of 
 Jacobites, which his grace my Lord Commissioner is 
 pleased to give them out of resentment that what he 
 promised himself with so much assurance would cary has 
 misgiven him. I thought it a strange argument I heard 
 in my Lord Commissioners roums to be used in behalf of 
 the treatty, that those were for the Prince of Wales should 
 go in to it without any clogg, for 'twas the best handle to 
 hold of the succession. I said I could not use it as ane 
 argument, but I did beleeve too many made it one to 
 themselves to goe in to that measure. Your Lop. will 
 pardon tins freedom, and beleeve that no consideration 
 can shake me from the measure of the Revolution bottom, 
 that being hir Maties true interest. I am, with all duty, 
 my Lord, etc., Ad Cokburxe. 
 
168 LETTERS OF ADAM COCKBURNE [1705 
 
 2d Agust. 
 
 My Lord, — I hop't what is above written should a 
 come w* the flying packet ; but, not being favoured to 
 know it's dyet, I shall here let your Lop. know what past 
 in Parliament this day. After reading the minuts of last 
 day, 'twas moved that, according to the vote, we should 
 proceed upon limitations. To this was opposed trade, 
 upon which a debait arose which lasted above five hours 
 and ended in this, that the four subsequent meetings shall 
 be assigned wholly to trade, and the nixt four to limitations 
 w*out any other extraneous bussines to interveer [sic]. 
 Here is work for eight days ; what will be the issue seems 
 very doubt full. 
 
 /. 310. Edinbr., 22 Septr. 1705. 
 
 May it please your Lop., — I presumed to give your 
 Lop. the trouble of two of mine, the one of the 7th of Jully, 
 th' other the 1st of Agust, in both which I used freedom 
 in giveing my thoughts of affairs. But judging yt. either 
 I had transgressed or that my letters had miscaried (haveing 
 no returne), I choosed to be silent. Now that this session 
 of Parliament is (after some warme debaits) come to a 
 calm issue, I shall not look back to trouble your Lop. w* 
 accts. of persons and their manadgment. Scots men are 
 . too apt after such meetings to be valueing y m selves at 
 the expence of others. All I shall say for my self is that 
 I wanted not inclination to have forwarded hir Maties 
 true interest, yet my differing in opinion as to some things 
 may make some men uneasy to hir Matie upon my acct. 
 Your Lop. will be so good as to assure the Queen, however 
 she shall think fitt to dispose of me, it shall not in the least 
 shake my affection nor duty I owe hir Matie and hir 
 government. 
 
 A treattie being the measure our chieff managers thought 
 proper to follow out at this time, your Lop., allow me to 
 offer my thoughts, which I doe w* all submission. If 
 England will be so good and show a unparaleled temper in 
 passing by in silence the order and address past in this 
 Parliament w* relation to the repealling of the clause of 
 
1705] 
 
 LORD ORMISTOUN 
 
 169 
 
 the act past in England and doe repeal it, then will the 
 treattie proceed ; where, some things of the Act of Naviga- 
 tion and our home trade being a justed, one may w* con- 
 fidence say the setleing of the succession cannot fail. On 
 the other hand, when the treattie is sett on foot, if nothing 
 but ane intire and compleat union will doe, as that must 
 be a affaire of time, so will it affoord y e opposeing pairty 
 a handle, and the pluralitie of our people will not be 
 brought into it, and the consequences must tend to a 
 rupture between the two nations. Much will depend on 
 hir Maties makeing a good choice of comissioners. 
 
 My Lord, I 'm desired to beg your Lops, favour for the 
 Earle of Hindfoord, a person whose character is known to 
 your Lop. He is desirous to have his son, the Lord 
 Carmichaell, imployed in hir Maties service, and he cane 
 think of nothing so proper as to let him have the regiment 
 of dragoons he now comands ; not that he thinks of pairting 
 w* his regiment upon any other acct., but that hir Matie 
 will grant a commission to his son, who's good affection 
 to hir Matie is upon the same bottom w* his father, and 
 his firmnes to the Revolution interest is beyond question. 
 
 I want words to apologise for this freedom, but trusts 
 your Lop. goodnes will pardon it, and subscrives my self, 
 w* all respect, my Lord, etc., Ad. Cokburne. 
 
170 
 
 LETTERS OF HUGH CAMPBELL 
 
 LETTERS OF HUGH CAMPBELL, THIRD 
 EARL OF LOUDOUN, SECRETARY OF 
 STATE IN SCOTLAND 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 • W My Lord, — I am verrie sensible of the great honor the 
 
 Queen has done me in imploying me as her Secretarie of 
 State. I shal indeavour to make up my want of the 
 merit which is necessar for that post by zeal and assiduitie 
 in her Majesties service. I have not the honor to be knoun 
 to your Losp., but your great merit and character make 
 me presume to intreat your favor that in this troublesome 
 time I may be the more capable to serve her Majestie by 
 your Losp. countenance and direction. My Lord Com- 
 missioner by the last post recommended Sir Gilbert Elliot 
 as the fittest man to succeed my Lord Phesdo in the 
 Session and Justiciorie. He has been long at the bar 
 with the reputation of a good lauer and ane honest man. 
 He has all ways serv'd the Queen well in Parliament, and, 
 therfor, in my humble opinion, it will be for her Majesties 
 service and agreable to everie bodie hear that he be 
 promoted. I shal lose no opportunitie of shewing with 
 hou much respect, I am, my Lord, etc., Loudoun. 
 
 Edr., June \2th [1705]. 
 
 [Endorsed: ' June 12th, 1705.'] 
 
 /. 880. My Lord, — I 've sent to Mr. Nairn a prorogation of the 
 
 Duke of Argylls tack of the assyze herrings of the west 
 seas. My Lord Commissioner is indisposed this night 
 
 1 Addressed to Godolphin. 
 
1705] THIRD EARL OF LOUDOUN 171 
 
 and, therfor, he has ordered me to let your Losp. know 
 that his famillie has for severall ages had what he nou 
 asks, and that he doubts not of your Losp. friendship and 
 her Majesties bountie in this affair. 1 Your Losp. has had 
 the accounts of what has past in our Parliament from 
 better hands than mine, but, nou that it is my mouth 
 when anie thing of importance hapens, I shal take the 
 libertie to give your Losp. ane account of it. This days 
 procedur is not worth the while of giving you the trouble 
 of a longer letter, but I 've given Mr. Nairn a full account 
 of it. I am, My Lord, etc., Loudoun. 
 
 Eder., August 7th [1705]. 
 
 My Lord, — My Lord Commr. sends by this paquit a f, 392. 
 patent in favours of Lord Archibald Campbell who serv'd 
 her Maj. as Lord Treasurer the last sessions of Parlia- 
 ment, and was one of the Commrs. in the Treatie. The 
 Duke of Argyll desires to have one of his familie amongst 
 our Peers. I hope it will be ane advantage to the Queens 
 service, which makes me take the libertie to recommend 
 this affair to your Losp. favor. There are two places to 
 be disposed of by my Lord Rankillors death, one in the 
 Session and ane other in the Justiciarie. I knou my Lord 
 Commr. desires that the Commissions may be sent blank 
 to him that he may fill 'em up. I believe he designs the 
 first for the Earle of Mar's brother, Mr. James Ereskine, 
 who has been bred a lauyer, and the other for my Lord 
 Tillicultrie, who is one of the most eminent of our Judges 
 in the Session. In my humble opinion these places can 
 not be better disposed. Mr. Areskine is one of the Generall 
 Receavers, which he does not propose to keep, if he be 
 advanced to the Bench. It will advance her Maj. service 
 that my Lord Commr. have a blank commission for this 
 post like ways put into his hands. The articles of the 
 Treatie were read in the House a second time upon Satur- 
 day, and, tho there were manie proposals made with a 
 
 1 See Seafield's letter of 8th August 1705. 
 
172 
 
 LETTERS OF HUGH CAMPBELL [1796 
 
 design to put off the consideration of the Treatie for some 
 time, it was at last agreed by the House that wee should 
 proceed upon Teusday nixt to take the articles of the 
 Treatie under consideration. Our affairs have a good 
 appearance, and. tho I doubt not there will be neu attempts 
 made for procuring delays. I hope wee shal be able to 
 defeat them. I am, with great respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Loudoun. 
 
 Eder., Octob. IM [1706]. 
 
1706] 
 
 LETTER OF THOMAS HAY 
 
 173 
 
 LETTER OF THOMAS HAY, VISCOUNT DUP- 
 PLIX, AFTERWARDS SIXTH EARL OF 
 KDfNOUL 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 My Lord, — Tour Lop. knows I was always for a treatie 
 of union with England, because I thought it the only mean 
 left to preserve p[e]ace in Brittane, and I am still for it, 
 but not for prosecuting it in such a manner as will disturb 
 the peace of the Government and involve us in blood and 
 confusion. 
 
 The great success abroad, the extream poverty of this 
 nation, the poure and influence of the advanced Equi- 
 valent, with the arguments that have prevailed with the 
 Marques of Tweddals party, who are now all as one man 
 for the Union, these things have putt it beyond all doubt 
 that the Union will carry in Parliament by pluralety of 
 voices, but still there is a considerable partie who, tho 
 they doe not directly oppose the Union, yet goe in very 
 naruly to inquire into the articles of it, and insist mightely 
 for tyme deliberatly to consider them. 
 
 It had been good that at the beginning we had cauti- 
 ously managed the advantage we had of such a con- 
 siderable pluralety, but., no sooner we saw our strenth, 
 then we proclamed it, and pushed some inconsiderable 
 votes with so much fordwardnes that, in place of recom- 
 mending the Union, to a great many it has made them 
 still more jealous, and has raised such a ferment in peoples 
 minds as I am affraid shall not be easily calmed, ane 
 small instance wherof we had last night in the mobb of 
 
 Addressed to Godoluhin. 
 
174 LETTER OF THOMAS HAY [1706 
 
 this place, whereof I doubt not but your Lop. hes had a 
 particular account. I am affraid this is but the begin- 
 ning of a greater mischief, unless it be prevented, for 
 not only the merchants, who every body thought would 
 have been the first that would have grasped at the Union 
 are afrayed that the litle tread they have will suffer by it, 
 but lykways the Presbiterian clergie discover themselves 
 every day more and more to be against it, so that from 
 the present temper and disposition of all sorts of people 
 there is too great ground to fear that, if the Parliament 
 continue to sitt and push this bussines, they will either be 
 raised by force, or, if they should bring it to a conclusion, 
 a rebellion may follow. 
 
 My Lord, if I might presume to offer my humble oppin- 
 nion, it would be that the Parliament should immediatly 
 give sume cess, and then adjourn for some time, for nothing 
 but time will wear off the present ferment that is gener- 
 ally in peoples minds over the whole nation, and bring 
 them to a more impartiall and reasonable view of the 
 Union, against which they seem at present to be so much 
 prejudged. 
 
 I am perfectly satisfied that, the longer this measure is 
 delayed, it will still be so much the worse, for I am, I 
 think, pretty weell inform' d that severall addresses for a 
 delay will in a few days come from the country to the 
 Parliament, and, if we push the voting the articles of the 
 treaty, I am very much afrayed the Parliament will be 
 raised by force. 
 
 I would have written to your Lop. before now, but the 
 truth is, I did not well know what to say, peoples mynds 
 here have been so changeable that it was hard to make 
 any tollerable judgment till now. My Lord, it is the zeal 
 I have for the peace of the Government, the great obli- 
 gations I ly under to your Lop. and absolute security I 
 promise to my self of what I say or wreat to your Lop., 
 hes made me so plainly and fully expose the truth to your 
 view. I am, with all imaginable respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Dupplin. 
 
 Edinburgh, Octobr. 25, 1706. 
 
1706] LETTERS OF JOHN ERSKINE 175 
 
 LETTERS OF JOHN ERSKINE, ELEVENTH 
 EARL OF MAR, SECRETARY OF STATE 
 IN SCOTLAND 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 My Lord, — Since my Lord Comis r wryts to y r Lop. by /. sss. 
 this flying pacquet, I shall not give you much trouble, 
 for I doubt not but he informs y r Lop. fully of the state of 
 affairs here and how people stand effected to the Union. 
 Y r lop. heard formerly that the Queen's Advocat 2 did not 
 like it, and, notwithstanding of all the Comis r and the rest 
 of the Queens servants can say to him, he continows of 
 his own oppinion, and argowd against it to us all togither. 
 However, he said he thought a separation of the two 
 kingdoms ruin, and that he wou'd do what he can to bring 
 himself up to our oppinion, and, if he cou'd not, he shou'd 
 do no harme ; or, if we thought his place cou'd be given 
 to any body who wou'd do better service and was more 
 convinced of the advantages of the Union, he wou'd resigne 
 it very freely without any grudge. His main arguments 
 against it are the loosing of our soverainity and that a 
 toleration will ruin Presbitrie. He gave the Chancelor 
 a paper w* his reasons against it much to the same pur- 
 pose with what he had said to us, but certainly his being 
 against it and acting the pairt he does most be with a 
 designe, for a man of his sence cou'd never be convinced 
 w* those waik reasons and arguments he makes use of. 
 What is the properest method to be taken with him y r Lop. 
 is best judge. There are very few of the members of 
 Pari, yet come to toun, but we have wrote for our friends 
 
 Addressed to Godolphin. 
 
 2 Sir James Stewart. 
 
176 LETTERS OF JOHN ERSKIXE 1706 
 
 and hope they will be soon here. When they come, we 
 will be able, I hope, to give y r Lop. such an account of 
 peoples inclinations that you can in some measure judge 
 what success we will probablie have, w ch is imposible to 
 do just now, tho we have fully more reason to hope good 
 success than before we came to Scotland. The Comis 1 " is 
 now on the consideration w* the Servants what are the 
 most advisable methods and measurs for manadging and 
 cairying on bussiness when the Pari, meets, and, when 
 the resolution is taken, y r Lop. may be sure it will be laid 
 before you. I '11 trouble y* Lop. no more now, but I am, 
 in all dutie, my Lord, etc., Mar. 
 
 Edinb., Septm. 22, 1706. 
 
 f. 996. My Lord, — I had the honour of y rs of the 19th some 
 
 dayes ago. I 'm extreamlie oblidg'd to y r Lop. in that 
 affair of my brothers, which wou'd make me more your 
 humble servant if posible, but I '11 trouble you no more 
 with it. since 'tis but one of many favours I have had from 
 your Lop. 
 
 I have wryten fully to S r David Nairne from time to 
 time of the Queens affairs and of our proceedings here to 
 be laid before y r Lop., because I thought that wou'd be 
 less troublesome to you than wryting directly to your 
 self. I have by this flying pacquet given him a full 
 account of what has past here this week, and ordred him 
 to show it to y r Lop. if your time will alow. I 'm sure y r 
 Lop. will be surprised with some things in it and of some 
 peoples cariadge here. We have still as good hopes of 
 success in the Pari, as ever, tho perhaps it will take some 
 time before we finish the affair. I wish that may be no 
 prejudice to it in the Pari, of England, which, I fancie, 
 must of necessity sitt soon, but I hope, before the supplys 
 be over there, we may have finisht the affair here. Tho 
 we have still as good hopes as ever of succeeding in Pari., 
 yet I must acquent y r Lop. that the humour in the country 
 against the treatie or union is much increst a late, and I 
 must acknowledge the ministers preaching up the danger 
 
1706] ELEVENTH EARL OF MAR 177 
 
 of the Kirk is a principal cause of it, and the opposeing 
 darties misrepresenting every article of the treatie makes 
 the comonality believ that they will be opprest with 
 taxes. Thirr and other by wayes have altred all of a 
 sudden the inclinations of the populace very much as to 
 the Union, and most of the churchmen are not like to 
 behave so wisely nor prudently as I expected. Yet the 
 union will certainly do in the Pari. But I am affraid 
 some people may comit some foolish irregular thing, either 
 before it pass or after it ; which I think my self oblidged 
 to let y r Lop. know that it may be laid before her Majestic 
 I doubt not but others of the Queen's Servants have wry ten 
 to y r Lop., so I will not trouble you any more at this time, 
 but shall think it my honour to receave your comands 
 when you are pleased to lay them on me. I am, my Lord* 
 etc., Mar. 
 
 Edinb., Octob. 26th, 1706. 
 
 M 
 
178 LETTERS OF DAVID BOYLE [1705 
 
 LETTERS OF DAVID BOYLE, FIRST EARL 
 OF GLASGOW 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 f 168. My Lord— The Duke of Argyll, her Maties Commis- 
 sioner, having done me the honor to call me with some 
 other friends at his Graces arrivall to consider how the 
 ensuing Parliament might be best manadged for her 
 Majesty's service, wee most unanimously aggreed that 
 the Marques of Tweeddale, the Earle of Roxbrugh, and 
 others brought in with them to the Ministrie should be 
 presently laid asyde befor the sitting of the Parliament, 
 and others employed in whom my Lord Commissioner 
 may have intire confidence. 
 
 My Lord, if her Majesty be pleased to make her Govern- 
 ment all of a piece thorrowly upon the Revolution bottom, 
 it is the only means left to retrieve the mismanadgements 
 of the last Parliament, wherin the prerogative and the 
 monarchy so extreamly suffered, and to pull us out of 
 that confusion wee at present ly under. For, my Lord, 
 there is no thinking man that is not perfectly sensible 
 that the Queens having employed persones of opposite 
 views and interests in the Ministrie was the only reason 
 of her Majesty's being unsuccessfull in Parliament ever 
 since her accession to the throne. 
 
 My Lord, her Majesty's Commissioner having fully 
 written to your Lop. in this matter, I forbear to give your 
 Lop. farder trouble, and beggs pardon for what I have 
 done, assuring your Lop. that I ever shall faithfully and 
 heartily serve the Queen to the uttmost of my power. I 
 am, may it please your Lop., etc., Glasgow. 
 
 Edr., 26th Appryle 1705. 
 
 1 Addressed to Godolphin. 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF GLASGOW 179 
 
 My Lord, — I had the honor of your Lops, of the 7th, /• m - 
 wherin you are pleased to give me allowance to trouble 
 your Lop. with my opinion of what may be proper for 
 the Queens service. 
 
 My Lord, I shall faithfully and impartially give my 
 thoughts as to the present measures in setling the Protes- 
 tant succession in this kingdom. Its my opinion that 
 the only means and way to setle the succession is that 
 the Duke of Queensberrie come doun to Scotland so 
 soon as possible and cordially assist my Lord Duke of 
 Argyll, her Majesties Commissioner, and they, in concur- 
 rence with their friends of the Revolution foot, have a 
 most probable expectation of success ; and it is absolutly 
 impossible for any others in this kingdom, yea, all the 
 rest joyned together that will undertake the manadge- 
 ment of that matter, to propose the least probability of 
 succeeding ; no, not so much as to come within vieu 
 of it. 
 
 My Lord, I humbly offer my advyce for her Majesties 
 service with all duty and respect befor her Majesty take 
 her finall resolutions as to measures or persones she designs 
 to employ in her service, and that free of all positiveness. 
 For, when her Majesty hath determined her self, I lay 
 my hand upon my mouth, and doe most chearfully sub- 
 mitt ; and shall heartily concurr to serve the Queen in 
 her measures with any persones she pleaseth to employ ; 
 and that so much the rather that I have no post in the 
 Government, for I have ouned myself her Majesties faith- 
 full and obedient subject and servant, and shall be 
 ambitious to take hold of every opportunity, wherby I 
 may testifie my duty and allegiance. And, my Lord, 
 whill I breath, I shall serve the Queen in her interest and 
 measures of government to my uttmost capacity. 
 
 My Lord, I know I was represented to her Majesty by 
 some that were none of my best friends as not hearty 
 in the succession last Parliament. I hope the Queen is 
 satisfied of the contrar ; for I had occation for tuo dayes 
 to goe to my countrey residence and use my uttmost 
 influence to hinder a Jacobites coming in to be elected a 
 
180 LETTERS OF DAVID BOYLE [1705 
 
 member of Parliament, and in my absence the succession 
 was moved, which was the ground of that malicious 
 aspersion. I only trouble your Lop. with this accompt 
 that the Queen may have no misapprehension of my 
 unfixedness to her interest ; or judge, because I was 
 turned out at the doun- sitting of the last Parliament, I 
 was in the least picqued or humorous. 
 
 For, my Lord, upon honor, no friend's nor party's con- 
 cern whatsoever, provyded I can any wayes come at the 
 knowledge of her Majesties measures, shall in the least 
 divert me from serving the Queen in the best way I am 
 capable of. So hoping your Lop. will excuse this trouble, 
 and beleeve that I ever shall approve myself, may it please 
 your Lop., etc., Glasgow. 
 
 Edr., 12th May 1705. 
 
 /. 226. My Lord, — The honor you did me in your last in letting 
 
 me know the justice your Lop. was pleased to doe me in 
 reading my letter to the Queen, vindicating me from that 
 aspersion of counteracting her Majesties measures last 
 sessions, and that her Majesty was satisfied the same was 
 a misrepresentation, hath made me perfectly easy ; for 
 I had rather chosen death then acted so humorous and 
 base a part ; and must acknowledge my self infinitely 
 bound to your Lop. for your goodness, and shall ever 
 retain a gratefull sense of it, and shall most faithfully and 
 heartily serve your Lop. if ever providence give me ane 
 occation, bot, alas, I fear I never have ane opportunity 
 to testifie my duty and gratitude, bot, whill I breath, I 
 ever shall have the good will ; and I am known never to 
 be worse then my word. 
 
 And now, my Lord, that your Lop. hath been instru- 
 mentall in procuring me this mark of her Majesties favor 
 in naming me her Treasurer-Deputt, I am truly out of 
 countenance, and know not what returns to make your 
 Lop. I give you my humble and hearty thanks, and 
 begs leave to give your Lop. all the assurances of a man 
 of honor that I ever will faithfully and sincerly serve her 
 
1705] FIRST EARL OF GLASGOW 181 
 
 Majesty to the uttmost of my power, and, whatever 
 measures the Queen pleaseth to go 2 in to, either in this or 
 any other session of Parliament, I shall heartily comply 
 with without reserve or in the least disputing her com- 
 mands. And, whatever sett of persons the Queen shall 
 find neccessar to bring in to her government, I shall chear- 
 fully concurr with them, for I bless God I have exceptions 
 against no man the Queen can prevail with to serve her 
 interest. And, my Lord, I shall also with ten tymes 
 greater satisfaction lay doun my post when her Majesty 
 finds it convenient for her service then I now accept of it, 
 and serve her Majesty faithfully so far as I have access 
 in my private station. My Lord, I have my oun fears 
 that the Queens affairs shall not have the wished for 
 success, bot I shall be glad to be disappoynted. 
 
 My Lord, I from my heart wish your Lop. all health 
 and happiness, and that your Lop. may ever continue 
 in the honorable post you now enjoy shall be the constant 
 and earnest prayer of, may it please your Lop., etc., 
 
 Glasgow. 
 
 Edr., lUh June 1705. 
 
 My Lord, — The Commissioner and the Queens Servants / 308. 
 having laid it upon the Clerk-Register to acquaint your 
 Lop. with the proceedings in Parliament, is the only reason 
 why I have not troubled your Lop. with letters, for I love 
 naither to repeat nor be troublesome. 
 
 My Lord, yesterday by my office I pressed a second 
 reading to ane act of supplies, which sometyme agoe I 
 had offered to the House and obtained a first reading 
 marked on it. The Parliament was pleased verry unani- 
 mously to grant six moneths supplies, which is thretty 
 six thousand pounds, for mantaining our troops and 
 garrisons and for outreiking tuo friggots to defend our 
 Coast trade agt. privateers. This supply only serves for 
 a year ; the Parliament also granted another moneths 
 supply, being six thousand pounds for refitting another 
 friggott to guard our coast trade. My Lord, I heartily 
 
182 LETTERS OF DAVID BOYLE [1705 
 
 wish wee had continued our supplies for tuo or three 
 years, bot I can assure your Lop. there was no paines 
 wanting in me to bring the Queens affaires to a good 
 issue, and, whill I breath, shall contribute my uttmost 
 endeavours to doe her Majesty the best services I am 
 capable of, and that as frankly and chearfully when out 
 of office as in office. 
 
 My Lord, I am sorry to give your Lop. by this the 
 accompt of the death of the Earle of March, brother to 
 the Duke of Queensberry, and of the death of Lewtennent- 
 Generall Ramsay, who both died this evening between six 
 and seven a cloak. My Lord, the Earle of Leven desyres 
 his pretensiones to command the armie may be laid befor 
 the Queen. He is certainly a faithfull servant to her 
 Majesty and would be intirely acceptable to all that wish 
 well to the present established Government in this nation. 
 I hope your Lop. will pardon this presumption in me. 
 I ever am unalterablie, may it please your Lop., etc., 
 
 Glasgow. 
 
 Edr., 9th Septr. 1705. 
 
 / 990. m y Lord, — The Queens Commissioner, the Duke of 
 
 Queensberry, with others of her Majesties Servants having 
 written to your Lop. concerning the payment of ten 
 thousand pounds to Sir David Nairn, qrof four thousand 
 fyve hundred pounds to be detained by the said Sir 
 David upon the Duke off Queensberry' s accompt, and 
 the remaining soume off fyve thousand fyve hundred 
 pounds to be remitted to Scotland, I was this day ordered 
 by the Duke of Queensberry to acquaint your Lop. that 
 you would be pleased to remitt the s d money to Scotland 
 so soon as possible, in regard that many of our nobility 
 who are come to Parliament, that want their bygone 
 pensiones, are calling for some money, and it is for her 
 Maties service that they have a part at this juncture. 
 My Lord, our Parliament mett yesterday and, contral- 
 to expectation, wee proceeded and read the articles of 
 treaty with great calmness and attention, and ordered the 
 
1706] FIRST EARL OF GLASGOW 183 
 
 treaty with the Journalls for the better information of the 
 members to be printed ; and adjourned to the tenth of 
 this moneth. The opposing party designed to open hotly 
 and declare them selves ag* ane intire and incorporating 
 union, bot, finding their numbers short, they forbore and 
 delayed their fire. 
 
 My Lord, I am heartyly glad that I can give your 
 Lop. good hopes of the success of the treaty. Our clergy 
 are become verry calm, and many of our members of 
 Parliament upon second thoughts have altered their 
 opinion, and are now friendly and hearty for the union. 
 
 My Lord, nothing shall be wanting that is in my 
 power to advance the success of the measure, and, whill 
 I live, shall ever with lyfe and fortune mantain the same 
 succession to the Croun of Scotland that is declared by 
 England. I beg pardon for this trouble, and ever am, 
 with the greatest respect and uttmost sincerity, my Lord, 
 etc., Glasgow. 
 
 Edr., Uh octbr. 1706. 
 
 My Lord, — -The Queens Servants here having given your /■ 4M- 
 Lop. the trouble of writting to you in my behalf, by this 
 packett I shall beg leave to return your Lop. my most 
 humble and hearty thanks for all the marks of favor and 
 friendship I have received of your Lop. My Lord, the 
 office of Clerk-Register being at her Majesties disposal 
 upon the death of my Lord Philliphaugh, your Lop. will 
 excuse my using this piece of violence to my modesty, 
 earnestly begging that your Lop. would be pleased to 
 intercede with the Queen to conferr that mark of her 
 Royall favor on me. My Lord, I am verry much ashamed 
 and out of countenance to give your Lop. this trouble, for 
 I'm sure, if I can pretend to any ingenuity, I love to be 
 easy to the Queen and all her servants and to give them 
 verry litle trouble. My Lord, whither her Majesty think 
 good or not to conferr that employment on me, I shall 
 ever, with the same zeall and faithfullness, serve her 
 interest, whill I live, against all opposers whatsomever. 
 
184 LETTERS OF DAVID BOYLE 
 
 I intirely depend upon your Lops, goodness and favor, 
 and am, with the greatest truth and respect, my Lord, etc., 
 
 Glasgow. 
 
 [No date. Glasgow was appointed Clerk-Register 
 16 July 1708.] 
 
1708] LETTERS OF ALEXANDER RIGBY 
 
 185 
 
 LETTERS OF ALEXANDER RIGBY 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 Edinburgh, the 19th June 1708. 
 Sr, — The last post I gave you a great deale of trouble. / 406. 
 Annexed is a list of the Lords of Scotland and them crossed 
 are the 16 ; those with 9 were before the election 1 supposed 
 to be for D. Queensberrys party ; those, S. of the Squa- 
 drone ; P. for Papists ; and M. for Minors. 
 
 Yesterday morning I visitted the Marquis of Carmarthen, 2 
 who told me that he had voted for D. of Roxbro', and 
 sorry he was, he said, but, then, he confess' t his father 
 would have it so, Ld. Nottingham hauving been very 
 importunate for his son-in-law. It slipped from him that 
 the D. of Queens — ry was uneasey at what had happened 
 and complained y 1 he was left in the lurch. 
 
 I was an hour with Ld. Seafeild, and he seemed pleased 
 enough. He was very diligent and quick at th' election, 
 and with perswaision and retorick did as much as the 
 Housekeeper. His L d pp. was very frank and open, for 
 it was in his closett. He shewed much good nature, and 
 I do think him the prittyest person in this country for an 
 affaire of this, or any other kinde of bussiness, so that, 
 if he cannot continnue Ch. Baron, he ought not to be 
 rendered useless, as some threaten, and I 'm sure when alls 
 considered, it will be found y* the D. of Dover 3 and his 
 freinds have the greatest stroak in the Kn ts of the Shires 
 and in the burroughs, but it will require another considera- 
 
 1 This election was the first appeal made to the country after the Union. 
 The letter refers to the election of peers, the result of which was that the 
 Government secured ten out of the sixteen. 
 
 2 Sir Thomas Osborne, of Kiveton, co. York. He was created Marquess of 
 Carmarthen on April 9, 1689. 
 
 3 Duke of Queensberry. He was created Duke of Dover on May 26, 1708. 
 
186 
 
 LETTERS OF ALEXANDER RIGBY [1708 
 
 tion whether it would have been so if the influence had 
 not been on their side. Many are very angry at young 
 Ld. Stair being out, and blaime the President and the 
 Dalrimples, and I asked Ld. Roseberry how he had so 
 many and his relation Staire so few. He answered, 
 because the Lords who had proxeys on the Juncto side 
 would not tell him that they had orders to put him into 
 their lists, and that keep't him so under doubts that he 
 was obliged narrowly to reguard his owne safety. 
 
 My Lord xArmandale, Sutherland [blank] and 
 
 Rose, hope to gitt in by the objections to proxeys, so 
 that the House of Lords must have a Committee of Elec- 
 tions and Priveledges as well as the Commons, and you'l 
 see, S r , the disappointed peers will follow those close that 
 they think to put out of their way. I shall do what I can 
 to make the mentioning of moderation effectuall, but he 
 is recconed no body y* will not persue an injury or sustain 
 his pretentions. 
 
 I am endeavouring to gitt a coppy of the pole y* you 
 may see how every Lord voted, and I will, if I gitt it in 
 time before I go my great jorny, add some remarks by 
 which you will be able to knou much of the nobility here 
 and how they are influenced, and in what country they 
 prevaile. 
 
 The D. of Roxbro' will be in London very speedily, 
 and the D. of Dover soon after him. I hear the Marquis 
 of Carmarthen will go back in the D. of Dovers coach : 
 he looks miserably thinn. 
 
 The Court Lords, as they call them here, had 24 
 proxeys, and, most of the L ds who gave them proxeys 
 haveing reserved a vote for Lord Orkney and his bro r 
 the Duke, the 14 remaineing were thrown for at dice at 
 Q s berry house, and Roseberry had great luck and Lord 
 Stair badd, Geo. Dalrimple throwing for him. Y e rest 
 of the Lords had what the dice gave them. This shews 
 what comes of granting proxeys in an election of this 
 nature. 
 
 My Lord Roseberry hath too long neglected himselfe, 
 and, therefore, I doubt hee'l find it hard to shake off 
 
1708] LETTERS OF ALEXANDER RIGBY 187 
 
 some habitts ; otherwise he is as well worth carressing 
 as most Lords of this country, being a sencible, reserved, 
 well breed, and indefaticable gentleman. 
 
 The Lords old Cromertie was for, were [blank] Levin, 
 Northask, Weems, and Marr. 
 
 The D. of D rs freinds threaten highly to resent 
 
 the letters I writt to you of, and much rage runeth against 
 L d S d. God send such things well quenched. 
 
 If elce occurrs err sealing, you shall have it. 
 
 I had like to have omitted telling you that Lord Forbes 
 did not vote forLd. Ross, w ch Lord Ross resents prodigiously. 
 
 Pray, sir, dropp a kind word for me to Mr. Lowndes 
 where and when you think it convenient. Before X tmas 
 I hope Mr. Lowndes will have good hopes of the customes 
 of North Brittain. Nere 2000£ came from Port Glasgow 
 
 this last weeke and between 3 and — — — from Leith, and 
 
 4000£ 
 
 yesterday a prize was brought in with wine, etc. Y* will 
 pay 5000£ if it be, as wee expect, for 'tis Burdeaux clarett, 
 etc a . ; and 3 Men of Warr hath brought in a Martinico 
 Man worth 10 thousand pounds. Pray, Sir, do not 
 forgitt me to L d Derby if you judge it convenient for you 
 to say anything to him now or hereafter, and I beseech 
 you to be assured, I am, Sir, etc., Alex. Rigby. 
 
 Justice Clerke is agoing to marry a daughter to a very 
 pritty gentleman of a 1000 d £ a yeare sterling, nere this 
 citty. I mett him on Fryday morning in Holy Roode 
 House a going to visitt D. Ham — ton w ch put me in mind, 
 how variable are sublunary things. 
 
 The vessell brought in w th wine has a French master 
 who, I 'm told, hath reported that he came from Dunkirk, 
 where all the men-of-warr and transports lye still in a 
 saileing posture, and y* they '1 come againe of a sudden 
 to invaide these parts. 1 This Dr. Pitcarne 2 tells about a 
 
 J te Dr. of great fame here — I shall gitt an affidavitt 
 
 by next post if it be true and send it Mr. Lowndes. 
 
 1 The abortive invasion of 1708 had taken place in March. 
 
 2 The well-known Dr. Archibald Pitcairne. He was an ardent Jacobite. 
 
188 
 
 LETTERS OF ALEXANDER RIGBY [1708 
 
 Edinburgh, the 22d June 1708. 
 / 410 Sr, — The Lords dropp out of towne, the D. of Rox- 
 
 borough being gone, and y e D. of Dover will proceede for 
 London on Thursday. 
 
 Great endeavours are now a useing to inflaime y e 
 Camironians. 1 They are told tis now plaine that the great 
 Lords are makeing their peace, and consiquently it behoves 
 them to look out in time, or some body will be here. 
 
 A man of good sence and quallity assured me this 
 morning that there had been an intention for to raise 
 such a spiritt as would have hindered y^ people from 
 chooseing Lord, Baron, or Representitive of Burrowes 
 for any part of this country, untill sattisfaction had been 
 given for the sending upp the prisoners ; 2 and the same 
 party added that matter would be pushed briskly in time 
 and place. I told him that prejudices had better be layd 
 aside. And that 'twas a mighty mersey no greater harme 
 attended noblemen and gentlemen upon so bold an attempt, 
 as was th' invation. 
 
 Last night I had one botle with the Marquis of Car- 
 marthen after his haveing dyned with Ld Marr, 3 where 
 was 3 other L ds , Glasgow, Gray, and Weems. I found 
 by him their L d PP s make sure of worsting one another 
 above, and it runs in the limping Admiralls head y* the 
 W. L ds are for anarchy, but it will only bring the most 
 forward, nameing the young one of — Bussiness, to the 
 block. Then a degretion came on about L d Griffin, and 
 it was said Lambert was confined, tho a flagrant Rebell, 
 and w* refuse the same humanity to a poore old man of 
 quallity, who came to assert, he could not tell what to 
 call it ; but, in short, it was of another nature ; but, I 
 looking grave and not replying, the cant ceased, and 
 then I had a story of bigg words he had given his G. of 
 Ham — ton, but they being done when his Grandure was 
 
 1 A junction of the Cameronians with the Jacobites was feared by the 
 Government. 
 
 2 After the attempted invasion of 1708 several Scots nobles were seized, and 
 the majority of them imprisoned in the Tower of London. 
 
 3 Stair ? The word has been altered and is illegible. 
 
1708] LETTERS OF ALEXANDER RIGBY 189 
 
 in drink. Amoungst other things he told him that his 
 heart and his actions did not corrispond, but ' What would 
 you have me do,' reply' d his G — ce, 4 is it not better than 
 confinem* and being starv'd ' ? etc. 
 
 I find by a gentleman that y e G one of Cornwall writt 
 to y e D. of y e Castle over against Callice that he doubted 
 the gentlema[n]s fidelity amoungst the Cameronians, etc 11 , 
 as being too great w tn Roxbro' and others that he did not 
 so well like at present, and I find by the same gentleman 
 that, when a discourse happend between the son-in-law 
 of Nott — ham, and he about our good fr d over against 
 
 S r Charles Etedgeses, his L d PP answered that my L d T r 
 
 was a very wise and great man, but was not trusted so 
 much now by y e W. L ds as formerly. 
 
 Thus, S r , I give you y e simtoms here without reserve, 
 not doubting but you will use them for y e good of y° 
 whole and perticcularly for the preservation of her Ma tie 
 and her true freinds in the times of most difficolty. 
 
 To convince you that rogues are as laborious as bees, 
 pray, reade th' annexed, w cn I took out of the hand of a 
 cadee' or beggar-boy as he sold them for a \ penny about 
 the streetes this morning. I shewed it to men of experi- 
 ence and watchfullness, and they assured me this was 
 the first of its appearance. 
 
 I cannot gett from the Clerk how the Lords voted, 
 notwithstanding the authority of his Master is on my 
 side, he excuseing it because the Lords perpetually hunt 
 him for it. I am under dayly and hourly wishes for your 
 prosperity, and entirely, S r , etc. A. Rigby. 
 
 Mr. Lowndes corrispondeth mighty kindly with us, and 
 I take the best care I can to give him as good musick 
 back. 
 
 Tis all about the Towne that the Marquis of C n 
 
 challenged D. H — ton, and some say th' Admiral may 
 chance to gitt a Sc — th stick before he gitts back to 
 Berwick. Those he se[rv]ed make him fooe as they call 
 it here and then he appears in publick to do honor to high 
 Ch . This for reputation. 1 
 
 The writing of the last paragraph is very indistinct. 
 
190 
 
 COPIES OF PAPERS 
 
 'COPPIES OF PAPERS SIGNED AND DELIVERED 
 
 by James M'Daniell to His Grace the 
 Duke of Argyl, Her Majesties Commis- 
 sioner, RELATING TO A DISCOVERY OF PER- 
 nicious practises against the queen and 
 her Government.' — 27-30 Apr. 1705. 1 
 
 (Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 28,055) 
 
 / 17 ^ A Copy of a Letter directed thus : For His Grace 
 
 The Duke of Argyl, Her Majesties high Commis- 
 sioner for the Kingdom of Scotland : humbly 
 presented. 
 
 April the 27th, 1705. 
 May please your Grace, — I have matters of the 
 highest consequence to lay before your Grace relating to 
 a most pernicious desighn now on foot in order to dethrone 
 her Majesty and place the pretended Prince of Wales on 
 the throne, in which design several men of great interest 
 are concerned. I shall not only make a full and plain 
 discovery of the whole affaire, but likewise I shall be an 
 instrument to have several Commissions, Emissaries, and 
 other Instructions from France intercepted and the whole 
 design suppressed by your Graces assistance. I humbly 
 pray that your Grace for my safety will sign the inclosed 
 and send it me inclosed in a piece of paper, and let me 
 likewise know from your Grace what hour this night you 
 will be more att leisure, and then without fail I shall wait 
 on your Grace and acquaint your Grace of the whole 
 
 1 The following papers may be read in connection with the Correspondence of 
 Colonel A. Hooke, in the Years 1703-7, Roxburghe Club. Hooke, a native of 
 Drogheda, came to Scotland in August 1 705, on a Jacobite mission. 
 
1705] ADDRESSED TO DUKE OF ARGYLL 191 
 
 matter. I humbly pray that your Grace do not communi- 
 cate any thing of this to any person living till I come to 
 you, which shall be exactly whatever hour you '1 appoint 
 me. I am, yo r Grace most humble and obedient sert., 
 
 (Signed) James M'Daniell. 
 
 Pass given to this M c Daniell by the advice of her 
 
 Majesties servants. 
 By his Grace the Duke of Argyl, her Majesties High 
 
 Commissioner for the Kingdom of Scotland. 
 
 Whereas Mr. James M c Daniell by his letter to me, 
 dated the 27th April instant, proposes to make a discovery 
 of a most pernicious and notorious design now on foot in 
 order to raise a rebellion in her Majesties kingdoms of 
 England, Scotland, and Ireland in order to dethrone her 
 Majesty and sett the pretended Prince of Wales on the 
 throne, and, whereas the said Mr. James M c Daniel doe by 
 his letter aforesaid desire a protection or safety from me 
 in order to come and make the said discovery to me, I 
 doe, therefore, in her Majesties name assure, promise, 
 and engage unto the said Mr. James M c Daniel that he shall 
 not be molested, arrested, or taken for the space of ten 
 days from the date hereof, but shall have free egress and 
 regress to come to me and goe when he pleases, and not 
 that only, but shall meet with all suitable encouragement 
 in the prosecution of the said discovery, provided the 
 said Mr. James M c Daniell doe come and make the said 
 discovery to me any time before the 29th of this instant. 
 Apryl. Given under my hand and seal. 
 
 The first Narrative delivered by M c Daniell. 
 
 A Copy of the forementioned Paper on the outside 
 thus entitled, An account of the design in view 
 to restore the pretended Prince of Wales. 
 
 An account of the design in view for restoring King 
 James the Pretender. 
 
 That in July last John Mullony, Bisshop of Killalue, 
 my unkell, and Cotl Thomas Stiphenson and Coil Charles 
 
192 
 
 COPIES OF PAPERS 
 
 [1705 
 
 M c Carty came from France to Ireland in order to settle 
 matters there for restoreing the King. Att the same 
 time came into England Bishop Price of Watterford, Cotl 
 Breyan, and Capt. Wray ; att the same time came to 
 Scotland Cotl Munroe and Cotl M c Daniel. That in October 
 last all these persons returned back to France, and there 
 have delivered an ace 1 to the late Queen 1 and to the Pre- 
 tender of all the persons that are well affected to restore 
 his Majesty, that about the latter end of January last the 
 Bishop of Watterford, Cotl Stiphenson, and Cotl M c Carty 
 were dispatched from France to Ireland with several 
 commissions and other instructions. Att the same time 
 my unkel, the Bishop of Killalue, Cotl Breyan, Cap* 
 Wray and I were dispatched for England with commis- 
 sions, instructions, and other messages. That Cotl Munroe, 
 Cotl M c Daniel, Cap 1 Muray, and Mussier Lanuy stayed 
 after us in France, having occasion to setle matters for 
 any amunition and money w ch was agreed to be sent to 
 Scotland, it being the first kingdom to get in any ; that 
 on the first of this month Cap 1 Stuword arrived from France 
 in England with farther instructions, w ch he delivered 
 there to my unkel, and by his orders or commands was 
 obliged to come to Scotland and to meet Cotl Munroe, 
 Cotl M c Daniell, Cap* Muray and Musier Lanuy about the 
 time they land ; that my unkel sent me along with him 
 in order dispatch back for England as soon as they safely 
 landed ; that Cap 1 Stuword is gon to Dundee, where he 
 has directions to find out if they have landed ; that, 
 immediatly after the Act of Security past in this kingdom, 
 severall of the leading men here made covenant with the 
 king for to restore him this summer, to w ch intent Musier 
 Lanuy and the rest brings his Majesties declaration along 
 with them for to satisfie the minds of the people as soon 
 as ever they draw into the field, w ch [was] to be in June 
 next. The names of severall concerned in this design 
 are as followeth viz. : the Lord Conisby, the Earle of 
 Dysert, the Earle of Castlehaven, S r Edword Seymor, 
 
 1 Mary of Modena, Queen of James II. 
 
1705] ADDRESSED TO DUKE OF ARGYLL, 193 
 
 my Lord Conway, S r Edmond Bacon, S r Charles Bloyes, 
 S r George Bewmont, S r Henry Seymor, S r Charles Baring- 
 ton, John How, Esq., S r Henry Bunbury, S 1 ' Walter 
 Clarges, S r William Drake, S r Thomas Cofflin, Stephen 
 Creaugh, Gentleman, S r Robert Daviey, S r Samuel Gerord. 
 S r William Ghir, S r Christopher Hayes, S r James How, 
 Daniell Artur, Gent., Councelour Mullony, S r Thomas 
 Hamer, S r Willoughby Hickman, S 1 * Robert Jenkin, Henry 
 Loyd, Esq., S r Roger Musten, S r John Mordant, S r 
 Humphrey Markworth, S r John Stanhouse, S r Beyan 
 Stapleton, S r John Terald, and severall othe[r]s that I 
 have not taken their names. 
 
 In Scotland three Dukes whose names I am affraid to 
 make use of w ch will be described by the papers when 
 intercepted, as also the Lord Drummond, the Earle of 
 Errol, the Earle of Bredalbin, the Earle of Cromarty, 
 the Earle of Hume, my Lord Aberdine, the Lord Belhaven, 
 S r Donald McDonald, M c Donald of Glincoe, M c Donald of 
 Glenonald [sic], S r Evon Cameron, the family's of the 
 M c Clods, the M c Kensies of Seaford, the Laird of Grant. 
 
 In Ireland, O Sullivone More, O Sullivone Bear, M c Carty 
 More, M c Carty Reaugh, Coil John White, Coil Dinish, 
 M c Groth, Coil John Broun, S r Donough o Brey, O Ranke, 
 O Mally, O Daniell, Mr. Lusius O Brey, S r Thomas Soutwell, 
 Coil Thomas Bourk, Coil William Bourk, Coil James 
 M c Daniell, Dinish Dally, Esq., one of the late King 
 James's judges, Artur French, Esq., and severall others 
 that I have not taken their names. 
 
 (Signed) James Mc Daniell. 
 
 A coppy of y e second narrative delivered by 
 M c Daniell. 
 
 An account of the dangerous designs now on foot 
 against her Majesty delivered to his Grace the 
 Duke of Argile on the 28th of Aprill, 1705. 
 
 The humble memoriall of Mr. James M c Daniell on y e 
 28th of Aprill, 1705, delivered att Edenborough to his 
 
 N 
 
194 
 
 COPIES OF PAPERS 
 
 Grace my Lord Duke of Argile, her Majesties High Com- 
 missioner for the Kingdom of Scotland, relating to severall 
 pernicious designs now on foot against her Majesties 
 Crown and Government, w ch are as followeth, viz. : — 
 
 That in July last John Mullony, Bishop of Killalue, 
 unkell to the said M c DaniclL Coll Thomas Stiphenson, 
 and Cotl Charles M c Carty came from France to Ireland in 
 order to settle matters for restoreing King James 8 and 3, 
 and att the same time came to Scotland Cotl Munroe and 
 Cotl M c Daniell ; att the same time to England Bishop 
 Price of Waterford, Cotl Breyan, and Cap. Wray ; and 
 after having finished their negotiations in the said king- 
 doms returned to France in October last and there have 
 delivered to the late Queen and her son, the pretended 
 king, all the assurances w ch they have brought from the 
 kings well affected friends in the kingdoms aforesaid, 
 amoungst w ch assureances were invitations and assurances 
 from his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, the Duke of Athol, 
 the Duke of Gordon, and severall others of the kingdome 
 of Scotland promising their assistance in restoring his 
 Majesty, a list of whose names therein conserned I have 
 this day along Avith this memoriall presented to his Grace 
 the Duke of Argile. That, immediatly after the late 
 queen and the pretended king received the same assur- 
 ances, they immediatly repaired to Yersailes to the French 
 king, and there layed all the said assurances and invitations 
 before him, att w ch time the French king gave orders to 
 Musier de Torcy to send for Bishops Price and Mullony 
 and for Cotl M c Daniell and Cotl Munroe, and to examine 
 them severally about the disposition of the people in 
 Scotland, England, and Ireland towards the restoration 
 of the king, w ch was done ; that afterwards it was agreed 
 that aforesaid persons should be sent back to England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland with commissions and other instruc- 
 tions to the kings party there, the Bishop of Watterford, 
 Cotl Stiphenson, and Cotl M c Carty to Ireland ; to Eng- 
 land, Bishop Mullony, Cotl Breyan, and Cap 1 Wray ; Cotl 
 Munroe, Cotl M c Daniell, Cap 1 Muray, and Musier Lanuy 
 
1705] ADDRESSED TO DUKE OF ARGYLL 195. 
 
 to Scotland, but the latter four, having occasion to stay 
 for sometime att Paris for money, arms, and amunition, 
 w ch we re agreed to be sent to Scotland by the way of 
 Dunkirk, stayed behind in order to bring the same, and 
 the rest came away about the latter end of January ; 
 that it was likewise agreed that 6000 men should be sent 
 to Scotland as soon ever as the Duke of Hamilton, the 
 Duke of A[t]hol, and the Duke of Gordon and the rest of 
 their party got in arms ; that 13,000 men were to be 
 landed att Baity more in the county of Corke in Ireland 
 att the same time ; that at the same time the kings party 
 in England were likewise to be in arms, and to hinder 
 her Majesties Forces from joyning. They had, at the 
 same time, a rumour and a discovery to make the Queen 
 prisoner, w ch might discourage all the kings enemy's, all 
 w ch proceedings are to be in June next ; that on the begin- 
 ning of this mounth Cap* Stuword arrived in England 
 from hence with some further instructions w ch he has 
 delivered to Bishop Mullony, who is now in England, and 
 by his orders and commands the said Cap 1 Stuword was 
 obliged to come to Scotland and about Dundee to meet 
 Cotl Munroe, Cotl M c Daniell, Cap 1 Muray, and Musier 
 Lanuy, who are to land there about this time with severall 
 commissions, messages, instructions, and money, they 
 having left Paris att the same time with him in order 
 to come to Scotland ; that the said Cap 1 Stuword is gone 
 to Dundee, that my unkell sent me along with him from 
 London to Scotland in order to goe back as soon ever as 
 they land with whatever instructions I recieve from them ; 
 that Cap 1 Stuword, knowing where to find intelligence of 
 their landing, is gone to enquire and watch their landing, 
 and, thinking it not proper to bring me along with him, 
 left me in Eednborough where he is to come to me as soon 
 ever as they land ; that the 13,000 men that are to be 
 landed in Ireland are to be commanded by the Duke of 
 Berwick, who is in cheif to command in that kingdom. 
 
 (Signed) James M c Daniell. 
 
196 
 
 COPIES OF PAPERS 
 
 [1705 
 
 A List of the severall persons y* are engaged in ye 
 interest of the pretended Prince of Wales in 
 order to restore him and dethrone her Majesty : 
 viz., in England the following persons : — 
 
 4 
 
 oThe Earle of Dysert 
 oS r Edward Seymor 
 S r Walter Clarges 
 oS' William Drake 
 0 S r Henry Seymor 
 0 S r Charles Burington 
 John How, Esq. 
 S' Willoughby Hickman 
 S r Robert Jenkins 
 Henry Lovd, Esq. 
 
 oThe Earle of Castlehaven 
 0 31 v Lord Conisby 
 oS r * Thomas Coflin 
 
 S r Edmund Bacon 
 0 S r Charles Bloyes 
 
 S r George Bewmont 
 
 S r Robert Douviss 
 0 S r Robert Musten 
 
 S r John Mordant 
 0 S r Humphrey Muckworth 
 
 0 Lord Conway 
 S r Henrv Bunburv 
 S r William Ghir 
 
 0 S T Samuel Gerard 
 
 oS r Christopher Hayes- 
 
 o S r James How 
 S r Thomas Hamer 
 S' John Stanhouse 
 
 0 S r Erevan Stapleton 
 S r John Tereld 
 
 The Earle of Nottingam Daniel Arthur, Gent. Stiphen Creagh. 
 
 Oouncelour Dinish Mul- Gent. 
 I any 
 
 I have not delivered any letters or other packets to any 
 of those written, the line four and the line three, but 
 have seen letters and other packets directed to the severall 
 persons marked with the (°) and my unkell tould me that 
 packets and letters were delivered to the rest, and I took 
 all their names out of his book. 
 
 I have with my own hands delivered three packets in 
 Daniell Artur's house to Nottingam, Artur and Creauch, 
 and a letter w ch I suppose to be from my unkell to Mullony. 
 
 (Signed) James McDaniell. 
 
 A List of the severall persons that are for raiseing in 
 rebellion in Scotland in order to restore the 
 pretended King James the Eigth and 3 and 
 dethrone her Majesty. 
 
 The Duke of Hamilton S r Donald M* Donald 
 
 The Duke of Atholl M c Donald of Glincoe 
 
 The Duke of Gordon The Laird of Grant 
 
 The Earle of Cromarty M 1 Donald of Glenronald 
 
 The Earle of Hume S r Evon Cameron 
 
 The Lord Drummond The fameWes of y' M c Clods 
 
 The Earle of Bredalbin The M c Kenzies of Seaford and 
 
 The Lord Aberdine severall others that I can not 
 
 The Lord Belhaven remember 
 
 The Earle of Errol 
 
1705] ADDRESSED TO DUKE OF ARGYLL 197 
 
 The reason that I have to believe that the foregoing- 
 persons are concerned is as followeth : I have seen with 
 Cotl M c Daniell a list of their names, w ch he said he took 
 in Scotland, w ch list my unkell took a coppy att the 
 English coffe house near the Aby in Germains, and 
 I took a coppy of the same from my unkell ; besides 
 Colt Munroe named them to me att severall times 
 and my unkell tould me that he saw the assurances 
 under the Dukes Hamilton, Gordon, and Athols hands, 
 and that the Queen shewed him the same, and told 
 him that now her child would be restored, for w ctl she 
 gave God thanks. Besides every body concerned for the 
 kings interest att S t Germains generally said that the 
 Duke of Hamilton is to command the army in cheif here 
 in Scotland. 
 
 {Signed) James Mc Daniell. 
 
 A List of the severall persons in Ireland concerned 
 for the interest of the pretended Prince of 
 Wales in order to restore him and dethrone 
 the Queen. 
 
 O Sullvion More O Sullvion Bear M c Carty More 
 
 M c Carty Reaugh Cotl John White Cotl Dinish M' Grail 
 
 O Moly O Rourk Cotl Thomas Bourk 
 
 Cotl William Bourk Cotl James M c Daniell Cotl John Brown 
 
 Dinish Dally, Esqr., one of the late King- James's Judges 
 
 Artur French, Esqr. S r Donough O Breyan of the County Clare 
 
 Cap r Nicholas Bourk M r Lusius O Breyan Cotl Power 
 
 S r Thomas Southwell Coil M c Carty of the County Corke, and 
 
 severall others I do not well remember. 
 
 I have seen of late packets or letters to every one in 
 this list from France, and, when my unkell was in Ireland, 
 he brought every one of them letters from France, but I 
 saw none delivered, only to Cotl White, S r Donough 
 O Breyan, and Coil Dinish M c Grall of Killbeherry in y« 
 county of Korke. 
 
108 
 
 COPIES OF PAPERS 
 
 [1705 
 
 A coppy of another letter directed thus : — For His 
 Grace My Lord Duke of Argyle, her Majesties 
 High Commissioner for y e Kingdom of Scotland. 
 
 Aprill the BOth, 1705. 
 May it please your Grace, — I have received the 
 inclosed just now and thought it my duty to send it 
 your Lordshypt by the bearer. Now, I suppose, your 
 Lordshypt has noe need to be in any despair of finishing 
 your design ; nothing I am sure shall be wanting on my 
 side. I beg leave, my Lord, to tell your Lordshypt that 
 in my opinion, considering the state of her Majesties 
 affairs abroad and y e severall divisions and misunder- 
 standings now att present between her Majesties subjects 
 att home, that nothing could be more seasonable for ye 
 welfare of her [Majesties interest and Government, as now 
 established, than this discovery that I made, through 
 which I shall goc by Gods help and see the same finished 
 compleatly, which is my ambition and desire, but I must 
 farther beg leasure of your Lordshypt to acquaint your 
 Lordshypt that, when a person intrusted by a Prince and 
 by his nearest of relations forfeits his reputation, layes 
 his friends in the greatest of dangers, and destroyes the 
 interest for w eh he was first concerned, that those when 
 considered ought to be sould and purchased att the 
 dearest rate. My Lord, if I had made such a seasonable 
 and timely discovery as this to the French Court, I should, 
 att least, upon the first opening of it, receive five or six 
 hundred pistoles as a present in order to make me sensible 
 of the good intention designed for me, and I am apt to 
 believe, had I made it to the Court of England, I should 
 meet with the like success, but I had a reason not to make 
 it there, w ch I partly told your Lordshypt. It's not that 
 I despair to be gratified, but that a bird in the hand is 
 worth two in the bush. I must own to have met from 
 your Lordshypt and the rest of the Lords with all the 
 respect and civility imaginable, for which I doe in most 
 humble manner give you all my hearty thanks. My Lord. 
 I rather write this to your Lordshypt than think [sic], 
 
1705] ADDRESSED TO DUKE OF ARGYLL 199 
 
 and, not to open my mind, I wish your Lordshypt would 
 be more kind to the bearer than you have been hitherto. 
 By Gods help nothing will discourage me from finishing 
 the great and good work I have begun, w ch I doe not doubt 
 to compleat to your Graces and the rest of the Lords full 
 satisfaction. I am, my Lord, your most humble servant, 
 
 James M c Daniell. 
 
 A coppy of the inclosed mentioned in this letter 
 design' d to pass for Cap* Steward's under the 
 name of William Livistoun in all probability 
 forged, the hands resembling each other, directed 
 to M c Daniell. 
 
 Sr, — I hope you are not uneasie ; if ever you were, be 
 not now. You cannot find better opportunity to buy 
 goods than y e will have now. The Merchants I expect 
 every hour. I have met with one that left them the 
 other side, who was dispatched by them to their wives 
 and servants here in order to acquaint them of their 
 coming. The wind proves fair, so that I believe you shall 
 see them in a little time. I am in hopes you shall have 
 a good pennyworth from them. I will make no stay, 
 only see what goods they bring. I hope you have received 
 your bills from London. Expect me every hour. I am, S r , 
 your humble servant, 
 
 (Signed) William Livistoun. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Abercrombie, Alexander, of Glas- j 
 saugh, member of British parliament, 
 1708, 109. 
 
 Aberdeen (Aberdine), George, 1st earl | 
 
 of, 193, 196. 
 
 provost of. See Gordon, John. 
 
 university, Seafield a student at, ! 
 
 viii. 
 
 Abjuration oath, 113. 
 
 Act against voting by ballot, 1663, 72. ; 
 
 anent choosing officers of state, 
 
 77-8. ! 
 anent peace and war, 1703, 8-9, 
 
 106, 134. j 
 for a treaty with England, 88, ( 
 
 161, 162, 166. See also Union. 
 for encouraging fishing, 67-8, 70, J 
 
 160, 166. 
 
 for securing free-voting in parlia- ! 
 
 ment and for excluding officers of 
 the army, etc. , proposed by Hamilton, 
 156. 
 
 for the Council of Trade, 160. 
 
 [English] for the effectual securing 
 
 of the kingdom of England, the 
 ' Alien ' Act, xxiii, 65, 80 and n, 85 
 and «, 86, 88 ; its provisions, xxiii n. 
 
 ■ for the security of the Church, 
 
 100, 102 and 103-4, 
 
 of Security, xxv, 8, 106, 134, 
 
 138-40, 146, 155, 192 ; supply 
 withheld till act sanctioned by queen 
 Anne, xvi, xviii, xx. 
 
 of Settlement of 1701, xvi, 63, 73. 
 
 of Succession, xxiii. 
 
 Acts of Navigation, 14, 33, 57 and n, 
 137, 169. 
 
 Admiralty board, trial of capt. Green, 
 161. 
 
 Advocates, their address in favour of 
 duke of Hamilton's party, 111 and 
 n ; matter remitted to privy council, 
 1 14 and n. 
 
 Airlie, David, 3rd earl of, 109 and n, 
 no. 
 
 Albemarle, George Monck (Monk), 
 afterwards duke of, his partial support 
 of the loyalists, 121. 
 
 ; Alien ' Act, xxiii, 65, 80 and 11, 85 
 and 86, 88, 169; its provisions, 
 xxiii n ; demand that it be rescinded 
 before negotiations for union, xxiii. 
 
 \nnandale, William, 1st marquis of, 
 joint-secretary of state, xxii, 17 and 
 n, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30, 35, 40, 
 43> 5° «> 53< 5 6 > 60, 67, 97, 104, 
 105, 108, 157, 167, 186; treasury 
 commissioner, 31 ; his changeable- 
 ness, 48 ; opposed to the union, 89 
 94, 100-2 ; proposes a federal 
 union, 102 ; made president of privy 
 council, 89-92 ; refuses office of lord 
 privy seal, 91 and n. 
 
 \nne, queen, her dislike of the Act of 
 Security, xviii, xx ; her prerogative, 
 5-6, 9-10, 25, 78-9; dismisses the 
 New Party, Tweeddale, Rothes, and 
 others, 50 and n, 52 ; address anent 
 the Alien Act presented to her by 
 parliament of Scotland, xxiii, 86 and 
 ;z ; nomination of commissioners to 
 treat for union to be made by her, 
 xxiv, 87 ; declines to receive address 
 from the Country party, xiii, 1 1 3- 14 ; 
 earl of Cromarty as secretary of 
 state informs the queen on the state 
 of parties in Scotland, xv, 123-9; 
 the queen and the succession, 137 
 and 71, 164, 166 ; plot to make her 
 prisoner, 195. 
 
 Argyll (Argyle), Archibald Campbell, 
 marquis of, invades Scotland, 132. 
 
 earl of Hay, afterwards 
 
 3rd duke of, 61 and n, 98; his 
 anxiety to be made an earl, 96 ; lord 
 treasurer for Scotland, his patent [as 
 earl of Hay], 171. 
 
 John Campbell, 2nd duke of, lord 
 
 high commissioner to the parliament 
 of Scotland, xxi, 16 and ti, 18-20 
 and n, 23-6, 32-7, 65-7, 70, 71, 89- 
 92, 99, 101, 148, 164-5, I7o-i> 178- 
 81 ; contemplates resignation, 38- 
 44, 47, 61 ; his letters, xxi and n ; 
 urges the dismissal of the New Party, 
 xxi, xxv ; his desire to be made a 
 201 
 
202 LETTERS RELATING TO SCOTLAND 
 
 Argyl 1 — continued. 
 
 peer of England, 45, 46 ; recom- ; 
 mends sir Gilbert Elliot for lordship 
 of session, 51 ; his lease of assize 
 herrings taken on west coast, 67, j 
 1 70- 1 ; largely instrumental in help- 
 ing to pass the Treaty of Union, 96 
 and«,98«; pow er of his family, 129; ; 
 grants pass to James M'Daniell, 191 ; i 
 letters to, from James M'Daniell. 
 190-9. 
 
 Army, funds for the troops, xiv, 32, 
 39. 41, 42, 48, 66, 102, 139, 140, 
 151 : officers to be ineligible as 
 members of parliament, 156 ; weak 
 state of Scots army, 149-50. 
 
 Arthur (Artur), Daniel, 193, 196. 
 
 Atholl, John Murray, 2nd earl of, 
 funeral of, I. 
 
 marquis, afterwards 
 
 duke of, lord privy seal, xvii, 1 and 
 «, 4-10, 24, 37, 56. 71, 81-2, 90, 
 102, 132, 194-7 : suspected of Jacobite 
 sympathies, xvii ; his dukedom, and 
 services to the government, xvii- 
 xviii ; speech in parliament protest- 
 ing his innocence of Scots plot, 84 ; 
 his protestation against the English 
 'Alien' Act, 85-6; his power in 
 Scotland and loyalty of the family, 
 xviii, 130; alliance with Argyll 
 family, 130; petitions the queen to 
 be admitted to bail, 109 and )i ; his 
 release, 141 and n : letters from, to 
 Godolphin, 134-41. 
 
 Bacon, sir Edmund, of Gillingham, 
 4th bart., 193, 196. 
 
 Baillie, Robert, of Jerviswoode, 
 treasurer-depute, a leader of the 
 New Party, xix, 23 and «, 25, 28 
 and *, 97, 98 ; dismissed from the 
 queen's service, 52 ; opposes national 
 fast, 95. 
 
 Ballentine. lord. See Bellenden. 
 Ballot, Act against voting by (1663), 
 72 and n. 
 
 Baltimore (Baltymore) in Cork, pro- 
 jected landing of Pretender's ad- 
 herents, 195. 
 
 Bannerman (Benerman), Mr., 113. 
 
 Barrington (Barington, Burington), sir 
 Charles, 5th bart., 193, 196. 
 
 Beaumont (Bewmont), sir George, of J 
 Stoughton Grange, 4th bart., 193, 
 196. 
 
 Belhaven, John Hamilton, 2nd baron, 
 54. 60, 74, 77, 84, 97, 106, 193, 
 196; his quarrel with sir Alex. 
 
 Ogilvy, 2-7, 25 ; dismissed from the 
 queen's service, 52 ; his speeches 
 against union, 100-2 ; commissioner 
 of Scots treasury, opponent of the 
 union, 65 and n. 
 
 Bellenden (Ballentine, Belanden),John, 
 2nd lord, assault on Mr. Gibsone, 7 ; 
 death of, 100 and n. 
 
 John, 3rd lord, 100. 
 
 Berwick, James, duke of, to command 
 troops in Ireland for the Pretender, 
 195. 
 
 Blair castle, duke of Atholl arrested 
 at. 109 
 
 Blantyre (Blanter), Alexander, 5th 
 
 lord, 1 1 1- 1 5. 
 Blois (Bloyes), sir Charles, 1st bart., 
 
 of Gruntlesburgh, 193, 196. 
 Bourk, capt. Nicholas, 197. 
 
 col. Thomas, 193, 197. 
 
 col. William, 193, 197. 
 
 Boyle, David, 1st earl of Glasgow. 
 
 See Glasgow. 
 Breadalbane (Broadalbine), John, 1st 
 
 earl of, 23 and I30-3, 193, 196. 
 Brown (Broun), col. John, 193, 197. 
 Bruce, Mr., 11-13. 
 
 sir Alexander. See Kincardine, 
 
 earl of. 
 
 lady Mary, 93 and //. 
 
 Bryan (Breyan), col., 192, 194. 
 Buccleuch family, power of, 129-30. 
 Buchan, David, 21st and 9th earl of, 30. 
 Bunbury, sir Henry, 3rd bart., 193, 
 
 196. 
 
 Burghs, Fletcher's proposal to enlarge 
 number of parliamentary burghs, 1 56. 
 Burnet, major, fined for assault, 7. 
 Butter, importation forbidden, 57. 
 
 Cameron, sir Ewen (Evon), 193, 196. 
 clan, armed strength of, 131 ; all 
 
 protestants and loyal to the crown, 
 
 131. 
 
 Cameronians, 189 ; their junction with 
 
 Jacobites feared, 188 and 
 Campbell, Mr., II. 
 
 lord Archibald. See Argyll, 
 
 Archibald, 3rd duke of. 
 lord Charles, son of John, 2nd 
 
 duke of Argyll, 98. 
 Colin, of Glendaruel, cited to 
 
 attend Parliament, 84. 
 Hugh, 3rd earl of Loudoun. See 
 
 Loudoun. 
 family, 129. 
 
 Carmarthen, sir Thomas Osborne, of 
 Kiveton, marquis of, 185 and n, 186, 
 188-9. 
 
INDEX 
 
 203 
 
 Carmichael, James, 3rd lord, afterwards 
 2nd earl of Hyndford. See Hyndford. 
 
 Carstares (Carstairs), William, modera- 
 tor of general assembly, 21 and n, 
 144 
 
 Castlehaven, Tames, 6th earl of, 192, 
 196. 
 
 Cavalier (Jacobite or episcopal) party, 
 xiv, xviii, 1 2, 16, 55-7. 62, 63, 
 69. 70, 79, 81, 87, 129; Seafield's 
 relations to, x and n ; brings forward 
 an act for regulating the constitution, 
 
 73 ; in favour of a federal union but 
 against an incorporating union, 85, 
 101 ; friendly to queen Anne, 129; 
 nonjurors, 143. 
 
 Charles I., his visit to Scotland in 1641, 
 
 74 and 11 ; prejudice of Scots nobility 
 against him, 1 19. 
 
 Cheese, importation forbidden. 57. 
 
 Church of Scotland, act for security of, 
 100, 102 and ;/, 103-4; representa- 
 tion to parliament against the popish J 
 successor, 107 ; Seafield appointed j 
 lord high commissioner to general j 
 assembly, 1700 and 1703. ix ; pro- j 
 ceedings of general assembly, 1705, 
 21 ; general assembly commission 
 and a national fast, xxv, 95 n ; com- 
 mission appoints a day for prayer, 
 xxv, 97. 
 
 Civil list allowances, 16 ; funds ex- 
 hausted. 39-40, 48, 66. 
 
 Claim of Right, 72-4, 78. 
 
 Clans, number of men in arms that can 
 be raised by various clans. 131 ; 
 protestant clans loyal to the crown, 
 but hated by the Whigs, 132 ; lord 
 Tarbat suggests to queen Anne the 
 subsidising of the protestant clans, 
 132-3. 
 
 Clarendon, Edward, 1st earl of, his 
 
 fall from the ministry, 121. 
 Clarges, sir Walter, 1st bart., 193, 196. 1 
 Clergy of Scotland, their conduct after i 
 
 the Reformation, 118-23; hostile to 
 
 a treaty for union, xxiv. 
 Cockburn, Adam, of Ormiston, lord 
 
 Ormiston, aftenvards lord justice 
 
 clerk, 95. 96 ; writes to the earl of 
 
 Sunderland, 108 ; recommends sir ' 
 
 Gilbert Elliot for a judgeship, 165-6; 
 
 his daughter's marriage, 187 ; letters 
 
 from, xxi, 164-9. 
 Cofflin, sir Thomas, 193, 196. 
 Coinage, regulation of, 54, 55. 
 Commissioners for shires, 17, 74. 
 to the parliament of Scotland, 
 
 powers of, 13 ; nomination of, 16- 
 
 J 7' 33» 45- Argyll; Queens- 
 
 berry ; Tweeddale. 
 
 Coningsby (Conisby) of Clanbrassil, 
 Thomas, 1st lord. 192, 196. 
 
 Convention of burghs, 14. 
 
 Conway, Francis Seymour, lord, 193, 
 196. 
 
 Country party. See Old party. 
 Court party, 116. 
 
 Creagh (Creaugh), Stephen, 193, 196. 
 
 Cromarty, sir George Mackenzie, of 
 Tarbat, viscount Tarbat, afterwards 
 1st earl of. 59 and ;;, 94. 95. 135-7. 
 149. 1S7, 193, 196 : votes for union, 
 64. 99, 101 : secretary of state for 
 Scotland, xv, 11S;/: Lockhart's 
 opinion of viscount Tarbat, xv n ; 
 a supporter of the government, 
 118;/; his ' First causes of Scotland's 
 divisions," 1703, xv, 11S-23; his 
 ' Present state of the Scots divisions,' 
 
 xv, 123-9: his 'Characters of 
 families,' xv, 129-33 ; letter from, 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, ' assists his brethren 
 
 of the league in Scotland," 121. 
 Crown, protestant succession to the, 
 
 xvi, xix, xx. xxii. 10, 14 and «, 16, 
 20 ;/. 21, 33. 3S, 39, 43-7 and tr, 
 48-50, 54, 55, 105, 137 and «, 130, 
 143, 146, 149, 154, 155, 159, 164, 
 165, 169, 1S3 ; the earl of Glasgow's 
 views as to its settlement, 179. 
 
 limitations of prerogative. See 
 
 Prerogative royal. 
 Cullen, earl of Seafield commissioner 
 
 for, viii. 
 
 Dally, Dinish, judge, 193, 197. 
 
 Dalrymple, George, 1S6. 
 
 sir Hew, president of the court of 
 
 session, 16 and ;/. 20, 24. 30. 
 
 Damask, importation prohibited, 57. 
 
 Darien colony, 13S; Seafield's opposi- 
 tion to, viii-xi. 
 
 Davey (Daviey, Douviss), sir Robert. 
 193, 196. 
 
 Derby, James Stanlev. 19th and loth 
 earl of, 187. 
 
 Dickson, sir Robert. M.P., 5. 
 
 Dornick [linen cloth], importation pro- 
 hibited, 57. 
 
 Douglas, Archibald, 3rd marquis, 
 created duke of, S3 and 
 
 family, eminence of, 130. 
 
 Dover, duke of. See Queensberry. 
 
 Drake, James, his History of the 
 Last Parliament ', publicly burned. S 
 and ft. 
 
204 LETTERS RELATING TO SCOTLAND 
 
 Drake, sir William, of Ashe, 4th bart., 
 
 193, 196. 
 Drummond, James, lord, 193, 196. 
 — — Robert, captain of the Speedy 
 
 Return, alleged to have been 
 
 murdered by capt. Green, 20. 
 Duff, Alexander, of Drummuir, provost 
 
 of Inverness, member of British 
 
 parliament, 1708, 109. 
 Duffus, Kenneth, 3rd lord, supports 
 
 union, 104 and n. 
 Dunbarton castle, garrison of, 1704, 
 
 150 ; keeper of, 23. 
 Dundee, John Graham, viscount, 122, 
 
 132. 
 
 Dunkirk, threatened invasion from, 
 
 41-2, 187, 195. 
 Dunmore, Charles, 1st earl of, 25, 30. 
 Dupplin, Thomas Hay, viscount. See 
 
 Kinnoull, Thomas, 6th earl of. 
 Dutch service, troops recruited in 
 
 Scotland for, 26. 
 Dysart (Dysert), Lionel, 3rd earl of, 
 
 192, 196. 
 
 Edinburgh castle, garrison of, 1704, 
 150. 
 
 provost of. See Johnston, sir 
 
 Patrick. 
 
 tumult at the execution of capt. 
 
 Green, 27-30. 
 Eglinton, Alex., 9th earl of, 4, 57, 66, 
 
 94, 131 ; in favour of union, 64 ; 
 
 not friendly to the army, 150 and n. 
 
 Hugh, 7th earl of, viii. 
 
 Elliot, sir Gilbert, 33 ; recommended 
 
 as a lord of session, 51, 166, 170. 
 Episcopacy, its re-establishment aimed 
 
 at by Cavalier party, xv ; declared 
 
 antichristian by presbyterian clergy, 
 
 120, 123. 
 
 Episcopal party. See Cavalier party. 
 
 Errol, John, 1 2th earl of, lord high 
 constable, 193, 196; arrests lord 
 Belhaven and sir Alex. Ogilvy, 3, 4. 
 
 Erskine, James, lord Grange, general 
 receiver, 171, 176. 
 
 Tohn, nth earl of Mar. 5<0*Mar. 
 
 Falconer, James, lord Phesdo, death 
 of, 50; his successor, 170. 
 
 Farmers of the revenue excluded from 
 parliament, 66, 78-9. 
 
 Fast, national, proposed before nego- 
 tiations for union were proceeded 
 with, x\v, 95 and n. 
 
 Ferguson, Mr. , 12. 
 
 Findlater, James Ogilvy, 3rd earl of, 
 viii. 
 
 Findlater, James Ogilvy, 4th earl of. 
 See Seafield. 
 
 Mary, countess of, step-mother 
 
 of Seafield, 46. 
 Fishing, Act for encouraging, 67-8, 
 
 70, 160, 166. 
 Fletcher, Andrew, of Saltoun, xi-xii, 
 106, 167 ; proposes limitations on 
 powers of sovereign, xvii, xviii, 55 
 and //, 56 and 11, 63, 74 ; sends a 
 challenge to the earl of Roxburghe, 
 58; his resolve anent 'Alien' Act, 
 65 ; his petition of right, favouring 
 a republic, 72-3 ; his proposal for 
 adding to the number of parlia- 
 mentary burghs, 156. 
 Forbes, sir Robert, privy council 
 
 clerk, 32. 
 — — William, 13th lord, 187. 
 Forfar, Archibald, 1st earl of, 25, 56 
 and ;/. 
 
 Free trade with England, 33. 
 I French, Arthur (Artur), 193, 197. 
 
 General Assembly. See Church of 
 Scotland. 
 
 I Gerard (Gerord), sir Samuel, 193, 
 196. 
 
 Ghir, sir William, 193, 196. 
 Gibson, Mr., assaulted by lord Bel- 
 
 lenden, 7. 
 Glasgow, tumult over refusal of magi- 
 strates to sign an address against the 
 union, 107 and ;/. 
 
 David Boyle, 1st earl of, 23 and 
 
 ;;, 188 ; treasurer-depute, xxii, 50 
 180; lord clerk register, 183-4; 
 letters from, to Godolphin, xxi, 178- 
 84. 
 
 Glencairn, W illiam, 11th earl of, 23 
 and 25 ; privy councillor, 64 and ;/. 
 Glengarry. See Macdonald of Glen- 
 garry. 
 
 Godolphin, Sidney, lord treasurer of 
 England, xiii-xv, xix-xx, 1 13 ; advises 
 the queen to sanction Act of Security, 
 xviii, xx ; wishes to retain services 
 of the New Party, xxi ; his desire to 
 have the succession settled on the 
 electress Sophia and her heirs, 47 tt, 
 140 and n ; letters to, from — 
 Atholl, John, duke of, 134-41. 
 Dupplin, Thomas, viscount, 173-4. 
 Halifax, Charles, earl of, 160-3. 
 Leven, David, 3rd earl of, 152-8. 
 Loudoun, Hugh, earl of, 170-2. 
 Mar, John, earl of, 175-7. 
 Oxford, Robert Harley, earl of, 
 142-8. 
 
INDEX 
 
 205 
 
 Godolphin — continued. 
 
 Ramsay, George, of Carriden, 
 149-51- 
 
 Seafield, James, 1st earl of, 1-110. 
 Gordon, Mr., imprisoned, 14. 
 
 George, duke of, 194-7. 
 
 John, provost of Aberdeen, 
 
 member of British parliament, 1708, 
 
 109. 
 
 — - family, power of, 130; faithful to 
 the crown, 130; chiefs papists, 130. 
 
 Grant, Alexander, yr. of Grant, 193, 
 196 ; recommended for earl of Mar's 
 regiment, 92 ; member of British 
 parliament, 1708, 109. 
 
 Gray, John, 9th lord, 188. 
 
 Green, Thomas, captain of the Wor- 
 cester, accused of piracy and murder, 
 tried by court of admiralty and 
 sentenced to death, xx, 15 n, 17, 19 
 and n, 20 ; opposition to a reprieve, 
 24-6 ; tumult in Edinburgh at his 
 execution, 27-8 ; his crew reprieved 
 and their case remitted to the privy 
 council, 29-30, 34 ; their trial to be 
 printed, 34 ; again reprieved, 49, 58, 
 91. 
 
 Griffin, Edward, lord, 188. 
 
 Haddington, Thomas, 6th earl of, 
 2, 87 ; a supporter of New Party, 
 52 and n, 97. 
 
 Halifax, Charles Montagu, earl of, 
 letters from, to Godolphin, xxi, 160-3. 
 
 Hamer. See Hanmer. 
 
 Hamilton, James, 4th duke of, 2, 3, 
 18, 21, 24, 29, 37, 56-7, 59, 60, 63, 
 65, 69, 71, 75-6, 79, 81-2, 90, 94, 
 100, 102, 106, 137, 139, 140, 143, 
 164, 166-7, 187-9? 194-7 J nis protest 
 against the legality of the con- 
 vention, 1702, xii-xiii ; his attempt 
 to secure its dissolution, xiii, 111-17 ; 
 dines at Kiniel with Seafield, 46 ; 
 resolutions by, 66, 153-4; anxious 
 to be on council for trade, 71 ; un- 
 successful, 72 ; speech on the Scots 
 plot, 82 ; speech in parliament 
 protesting his innocence of Scots 
 plot, 84 ; his proposal that nomina- 
 tion of commissioners to parliament 
 be left to the queen, carried, xxiv, 
 87 ; desires minutes and journal of 
 parliament to be printed, 93 ; leader 
 of Country party, ill n; his pro- 
 posals anent army officers and others 
 being ineligible for parliament, 156 ; 
 letters from, to William Keith, yr. 
 of Ludquhairn, 1 1 1 - 1 7. 
 
 Hamilton, William, duke of, ix. 
 
 family, power of, 129 ; allied 
 
 to that of Argyll, 130. 
 
 Hanmer (Hamer), sir Thomas, 4th 
 bart., 193, 196. 
 
 Hanover, house of, and the succession. 
 See Sophia. 
 
 Harley, Robert. See Oxford, earl of. 
 
 Hay, Thomas, of Balhousie, viscount 
 Dupplin. See Kinnoull, 6th earl of. 
 
 Hayes, sir Christopher, 193, 196. 
 
 Hedges, sir Charles, English secre- 
 tary of state, 144 and n, 163, 189. 
 
 Herring fishing, Dutch 'dogers,' pur- 
 sued by French men of war, 58 ; 
 premiums given to exporters of 
 herrings, 67-8; lord commissioner's 
 lease of assize herrings on west coast. 
 67, 170-1. 
 
 Hickman, sir YVilloughby, 3rd bart., 
 
 193, 196. 
 Highlanders. See Clans. 
 Highlands, libraries sent from England 
 
 to the, 21. 
 Holland (cloth), foreign, importation 
 
 prohibited, 57. 
 Home (Hume), Charles, 6th earl of, 193, 
 
 196 ; opponent of union, 74 and n. 
 sir John, 25. 
 
 sir Patrick. See Marchmont, 
 
 earl of. 
 
 Hope, Archibald, lord Rankeilor, 
 
 death of, 96, 171. 
 Hopetoun (Hoptone), Charles, 1st earl 
 
 of, 24. 
 
 Howe (How), sir James, of Cold Bar- 
 wick, 2nd bart., 193, 196. 
 
 John, 193, 196. 
 
 Hume. Sec Home. 
 Hyde, Mr., 13. 
 
 Hyndford, James, 3rd lord Carmichael, 
 afterwards 2nd earl of Hyndford, 
 succeeds his father as colonel of a 
 regiment of dragoons, 169. 
 
 John, 1st earl of, 25, 169. 
 
 Invasion, threatened by French squad- 
 ron under St. Pol, 41 and 42, 44, 
 187 and n, 188. 
 
 Inverkeithing, success of the English 
 army at, 121. 
 
 Inverness, provost of. See Duff, Alex. 
 
 Jacobite party. See Cavalier party. 
 James II. of England, his ' forfaulture,' 
 viii, ix. 
 
 James VI., his Basilicon doron, 119. 
 James, duke of York. See York. 
 James, the Pretender. See Stewart, 
 James. 
 
206 LETTERS RELATING TO SCOTLAND 
 
 Jenkins (Jenkin), sir Robert, 193, 196. I 
 Jerviswoode (Jeroeswood). See Baillie, j 
 Robert. 
 
 Johnstone, James, lord clerk register, | 
 13 and n, 14, 15, 20, 22, 23, 139 and 
 140 and «, 159, 181 ; dismissed 
 from office, 28 and n, 29, 35. 
 
 sir Patrick, provost of Edinburgh, 
 
 29-30. 
 
 ' |uncto,' i.e. Whig party, no and u, 
 ' 186. 
 
 Keith, William, yr. of Ludquhairn, 
 commissioner of supply for Aber- 
 deenshire, letters to, from James, 
 4th duke of Hamilton, xiii, ill- 17. 
 
 Keppoch. See Macdonald of Glengarry 
 and Keppoch. 
 
 Ker, lord John, 100. 
 
 Kincardine, sir Alexander Bruce, of 
 Broomhall, earl of, against the union, 
 93 and n, 1 10. 
 
 Kinneil (Kiniel) house, 46. 
 
 Kinnoull, Thomas Hay, of Balhousie, 
 viscount Dupplin, afterwards 6th 
 [? 7th] earl of, 104 and n ; letter from, 
 to Godolphin, 173-4. 
 
 Knox, Mr. , 12. 
 
 Lacon, Mr., informer, 14. 
 
 Lambert, a rebel, 188. 
 
 Lanuy, M. , 192, 194, 195. 
 
 Lauderdale (Lautherdale), John, 5th 
 earl of, 24 and «, 64. 
 
 Leasing-making abolished as a capital 
 offence, 7-8. 
 
 Leith, 1600 men sail from Leith to join 
 Marlborough's army in Holland, 13 
 and 26. 
 
 Lennox, Charles. 1st duke of, heritable 
 jurisdictions of the family, 130. 
 
 Leven (Leaven), David Melville, 3rd 
 earl of, afterwards 2nd earl of Mel- 
 ville, general, 15, 24 and 27, 30, 
 36, 99, I4I, 144, 148, 187; and the 
 New Party, xxv and n ; asks Godol- 
 phin to obtain a remission for him 
 from the queen, 152-3; appointed 
 to command Scottish forces, 157-8; 
 recommended by earl of Glasgow, 
 182; letters from, to Godolphin, 
 1 52-8. 
 
 Libraries sent from England to the 
 1 Iighlands. 21. 
 
 Linen manufacture encouraged by pro- 
 hibition of imports. 57 ; high duties 
 on linen, 138. 
 
 Livingston, capt. , imprisoned, 14. 
 
 Livistoun, William, 199. 
 
 Lockhart, Cromwell, of Lee, his assault 
 on a macer, 7. 
 
 George, of Carnuath, xi, xvii, 
 
 95 ; his estimate of Seafield's charac- 
 ter and career, ix-x. 
 
 London, cost of journey to, and resi- 
 dence there, 75 and 
 
 Lord chancellor. See Seafield, earl of. 
 
 Lord clerk register. See Johnstone, 
 James ; Murray, James. 
 
 Lord commissioner to parliament of 
 Scotland. See Argyll, John, 2nd 
 duke of ; Queen sberry, James, 2nd 
 duke of ; Tweeddale, John, 2nd mar- 
 quis of. 
 
 Lord justice clerk. See Cockburn, 
 Adam ; Mackenzie, Roderick. 
 
 Lothian, William, 2nd marquis of, 52 ; 
 a supporter of the union, 62 and 
 101, 166. 
 
 Loudoun, Hugh Campbell, 3rd earl of, 
 25, 30, 53, 67 ; secretary of state in 
 Scotland, xxii, 50 n, 89, 99, 109 ; 
 delivers papers on Scots plot to 
 clerk register, 84 ; Loudoun and 
 the treasury, 60-1 ; letters from, to 
 Godolphin, xxii, 170-2. \ 
 
 Louis XI v. of Erance, plotting for the 
 Pretender James, 194. 
 
 Lovat, Simon Fraser, nth lord, and 
 the Scots plot, 82 ; his power in 
 the Highlands, 131; strength of his 
 armed following, 131 ; all protestants 
 and faithful to the crown, 131. 
 
 Lowndes, William, secretary to the 
 treasury, 187, 189. 
 
 Loyd, Henry, 193, 196. 
 
 M'Carthy (M'Carty) More, 193, 
 197. 
 
 Reaugh, 193, 197. 
 
 col. Charles, of Co. Cork, 191 -2, 
 
 194, 197. 
 
 M'Daniell, col. James, 192-7. 
 
 James, an Irishman, his letters 
 
 concerning designs against the 
 government, 35, 40 ; papers delivered 
 by him to the duke of Argyll, 1705, 
 190-9. 
 
 M'Donald of Glencoe, 193, 196. 
 
 of Glengarry and Keppoch, 
 
 followers of, 131. 
 of Glenronald (Glenonald), 193, 
 
 196. 
 
 (M 'Ronald) of Moydartand Barra 
 
 (Barry), 131. 
 
 sir Donald, 193, 196; number of 
 
 his armed followers, 131 ; protestants 
 and loyal to the crown, 131. 
 
INDEX 
 
 207 
 
 M 'Donald clan, 130. 
 
 M'Grall (M'Groth), col. Dinish, of 
 
 Killbeherry, Cork, 193, 197. 
 M'Intosh clan, armed strength of, 131 ; 
 
 protectants and faithful to the crown, 
 
 Mackay (M'kie), Hugh, major-general, 
 defeat of his army by Dundee, 
 132. 
 
 clan, armed strength of, 131; all 
 
 protestants and loyal to the crown. 
 131. 
 
 See also Macky. 
 
 Mackenzie of Seaforth. 193, 196. 
 George, Stonehaven, cited to 
 
 attend parliament, 84. 
 Roderick, of Prestonhall, lord 
 
 justice-clerk, 4, 24 and n, 25, 30, 
 
 35, 139 and n. 
 clan, armed strength of, 131 ; all 
 
 protestants and faithful to the crown, 
 
 131- 
 
 Macky, John, government agent, his 
 estimate of Seafield, xi and 
 
 Macleod, capt., cited to attend parlia- 
 ment, 84. 
 
 of Harris (Herries), number of his 
 
 armed followers, 131 ; all protestants 
 and loyal to the crown, 131. 
 
 (M 'Clod) family, 130, 193, 196. 
 
 Madder (Mader), John, capt. [mate 
 of the Worcester], executed in Edin- 
 burgh, 27-8. 
 
 Maitland, Mr., 12. 
 
 R. , brigadier, 42. 
 
 Mar (Marr), John Erskine, nth earl of, 
 2 5> 3°> I 3 I > I 3 2 ' l %7 ! introduces 
 Act for treaty of Union, xxiii ; his 
 relations with the New Party, xxv 
 and n ; secretary of state for Scotland, 
 89, 92, 98 99, 109, 157 ; leader 
 of rising of 17 15, S 2 an d n i 56; 
 governor of Stirling castle, and 
 colonel of a regiment of foot, his 
 vote on the succession, 149 ; letters 
 from, to Godolphin, 175-7. 
 
 March, William Douglas, earl of, 
 death of, 182. 
 
 Marchmont, Patrick Hume, 1st earl 
 of, 36, 64, 72, 79, 83, 98, 167; 
 member of New Party, 97 ; leaves 
 the New Party, 85 and 11 ; opposes 
 national fast, 95 ; his comment on 
 Belhaven's speech, 100 n ; favours 
 union, 99, 101. 
 
 Marischal, William, 9th earl, 2 ; op- 
 ponent of the union, 54 and n ; 
 protests against manner of settling 
 the succession, 107. 
 
 I" Markworth (Muckworth), sir Hum-" 
 phrey, 193, 196. 
 Marlborough, John, duke of, 36, 42, 
 141, 158; forces sail from Leith to 
 join his army, 13 and n, 18, 26. 
 Sarah, countess, afterwards duch- 
 ess of, xiii, 112, 115. 
 Marston Moor (Long-mestoun-moor), 
 75 and 11. 
 
 Mary, queen of Scots, and the Re- 
 formation, 1 18-19. 
 Mary of Modena, queen of James II., 
 plotting with French king- 192 and 
 u, 194, 197. 
 ! Mason, Mr., 111. 
 Maxwell, sir George, imprisoned, 14. 
 Melville, David, 3rd earl of Leven. 
 
 See Leven. 
 — —George, 1st earl of, earl of Leven : s 
 
 father, 154. 
 Menzies, Mr., 12. 
 
 Merchants, Scottish, request passes to 
 protect them in trade with France 
 and Spain, 90-1 ; against union, 
 174. 
 
 Middleton, John, 1st earl of, his fall 
 
 from power, 121. 
 Monk. See Albemarle. 
 Montagu, Charles, earl of Halifax. See 
 Halifax. 
 
 Montgomery (Montgumrie), lady Anna, 
 countess of Findlater, viii. 
 
 Francis, uncle of the earl of 
 
 Seafield, 25, 30, 109. 
 Montingi, Monsieur, 117. 
 Montrose, James, 1st marquis of, his 
 six battles, 132. 
 
 James, 4th marquis of, aftcrtvards 
 
 1st duke of, 2, 94, 99, 131 ; lord 
 high admiral, 18 and ;/ ; declines 
 salary, 22, 26, 31 and », 32, 33, 34 ; 
 his commission stopped, 37. 
 Moray ( Murray), Charles, 6th earl of, 
 67 and n. 
 
 Mordaunt (Mordant), sir John, 6th 
 
 bart., 193, 196. 
 Mostyn (Musten), sir Roger (Robert), 
 
 3rd bart., 193, 196. 
 Mullony. .SV/O'Molony. 
 Munro, col., 192, 194, 195. 
 Murray, capt., 192, 195. 
 
 James, lord Philiphaugh, lord 
 
 clerk register, 20, 29, 40, 45, 46, 
 48, 49, 5°, 53, 54, 61, 105; death 
 of, 183. 
 
 James, of Dowally, brother of the 
 
 duke of Atholl, 141. 
 
 John, duke of Atholl. See Atholl. 
 
 See also Moray. 
 
208 LETTERS RELATING TO SCOTLAND 
 
 Musgrave, sir Christopher, clerk of 
 the ordnance, 147 and n. 
 
 Muslin, foreign, importation and wear- 
 ing forbidden, 57. 
 
 Nairn (Nairne), Mr., 12, 170, 171. 
 
 sir David, 61, 77, 92, 102, 141, 
 
 176; under-secretary of state, 91 
 and n ; payments to, 182. 
 
 Navigation. See Acts. 
 
 New Party, xxiv, 15-43, 48, 55-6, 60, 
 62-3, 66, 69, 70, 76-87, 94-5» io 3» 
 162, 166-7 5 their failure to carry the 
 measure for settling the succession, 
 xx, 144 and n ; Argyll anxious that 
 the party should be discarded, xxi ; 
 Seafield and Godolphin for their re- 
 tention, xxi ; party dismissed, xxii, 
 50 and 71 ; Seafield secures its 
 support, xxv-xxvi ; members of, 
 97 ; supports union in parliament 
 and assembly, 98, 99, 101 ; placed 
 in power by Godolphin, 140 n ; 'the 
 Squadrone,' xxv, no and 185. 
 
 Northesk, David Carnegie, 4th earl of, 
 187. 
 
 Nottingham, Daniel, 2nd earl of, 
 English secretary of state, 8 and n, 
 142, 185, 189, 196 ; charged with 
 Scottish affairs, favours a new election 
 in Scotland, xiv. 
 
 O'Brien (O'Brey, O'Breyan), sir 
 Donough, 1st bart., of county 
 Clare, 193, 197 
 
 Mr. Lucius (Lusius), 193, 197. 
 
 O'Daniell, 193. 
 
 Officers of state, nomination of, to be 
 made by parliament, 77-8, 106. 
 
 Ogilvy (Ogilvie), Mr., n, 12. 
 
 sir Alex., of Forglen, keeper of 
 
 great seal, 79 ; his quarrel with lord 
 Belhaven, 2-7 ; recommended by 
 Seafield as successor to lord Phesdo, 
 but withdraws in favour of sir Gilbert 
 Elliot, 50-1, 53. 
 
 James, 1st earl of Seafield. See 
 
 Seafield. 
 
 col. Patrick, Seafield's brother, 
 
 salary for services in the west, 
 150. 
 
 Old (or Country) party, 14-20, 22-4, 
 26, 29, 30, 32-4, 36, 38, 41-8, 143 ; 
 opposed to the government, xiv ; 
 opposed to succession of electress 
 Sophia, xix, 47 and n ; address to 
 the queen against the legality of the 
 existing parliament, xii, in and //, 
 112; address refused, 113, 114. 
 
 O'Mally (O'Moly), 193, 197. 
 O'Molony (Mullony), councelour 
 
 Dinish, 193, 196. 
 John, bishop of Killaloe (Killalue), 
 
 191, 194, 195. 
 O'Ranke, 193. 
 
 Orkney, commissioners for the shire, 
 election of, 1703, 2. 
 
 George Hamilton, earl of, 186. 
 
 Ormiston, lord. See Cockburn, Adam. 
 Ormonde, James, duke of, 121. 
 O'Rourk, 197. 
 
 Orrery (Orrerie), Charles Boyle, earl 
 of, 52. 
 
 Osborne, sir Thomas, of Kiveton. See 
 
 Carmarthen, marquis of. 
 O'Sullivan (Sullivone, Sullvion) Bear, 
 
 I93» !97- 
 
 More, 193, 197. 
 
 Oxford, Robert Harley, speaker of the 
 
 house of commons afterwards earl 
 
 of, xiii, xiv, n-13, 153; letters to 
 
 Godolphin, 142-8. 
 
 Parliament of England, Whig parlia- 
 ment dissolved, Tory majority, 1702, 
 xiii, 116 and n. 
 
 of Great Britain, 108 n ; first 
 
 meeting, 109 and 11 ; farmers and 
 tacksmen of the revenue and pen- 
 sioners to be excluded from member- 
 ship, 66, 73, 78, 79 ; also army 
 officers, 156; to have power of 
 nomination of officers of state, 
 council, and session, 77-8. 
 
 of Scotland, its status at the 
 
 accession of queen Anne, xii ; a 
 new election ordered, xiv ; necessity 
 for legalising the convention which 
 sanctioned queen Anne's accession, 
 xvi ; legality of parliament of 1689 
 questioned by the Country party, 
 1 1 1 and n ; transactions in parlia- 
 ment of 1703, 1-110, 152-8, 164-9; 
 power of declaring war, 8-9, 56 ;/ ; 
 prerogative of adjourning vested in 
 the crown, 9, 11 ; privileges of 
 members, 6; asks for papers, etc., 
 concerning the Scots plot, from the 
 English parliament, 81-2; papers 
 sent, 84 ; election of county members 
 at Michaelmas and dissolution of, 
 142. 
 
 Parliaments, triennial, 17, 66, 73, 77-9, 
 90, 162. 
 
 Parties in parliament. See Cavalier 
 party ; New Party ; Old party ; 
 Revolution party ; Tory party ; 
 Whig party. 
 
INDEX 
 
 209 
 
 Party government dangerous for mon- 
 archy, 127-8. 
 
 Pensioners of state, eligibility for 
 members of parliament, 73, 156. 
 
 Phesdo. See Falconer, James, lord 
 Phesdo. 
 
 Philiphaugh. See Murray, James, lord 
 Philiphaugh. 
 
 Piers (Price), Richard, bishop of Water- 
 ford, 192, 194. 
 
 Pitcairn, Dr. Archibald, 187 and n. 
 
 Plot (Queensberry or Scots plot), 
 causes fall of Queensberry's ministry, 
 xix ; papers and depositions concern- 
 ing the plot asked by Scottish parlia- 
 ment from the parliament of England, 
 81-2; papers, etc., delivered by 
 Loudoun to the clerk register, 84 ; 
 inquiry into the plot, 156. 
 
 Poley, Mr., 147. 
 
 Prerogative, royal, 5-6; re adjourning 
 parliament, 9-10 ; re pardons, 19-20, 
 25 ; re nomination of commissioners 
 to parliament, 33, 45 ; re nomination 
 of commissioners to treat for union, 
 xxiv, 87 ; re nomination of Council 
 of Trade, 68-70; re naming of judges, 
 68-9 ; re commission for valuing 
 tythes, 69 ; re commission of justici- 
 ary for the Highland, 69 ; re com- 
 missions for regulations of judicatures, 
 69 ; acts asserting prerogative, 75 ; 
 limitations proposed by Fletcher of 
 Saltoun, etc., xvii, xviii, 55 and n, 
 59, 60, 62-4, 72-6, 106, 135, 138, 
 154, 167, 168 ; nomination of officers 
 of state, council, and session to be 
 made by parliament, 77-8. 
 
 Presbyterian clergy, against union, 174, 
 176, 177. 
 
 ■ party, 2 ; united and loyal, 154 ; 
 
 opposed to a new election in Scot- 
 land, xiv-xv. 
 
 Preston, Scots army defeated, 121. 
 
 Price, bishop of Waterford. See Piers, 
 Richard. 
 
 Privy council of Scotland, 26, 28, 29. 
 Protection of linen manufactories, 57. 
 
 Queensberry, Charles, 3rd duke of, 
 his patent, 98. 
 
 James, 2nd duke of, lord high 
 
 commissioner to the parliament of 
 Scotland, xv, xvii, xxiv, I and n, 
 2-12, 53. 54, 59-62, 65-7, 70, 71, 
 • 76, 83, 89-102, 109, 113-16, 135, 
 136, 140, 142, 143 and 71, 161, 175, 
 176, 179, 182, 185 ; opposed to a 
 new parliamentary election in Scot- 
 
 Queensberry — continued. 
 
 land, xiv ; insists on dismissal of New 
 Party, 19 and n, 23, 36, 44-9 and », 
 50 and n; made lord privy seal, 
 
 xxii, 50 and n ; his letters anent 
 Scots plot, 82, 84 ; proposes ad- 
 dress to the queen anent 'Alien' Act, 
 
 xxiii, 86 and n ; greatness of his 
 estate and following in Scotland, 
 130; created duke of Dover, 185-8, 
 185 
 
 Rae, lord. See Reay. 
 
 Ramsay, sir David, of Balmain, mem- 
 ber of British parliament, 1708, 109. 
 
 George, of Carriden, It. -gen., 
 
 commissioner for West Lothian, 5 ; 
 death of, 182 ; letters from, 10 
 Godolphin, 149-51. 
 
 Rankeilor (Rankilor), lord. See Hope, 
 Archibald. 
 
 Reay (Rae), George, 3rd lord, 132-3. 
 
 Reformation in Scotland, opposed by 
 queen regent and queen Mary, 118. 
 
 Republic, Fletcher of Saltoun favours 
 formation of, 72-3 ; deemed unsuit- 
 able, 76. 
 
 Revolution party, 14, 44, 165, 166, 169, 
 178, 179. 
 
 Revenue, general receiver of, not in- 
 eligible as member of parliament, 79. 
 
 Rigby, Alexander, letters from, 185-9. 
 
 Robert the Bruce, 130. 
 
 Robinson, Mr., 147. 
 
 Rosebery (Roseburgh), Archibald, 1st 
 earl of, 25, 131, 186. 
 
 Ross, Hugh, of Kilravock (Kilraick) 
 member of British parliament, 1708, 
 109. 
 
 William, 12th lord, 56 and n, 187. 
 
 Rothes, John, 8th earl of, xix, 2, 50, 
 81, 87, 131, 138 ; dismissed from 
 the queen's service, 52 ; a member 
 of the New Party, 53 and n } 97 ; 
 moves his act upon limitations of 
 royal prerogative, 72, 73. 
 
 Roxburghe, John Drummond, 5th 
 earl, afterwards 1st duke of, xix, 2, 
 15, 18; a leader of the New Party, 
 22 and n, 25, 26, 31, 33, 35, 44, 64-5, 
 7o, 83, 87, 97, 98, 100, 104, 134-5, 
 185-9; dismissed from the queen's 
 service, 52 ; challenged by Fletcher 
 of Saltoun, 58 ; his supersession re- 
 commended by earl of Glasgow, 
 178. 
 
 W illiam Drummond, 2nd earl of, 
 
 100 n. 
 
 Royalist estates sequestrated, 1649, 75- 
 
 0 
 
210 LETTERS RELATING TO SCOTLAND 
 
 St. Maloes privateer taken off Kin- 
 tyre, 48. 
 
 St. Pol (St. Paul), admiral, and 
 threatened invasion of Scotland, 41 
 and n, 42, 44, 49. 
 
 Scotland's divisions, causes of, xv, 
 118-23 J state °f> xv > I2 3'9- 
 
 Scots Brigade in Holland, recruiting 
 for, 18 and n, 26. 
 
 Scots council about queen Anne, sug- 
 gested by Godolphin, 77. 
 
 Scots Guards, 149. 
 
 Scottish families, notes on, xv, 129-31. 
 
 Scottish nobility, an accomplished 
 body, vii ; their prejudice against 
 Charles I., 119; their disaffection 
 and desire to hold all the offices of 
 state against loyalists, 120; Scots 
 nobles imprisoned in the Tower, 
 1708, 188 and n. 
 
 Seafield, James Ogilvy, 1st earl of, 
 afterwards 4th earl of Findlater, lord 
 chancellor of Scotland, xxii, xxiv, 
 143 and n, 146, 152, 175, 185 ; sketch 
 of his career, viii-ix ; George Lock- 
 hart of Carnwath's estimate of him, 
 ix-x ; John Macky's opinion of him, 
 xi ; his speech against the 'for- 
 faulture ' of James 11., viii, ix ; his 
 opposition to the Darien scheme, 
 viii-xi ; commissioner to the general 
 assembly, 1700 and 1703, ix ; his 
 character and aims, xi-xii ; con- 
 siders New Party indispensable, xxi ; 
 secures its support, xxv-xxvi ; note 
 on his published correspondence, 
 xxvi n ; his coach stopped by mob 
 in Edinburgh, 27-30 ; frequently 
 entertains members of parliament, 
 98; not friendly to the army, 150-1; 
 letters from, to Sidney Godol- 
 phin, lord treasurer of England, vii, 
 1- 1 10; synopsis of their contents, 
 xii-xxvi. 
 
 Seaforth, Kenneth, 4th earl of, his 
 power in the Highlands, 130. 
 
 Seaton , ensign in the Guards, 
 
 accused of threatening a member of 
 parliament, 5. 
 
 William, yr. of Pitmedden, 153. 
 
 Selkirk, Charles, 2nd earl of, an op- 
 ponent of the union, 53 and n, 60 ; 
 dismissed from the queen's service, 
 52. 
 
 Seymour, sir Edward, 4th bart., 
 comptroller of the household to 
 queen Anne, 8 and n, 192, 196. 
 
 (Seymor), sir Henry, of Langley, 
 
 1st bart., 193, 196. 
 
 Sidney, Mr., 1 1, 12. 
 Simpson, gunner of the Worcester, ex- 
 ecuted in Edinburgh, 27-8. 
 Sinclair, Mr., 12. 
 
 Smuggling, carried on with American 
 
 plantations, 57 n. 
 Somers, John, baron, 103, 160, 163. 
 I Sophia, electress, and the Hanoverian 
 
 succession, xvi, xix, xxii, 14 n, 20 11, 
 
 47 n, 103 n, 137 n, 140 n. 
 Southwell (Soutwell), sir Thomas, 2nd 
 
 bart, 193, 197. 
 Speedy Return, charge of murdering 
 
 her crew, xx, 19 n. 
 'Squadrone,' i.e. New Party, xxv, no 
 
 and n, 185. 
 Stair, sir John Dalrymple, 1st earl of, 
 
 44 and n, 46, 50, 53, 61, 74, 167, 186. 
 Stanhope, Mr., 147. 
 Stanhouse, sir John, 193, 196. 
 Stapleton, sir Bryan (Beyan, Breyan), 
 
 2nd bart., 193, 196. 
 Stephens, Mr., 12. 
 Stephenson, col. Thomas, 191, 194. 
 Stewart (Stuvvord), capt., 192, 195. 
 Mr.,11-13. 
 
 Charles Edward, pretended prince 
 
 of Wales, alleged plot to dethrone 
 Anne and place him on throne, 
 190- 1 ; prince of Wales and the 
 succession, 167. 
 
 James, the Pretender, alleged 
 
 plot to restore him to the throne, 
 1705, 190-6. 
 
 sir James, lord advocate, 16 and 
 
 n, 20, 24, 25, 26, 30, 36, 39, 45, 
 135 and n, 136; Godolphin's adviser 
 in Scottish affairs, xix ; against union, 
 175 and n. 
 
 John, brother of the earl of 
 
 Galloway, lieut. - col. of Guards, 
 his vote on the succession, 149-50. 
 
 Robert, lord Tillicultrie, 171. 
 
 Stirling (Stirveling) castle, garrison of, 
 1704, 150; governor of. See Mar, 
 earl of. 
 
 Succession to the crown. See Crown. 
 Sunderland, Charles, 4th earl of, 
 
 English secretary of state, 103 and 
 
 *, 108. 
 
 Supply, Acts for, xiv, xvi, 80-1, 139, 
 
 140, 155, 157, 161, 181. 
 Sutherland (Southerland), John, 15th 
 
 earl of, 24 and «. 
 
 Tarbat, lord. See Cromarty, earl of. 
 Terald. See Tyrrell. 
 Teviot, Thomas Livingston, viscount, 
 36. 
 
INDEX 
 
 211 
 
 Tillycoultry (Tillicultrie), lord. See 
 Stewart, Robert. 
 
 Tory party, 94, 143 ; against union, 
 106 ; returned in English parliament, 
 xiii, 116 and n ; their leaders and 
 proposed national fast, 95 ; the party 
 numerous and zealous for monarchy, 
 125 ; Tory and Whig principles con- 
 trasted, 123-6; relative numbers of 
 the parties, 124. 
 
 Trade, Council of, 68-9 ; method of 
 choosing councillors, 71-2, 77 ; 
 members to be nominated by parlia- 
 ment, 160-1. 
 
 of Scotland, decayed since union 
 
 of crowns, 137 ; trade with England, 
 14, 17, 54-7 ; with France and Spain, 
 passes to be granted to Scots ships, 
 77. 
 
 Treaty, English Act of, 62. 
 
 Troops. See Army. 
 
 Tullibardine, John, earl of. See 
 Atholl, John, duke of. 
 
 Tweeddale, John, 2nd marquis of, 
 lord high commissioner to the 
 parliament of Scotland, xix, xx, 13 
 and n, 16 n, 25, 31, 70, 87, 90, 104, 
 138, 154, 157, 173 ; leader of New 
 Party, 47 n, 97, 136 and n, 140; 
 his supersession recommended by 
 earl of Glasgow, 178 ; dismissed 
 from the queen's service, 52. 
 
 Tyrrell (Terald, Tereld), sir John, 193, 
 r 9 6. 
 
 Union of the parliaments of England 
 and Scotland, vii, xx, 16, 17, 20 n, 
 33 ; proceedings in Scottisli parlia- 
 ment anent the act in favour of 
 a treaty, xxii, xxiii, 14, 16, 17, 
 33, 43-9, 56, 59, 60, 62, 66, 70, 
 83, 84, 88, 90, 97-ioi, 136, 138, 
 161-83, passim-, appointment of 
 
 Union — continued. 
 
 commissioners to be made by the 
 queen, xxiii-xxiv, 90 ; commissioners 
 meet at Whitehall, xxiv ; Seafield's 
 reasons for union, 63 ; a federal 
 union suggested by Annandale, 97, 
 102 ; addresses against union pre- 
 sented to parliament by general 
 assembly and others, 101 ; Glasgow 
 mob against union, 107 and n ; 
 officers of state and clergy oppose 
 union, 129 ; letter from viscount 
 Dupplin anent union, 173. 
 
 Urquhart, Mr., 12. 
 
 Robert, junr., of Burdsyeards, 
 
 member of British parliament, 1708, 
 109. 
 
 Wedderburn (Wadderburn, Wed- 
 erburn), Alex., deputy-secretary 
 of state, 22, 26, 38. 
 
 Wemyss (Weems), David, 3rd earl of, 
 187, 188. 
 
 Whig party, and the Revolution settle- 
 ment, xiv ; opposed to episcopacy, 
 125-6 ; Whig party in Scotland, 
 different from English Whigs, 123 ; 
 Whig and Tory principles contrasted, 
 124-6, 143 ; relative numbers of the 
 parties, 124. 
 
 White, col. John, 193, 197. 
 
 William III., viii, ix-xiii, 122, 128. 
 
 Worcester (Uster, Worchester), battle 
 of, 75 and n, 121. 
 
 Worcester, seizure of, in Leith Roads, 
 xx. See Green, Thomas. 
 
 Wray, capt. , 192, 194. 
 
 Wright, Mr., 12. 
 
 York, James, duke of, lord high 
 commissioner to parliament of 
 Scotland, 7. 
 
 Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty 
 at the Edinburgh University Press 
 
£>cotttsrt) ^tstorp *©ctot?> 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE. 
 
 191 4-191.5. 
 President. 
 
 The Earl of Rosebery, K.G., K.T., LL.D. 
 Chairman of Council. 
 Donald Crawford, K.C. 
 Council. 
 
 Sir James Balfour Paul, C.V.O., LL.D., Lyon King of Arms. 
 A. Francis Steuart, Advocate. 
 
 Sheriff ScOTT-MoNCRIEI F. 
 
 C. S. Romanes, C.A. 
 Sir G. M. Paul, D.K.S. 
 R. K. Hannay. 
 
 Professor P. Hume Brown, M.A., LL.D., Historiographer- 
 Royal for Scotland. 
 William K. Dickson, Advocate. 
 J. R. N. Macphail, K.C. 
 
 D. Hay Fleming, LL.D. 
 Professor John Rankine, K.C, LL.D. 
 The Hon. Lord Guthrie. 
 
 Corresponding Members of the Council. 
 Prof. C. H. Firth, LL.D., Oxford ; Rev. W. D. Macray, Green- 
 lands, Bloxham, Banbury, Oxon. ; Prof. C. Sanford Terry, 
 Aberdeen. 
 
 Hon. Treasurer. 
 J. T. Clark, ( rear Villa, 196 Ferry Road, Edinburgh. 
 
 Hon. Secretary. 
 
 J. Maitland Thomson, LL.D., Advocate, 3 Grosvenor Gardens, 
 Edinburgh. 
 
RULES 
 
 1. The object of the Society is the discovery and printing, 
 under selected editorship, of unpublished documents illus- 
 trative of the civil, religious, and social history of Scotland. 
 The Society will also undertake, in exceptional cases, to issue 
 translations of printed works of a similar nature, which have 
 not hitherto been accessible in English. 
 
 2. The number of Members of the Society shall be limited 
 to 400. 
 
 3. The a airs of the Society shall be managed by a Council, 
 consisting of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and twelve 
 elected Members, five to make a quorum. Three of the twelve 
 elected Members shall retire annually by ballot, but they shall 
 be eligible for re-election. 
 
 4. The Annual Subscription to the Society shall be One 
 Guinea. The publications of the Society shall not be delivered 
 to any Member whose Subscription is in arrear, and no 
 Member shall be permitted to receive more than one copy of 
 the Society's publications. 
 
 5. The Society will undertake the issue of its own publica- 
 tions, i.e. without the intervention of a publisher or any other 
 paid agent. 
 
 6. The Society will issue yearly two octavo volumes of about 
 320 pages each. 
 
 7. An Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held 
 at the end of October, or at an approximate date to be 
 determined by the Council. 
 
 8. Two stated Meetings of the Council shall be held each 
 year, one on the last Tuesday of May, the other on the Tues- 
 day preceding the day upon which the Annual General Meeting 
 shall be held. The Secretary, on the request of three Members 
 of the Council, shall call a special meeting of the Council. 
 
 9. Editors shall receive 20 copies of each volume they edit 
 for the Society. 
 
 10. The owners of Manuscripts published by the Society will 
 also be presented with a certain number of copies. 
 
 11. The Annual Balance-Sheet, Rules, and List of Members 
 shall be printed. 
 
 12. No alteration shall be made in these Rules except at a 
 General Meeting of the Society. A fortnight's notice of any 
 alteration to be proposed shall be given to the Members of the 
 Council. 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY 
 
 For the year 1886-1887. 
 
 1. Bishop Pococke's Tours in Scotland, 1747-1760. Edited by 
 D. W. Kemp. 
 
 2. Diary and Account Book of William Cunningham of Craig- 
 ends, 1 673-1680. Edited by the Rev. James Dodds, D.D. 
 
 For the year 1887-1888. 
 S. Grameidos i. i lilt i sex : an heroic poem on the Campaign of 
 1689, by James Philip of Almerieclose. Translated and 
 edited by the Rev. A. D. Murdoch. 
 
 4. The Register of the Kirk-Session of St. Andrews. Part i. 
 
 1559-1582. Edited by D. Hay Fleming. 
 
 For the year 1888-1889. 
 
 5. Diary of the Rev. John Mill, Minister in Shetland, 1740- 
 1803. Edited by Gilbert Goudie. 
 
 6. Narrative of Mr. James Nimmo, a Covenanter, 1654-1709. 
 Edited by W. G. Scott-Moncrieff. 
 
 7. The Register of the Kirk-Session of St. Andrews. Part n. 
 
 1583-1600. Edited by D. Hay Fleming. 
 
 For the year 1889-1890. 
 
 8. A List of Persons concerned in the Rebellion (1745). With 
 a Preface by the Earl of Rosebery. 
 
 Presented to the Society by the Earl of Rosebery. 
 
 9. Glamis Papers: The ' Book of Record/ a Diary written by 
 Patrick, first Earl of Strathmore, and other documents 
 (1684-89). Edited by A. H. Millar. 
 
 10. John Major's History of Greater Britain (1521). Trans- 
 lated and edited by Archibald Constable. 
 
 For the year 1890-1891. 
 
 1 1. The Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies, 
 
 1646-47. Edited by the Rev. Professor Mitchell, D.D., and 
 the Rev. James Christie, D.D. 
 
 12. Court-Book of the Barony of Urie, 1604-1747. Edited 
 by the Rev. D. G. Barron. 
 
4 
 
 PUBLICATIONS 
 
 For the year 1891-1892. 
 
 Memoirs of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, Baronet. Ex- 
 tracted by himself from his own Journals, 1 676-1 755. Edited 
 by John M. Gray. 
 
 14. Diary of Col. the Hon. John Erskine of Carnock, 1083- 
 1687. Edited by the Rev. Walter Macleod. 
 
 For the year 1892-1893. 
 
 15. Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, First Volume — 
 The Library of James vi., 1573-83. Edited by G. F. Warner. — 
 
 Documents illustrating Catholic Policy, 1596-98. T. G. Law. 
 — Letters of Sir Thomas Hopk, 1027-40. Rev. R. Paul. — Civil 
 War Papers, 1643-50. H. F. Morland Simpson. — Lauderdale 
 Correspondence, 1000-77. Right Rev. John Dowden, D.D. — 
 Turxbill's Diary, 1057-1704. Rev. R. Paul. — Masterton 
 Papers, 1000-1719. V. A. Noel Paton. — Accompt of Expenses 
 in Edinburgh, 1715. A. H. Millar. — Rebellion Papers, 1715 
 and 1745. H. Paton. 
 
 16. Account Book of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston ( 1 67 1-1 707). 
 Edited by the Rev. A. W. Cornelius Hallen. 
 
 For the year 1893-1894. 
 
 17. Letters and Papers illustrating the Relations between 
 Charles ii. and Scotland in 1650. Edited by Samuel 
 Rawson Gardiner, D.C.L., etc. 
 
 IS. Scotland and the Commonwealth. Letters and Papers 
 
 RELATING TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF SCOTLAND, Allg. 
 
 1 651 -Dec. 1653. Edited by C. H. Firth, M.A. 
 
 For the year 1894-1895. 
 
 If). The Jacobite Attempt of 1 7 1 9- Letters of James, second 
 Duke of Ormonde. Edited by W. K. Dickson. 
 
 20, 21. The Lyon in Mourning, or a Collection of Speeches, 
 Letters, Journals, etc., relative to the Affairs of Prince 
 Charles Edward Stuart, by Bishop Forbes. L746-1775. 
 Edited by Henry Paton. Vols. i. and II. 
 
 For the year 1895-1896. 
 
 22. The Lyon in Mourning. Vol. iil 
 
 23. Itinerary of Prince Charles Edward (Supplement to the 
 Lyon in Mourning). Compiled by W. H. Blaikie. 
 
 24. Extracts from the Presbytery Records of Inverness and 
 Dingwall from I 638 to l6&8. Edited by William Mackay. 
 
 25. Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies 
 {continued) for the years 1()4S and l6to. Edited by the Rev, 
 Professor Mitchell. D.D., and Rev. James Christie, D.D. 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 5 
 
 For the year 1896-1897. 
 
 26. VVariston's Diary and other Papers — 
 
 Johnston of Wariston's Diary, 1639. Edited by G. M. Paul. — 
 The Honours of Scotland, 1651-52. C. R. A, Howden. — The 
 Earl of Mar's Legacies, 1722, 1726. Hon. S. Erskine.— Letters 
 by Mrs. Grant of Laggan. J. R. N. Macphail. 
 
 Presented to the Society by Messrs. T. and A. Constable. 
 
 27. Memorials of John Murray of Broughton, 1740-1747. 
 Edited by R. Fitzroy Bell. 
 
 28. The Compt Buik of David Wedderburne, Merchant of 
 
 Dundee, 1587-1630. Edited by A. H. Millar. 
 
 For the year 1897-1898. 
 
 29. 30. The Correspondence of De Montereul and the brothers 
 
 De Bellievre, French Ambassadors in England and Scot- 
 land, 1645-1648. Edited, with Translation, by J. G. 
 Pothering ham. 2 vols. 
 
 For the year 1898-1899. 
 
 31. Scotland and the Protectorate. Letters and Papers 
 relating to the Military Government of Scotland, from 
 January 1654 to June 1659. Edited by C. H. Firth, M.A. 
 
 32. Papers illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in 
 the Service of the United Netherlands, 1572-1782. 
 Edited by James Ferguson. Vol. i. 1572-1697- 
 
 33. 34. Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections concerning 
 Families in Scotland : Manuscripts in the Advocates' Library. 
 2 vols. Edited by J. T. Clark, Keeper of the Library. 
 
 Presented to the Society by the Trustees of the late Sir William Fraser, K.C. B. 
 
 For the year 1899-1900. 
 
 35. Papers on the Scots Brigade in Holland, 1572-1782. 
 Edited by James Ferguson. Vol. ii. 1698-1782. 
 
 36. Journal of a Foreign Tour in 1665 and 1 666, etc., by Sir John 
 
 Lauder, Lord Fountainhall. Edited by Donald Crawford. 
 
 37. Papal Negotiations with Mary Queen of Scots during her 
 Reign in Scotland. Chiefly from the Vatican Archives. 
 Edited by the Rev. J. Hungerford Pollen, S.J. 
 
 For the year 1900-1901. 
 
 38. Papers on the Scots Brigade in Holland, 1572-1782. 
 Edited by James Ferguson. Vol. m. 
 
 39- The Diary of Andrew Hay of Craignethan. 1659-60. 
 Edited by A. G. Reid, F.S.A.Scot. 
 
 For the year 1901-1902. 
 
 40. Negotiations for the Union of England and Scotland in 
 1651-53. Edited by C. Sanford Terra". 
 
 41. The Loyall Dissuasive. Written in 1703 by Sir .Eneas 
 Macpherson. Edited by the Rev. A. D. Murdoch. 
 
6 
 
 PUBLICATIONS 
 
 For the year 1902-1903. 
 
 42. The Chartulary of Lixdores, 119.5-1479. Edited by the 
 Right Rev. John Dowden, D.D., Bishop of Edinburgh. 
 
 4.S. A Letter from Mary Queex of Scots to the Duke of Guise, 
 Jan. 1562. Reproduced in Facsimile. Edited by the Rev. J. 
 
 HlJXGERFORD PoLLEX, $.J. 
 
 Presented to the Society l>y the family of the late Mr. Scott, of Halkshill. 
 
 44. Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, Second Volume — 
 
 The Sc ottish King's Household, 14th Century. Edited by Mary 
 Bateson. — The Scottish Nation in the University of Orleans, 
 1330-1538. John Kirkpatrick, LL.D. — The French Garrison 
 at Dunbar, 1563. Roberts. Rait. — De Antiqittate Religionis 
 apud Scotos, 1594. Henry D. G. Law. — Apology for William 
 Maitland of Lethington, 1610. Andrew Lang. — Letters of 
 Bishop George Graeme, 1602-38. L. G. Graeme. — A Scottish 
 Journie, 1641. C. H. Firth. — Narratives illustrating the Di ke 
 of Hamilton's Expedition to England, 1048. C. H. Firth. — 
 Burnet-Leighton Papers, 1048-1G8-. H. C. Foxcroft. — Papers 
 <o Robert Erskine, Physician to Peter the Great, 1077-1720. 
 Rev. Robert Paul. — Will of the Duchess of Albany, 1789. 
 \. Francis Steuart. 
 
 45. Letters of John Cockburn of Ormistoun to his Gardener, 
 
 1 727-1 743. Edited by James Colville, D.Sc. 
 
 For the year 1903-1904. 
 
 4b". Minute Book of the Managers of the New Mills Cloth 
 Manufactory, 1681-1 0*90. Edited by W. R. Scott. 
 
 47. Chronicles of the Frasers ; being the Wardlaw Manuscript 
 entitled c Polichronicon seu Policratica Temporum, or, the 
 true Genealogy of the Frasers.' By Master James Fraser. 
 Edited by William Mackay. 
 
 48. Proceedings of the Justiciary Court from Hibl to 1678. 
 Vol. i. 1661-1669. Edited by Sheriff Scott-Moncrieff. 
 
 For the year 1904-1905. 
 
 49. Proceedings of the Justiciary Court from Hibl to 1678. 
 Vol. 11. 1669-1678. Edited by Sheriff Scott-Moncrieff. 
 
 50. Records of the Baron Court of Stitchill, 1655-1807. Edited 
 by Clement B. Gunn, M.D., Peebles. 
 
 51. Macfarlane's Geographical Collei itons. Vol. 1. Edited 
 by Sir Arthur Mitchell, K.C.B. 
 
 For the year 1905-1 9(H). 
 
 52,53. Macfarlane's Geographical Collections. Vols. 11. and m. 
 
 Edited by Sir Arthur Mitchell, K.C.B. 
 54. StaTuta Ecclesi.e Scotican.e, 1225-1559. Translated and 
 
 edited by David PATRICK, LL.D. 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 7 
 
 For the year 1906-1907. 
 
 55. The House Booke of Accomps, Ochtertyre, 1737-39. Edited 
 by James Colville, D.Sc. (Oct. 1907.) 
 
 56. The Charters of the Abbey of Inchaffray. Edited by W. A. 
 Lindsay, K.C., the Right Rev. Bishop Dowden, D.D., and 
 J. Maitland Thomson, LL.D. (Feb. 1908.) 
 
 57. A Selection of the Forfeited Estates Papers preserved in 
 H.M. General Register House and elsewhere. Edited bv 
 
 *A. H. Millar, LL.D. (Oct. 1909.) 
 
 For the year 1907-1908. 
 
 58. Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies (con- 
 tinued), for the years 1650-52. Edited bv the Rev. James 
 Christie, D.D. * (Feb. 1909-) 
 
 59. Papers relating to the Scots in Poland. Edited by A. 
 Francis Steuart. (Nov. 1915.) 
 
 For the year 1908-1909. 
 
 60. Sir Thomas Craig's De Unione Regnorum Britannia Trac- 
 tatus. Edited, with an English Translation, by C. Sanford 
 Terry. "(Xov. 1909.) 
 
 61. Johnston of Wariston's Memento Quamdiu Vivas, and Diary 
 from 1632 to 1639. Edited by G. M. Paul, LL.D., D.K.S. 
 
 (May 1911.) 
 
 Second Serifs. 
 
 For the year 1909-1910. 
 
 1. The Household Book of Lady Grisell Baillie, 1692-173,;. 
 Edited by R. Scott-Moncrieff, W.S. (Oct. 1911.) 
 
 2. Origins of the '45 and other Narratives. Edited by W. B. 
 Blaikie. (Publication delayed.) 
 
 3. Correspondence of James, fourth Earl of Findlater and 
 first Earl of Seafield, Lord Chancellor of Scotland. 
 Edited by James Grant, M.A., LL.B. (March 1912.) 
 
 For the year 1910-1911. 
 
 4. Rentale Sancti Andree; being Chamberlain and Granitar 
 Accounts of the Archbishopric in the time of Cardinal 
 Betoun, 1538-1546. Translated and edited by Robert Kerr 
 Hannay. (February 1913'.) 
 
 5. Highland Papers. Vol. 1. Edited by J. R. N. Macphail, K.C 
 
 (May 1914.) 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 For the year 1911-1912. 
 
 6. Selection? from the Records of the Regality of Melrose. 
 Vol. i. Edited by C. S. Romanes, C.A. (November 1914.) 
 
 7. Record- of the Earldom of Orkney. Edited by J. S. Clouston. 
 
 (December 1914.) 
 
 For the year 1912-1913. 
 
 8. Selection? from the Records of the Regality of Melrose. 
 Vol. ii. Edited by C. S. Romanes, C.A. (January 1915). 
 
 9. Selections from the Letter Books of John Stelart. Bailie 
 of Inverness Edited bv William Mackay. LL.D. 
 
 (April 1915.) 
 
 For the year 1913-1914. 
 
 10. Rentale Dlnkeldense : being the Accounts of the Chamber- 
 lain of the Bishopric of Dinkeld. a.d. 1506-1517. Edited 
 by R. K. Hannay. (Marcb 1915.) 
 
 11. Letters of the Earl of Seafield and Others, illustrative 
 of the hl-tory of scotland during the lieign of queen 
 Anne. Edited by Professor Hume Brown. (Nov. 1915.) 
 
 For the year 1914-1915. 
 
 12. Johnston of Wari^ton'* Diary. Vol. H. Edited by D. Hay 
 
 Fleming, LL.D. 
 
 13. Highland Paper-. Vol. n. Edited by J. R. N. M \< phail. K.C. 
 
 In prejxiration. 
 
 Selections from the Record? of the Regality of Melrose. 
 
 Vol. in. Edited by CL S. Romanes, C.A. 
 Bibliography of Topographical Works relating to Scotland. 
 
 Compiled bv the late Sir Arthur Mitchell, and edited bv 
 
 C. G. Cami." 
 
 Register of the Consultations m the Ministers of Edinburgh, 
 
 AND SOME OTHER BRETHREN OF THE MINISTRY SINCE THE 
 INTERRUPTION OF THE ASSEMBLY 1 0*5.3, WITH OTHER PAPERS OF 
 
 public concernment, 1 653-1 660. Edited by the Rev. W. 
 Stephen. 
 
 < ORRESPONDENCE OF THE FIR?T E\RL OF SEAFIELD. Vol. II. Edited 
 
 by Major James Grant. 
 A Translation of the Historia Abbatum de Kynlos of 
 Ferrerius. 
 
 Ml-CELLANY OF THE SCOTTISH Hl-TORY SOCIETY. Third Volume. 
 
 Analytical Catalogue of the Wodrow Collection of Manu- 
 scripts in the Advocates' Library. Edited by J. T. Clark 
 
 < HARTEHS AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE GREY FrIARS AND THE 
 
 Cistercian Nunnery of Haddington. — Register of Inch 
 
 roLM Monastery. Edited by J. G. Wallace-James, M.B. 
 Records relating to the Scottish Armies from 1 658 to 1 650. 
 
 Edited by C. Sanford Terry. 
 Papers relating to the Rebellions of 1715 and 1745, with other 
 
 documents from the Municipal Archives of the City of Perth. 
 The Balcarre- Papers. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 730 
 
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 2nd ser, 
 v. 11 
 
 Scottish history society, 
 Publications • 
 
 Bapst Library 
 
 Boston College 
 Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02167 
 
1