fayes is to be preserved, must be Sir John Hume. How this comes about I know not. Rothes is gone to Glafgow. I cannot learn that the inftructions are fent off, nor what they are adoing. Your Lordship's to the Cardinall might have served the Pope; if that doe not, you must threaten next. I was almost ashamed to caufe deliver the Chancellor's; but he, good man, took it verie well, and tells me he has writt to your Lordship, that you are to have his hawks. I'm juft now told, that the inftructions are to be fent off this night. My informer could not fatiffie me of what fort they were, but faid the letter to the Parliament recommends a Treaty if true, the inftructions must be of the fame nature. Doubtlefs the fending them up has been delayed, that their weakness, or want of zeal for the Succeffion, might not be known to the Whigs before the New Partie were turned out, which must be over before this packet arrive. The enclosed from Mr. Johnstone, which I juft now got by the common post, justifies my conjecture, for the Whigs must know nothing of Argile's measure, or they would not prefs for money. What Johnstone means by our being in without honour, and that his next will put us in paine, I do not underftand, but think it prettie plaine that the Court are profecuting the old game, and tricking Johnstone.

June 5th, 1705.

XCV. TO THE SAME.

6th June 1705.

As matters are, I know not whether to condole or congratulate; therefore, fhall not now trouble you with compliment. The enclosed from Mr. Wedderburn came to my hand at two of the clock, by the flying packet, which I delayed fending till I fhould get Mr. Johnstone's, which came by the common poft. I made inquiry for Mr. Johnstone's to your Lordship, mentioned in mine, but could learn nothing of it, which makes me conclude it's gone to you by Berwick. The Court's method of procedure I understand not, nor can I learn who are the other three to be turned out; but to me it's clear they design to divide us, which fhall not goe far with me, for I'm fully determined not to ferve, now that your Lordfhip is laid afide, and if not turned out, I have a letter of demiffion ready. The infinuations in Mr. Wedderburn's have been explained to me this evening by a ftorie I had from

Hadingtone, (now more frank and free than he has been of a long time, and not verie well pleased with the Commiffioner,) to this purpose, that Argile had been dealing with Montrose to be Prefident of the Councill. Argile spoke of it first to Gorthy, and thereafter made Glasgow write to Montrose of it, who, it feems, with Philliphaugh, were the perfons that converted and brought the Commiffioner into it, with defign to support themfelves, for that they fee Argile's Court cannot continue. However, Montrofe made a civill return to Glasgow, and refufed the offer; but all his friends are of another mind, and I wish Rothes may not be gone with Bruce to Glasgow, to perfuade him to accept; for Hadingtone infinuat fo much. This explains the claufe of Johnftone's about the Juftice-Clerk; and if it take effect, will infallibly ruine us. How this matter came to be manadged without our knowledge, I know not: I wish it had not, for otherwife it might have been prevented. However, I defign to write to Rothes to-morrow, in fuch termes as he may understand, that the Court defign not the New Partie should come to an understanding with the Old. To do this in terms that cannot disoblidge, will be a hard task; however, I refolve to venture all, rather than that your Lordship and I should be the only lofers, and be expofed to laughter. I thought myself oblidged to acquaint you with this; but you would keep it to yourself till we know furder, for perhaps I have not understood Hadingtone aright, nor can I think it poffible that either Rothes will perfuade, or Montrofe accept of fuch a thing, after having once refused it. At leaft, this fhows the Commiffioner's weakness; for at no rate will ever Montrose be gained to be his. Annandale is fond of the propofall, for he, by Montrofe, proposes to name Staires.

There was to be a meeting this evening about the Inftructions, for they are not yet fent off, for that Annandale and Juftice Clerk ftill stick to the Succeffion. The Advocat had drawn a reprefentation of the reafons on both fides, which it feemed were thought ftronger for the Succeffion than for the Treaty, and therefore were given to the Register to be gueldded, which he has done, and is to be fent with the Inftructions; but, as I hear, Annandale and the Juftice-Clerk has prevented them, and has fent up their reafons already. I cannot fee how this agrees with what the Treasurer says, that Philliphaugh and Glasgow are, and were always, for the Succeffion.

MY LORD,

XCVI. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

IF you read my letter in Italian, it is in plain terms the mind of 60 (the Court); which the writer on't cou'd never know but from 44 (Harley); fo that I really believe what 45 (Johnstone) fays, as to putting us in pain, must be that 60 (the Court) has a mind to let 59 (the New Party) into their fecret, which indeed wou'd be fuch a dilemma as wou'd oblige 59 (the New Party) either to yeild to the ruin of 21 (Scotland), which must at the same time bring dnllku gnsskc tkmmbkoz on their own ruin, or ruin themselves, by declining to commit a horrid villainy that must end, too, in the ruin of 21 (Scotland) and themfelves likewife. If this is it, God have mercy upon us. I believe I shall not fleep till I get my

next letters.

Adieu.

I have juft now received the inclosed, and thall only say that it's my prefent thoughts, that 53 (Marchmont) should plainly tell 38 (Argyle), that he is refolv'd to fee who in 25 (the Scottish Parliament) are for 24 (Succeffion); and if it be answer'd, that next AA (Scottish Parliament) Z (Succeffion) shall be carried by money, I think the dangers of that may be laid before him. Pray fend me back the inclosed by the bearer, for I'll give no answer till I hear from you.

Inofz

XCVII. FROM THE SAME.

MY LORD,

I CANNOT but own that I am a little furprised that it is not known who are the three befides myself, and almost suspects that it's left to 38 (Argyll) to make them whom he pleases, and that it's delayed till it be known what 52 (Ormifton) can do with 51 (Rothes) and 49 (Montrofe); but fhall never think that CCC (Rothes) will yeild, nor will 49 (Montrofe), I believe, eafily condefcend to be 50 (Prefident of the Council). However,

if 51 (Rothes) is kept in, and 46 (Baillie) likewise, I must think 46 (Baillie) were much to blame fhou'd he offer to dimit, unless 51 (Rothes) did it at the same time, for that wou'd break 51 (Rothes) from us intirely, which I cannot endure the thoughts of, for I know 21 (Scotland) too well, to think of contracting any new friendships: indeed should 46 (Baillie) and 51's (Rothes') being in, and 35 (Roxburgh) and 50's (Tweeddale's) being out, ruin 64 (Succeffion), I should say nothing against 46's (Baillie's) demiffion; but not feeing that, I am ftill where I was. Befides, in or out, even feperately, is good or bad with refpect to better or worse; and indeed I don't know but it may one day be neceffary both for 21 (Scotland), and 50 (Tweedale), that 35 (Roxburgh), and 46 (Baillie) ne ckeefsfou qbsukfr be of different parties, tho' fuch coups are not defirable.

Farewell. Mr. Bennett wou'd let me write no more.

Floors, June the 7th, 1705.

XCVIII. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

MY LORD,

7th June 1705.

By the enclosed I had from your Lordship, what 60 (the Court) defigns is pretty evident, for 5 (the Lord Treasurer) has dealt more plainlie than usuall. What answer you should write is hard to advife; for I look upon 5's (the Lord Treasurer's) compliment as grimace and trick, to lay the whole of your treatment at Argile's door, when for their own ends ther has been fo much of choice in it, and what has been defigned from the beginning; or perhaps to draw fomewhat from you, that they will conftru&t ane engagement to their measures; and therefore, what you write to be fhowen to 5 (the Lord Treasurer), would be a generall compliment, without dipping upon buffinefs. I wonder Mr. Johnstone should be ftill impof'd on by fair words. I underftand not what he means by writing to the Queen in the termes he mentions, unless it be banter; for, as I take it, it would be accepting your way of treatment as a compliment, and the thanking her for ane injury, and for preventing what we intended not, if none of us had been laid aside: all this is too early, at least, but your Lordship is a better judge in fuch matters. Hadingtone was with me this morning: very frank, much against 38 (Argyll), and fomewhat cooled in Montrofe's being Prefident; but faid he could perceive

no harm a man's being in a place could do, providing he were for the Succeffion; however, I ventured to give my oppinion against it, as what would doe 49 (Montrofe) hurt in this jun&ture. You'll fee by the inclof'd what I have wrote to Rothes about it, which I hope he'll understand. I was with 36 (Seafield) and 55 (Annandale) this afternoon. 65 (Stair) and 67 (Loudoun) was with 36 (Seafield) while I was ther. He took me into another room, but was fo confounded that he could fay nothing, infomuch that I was alhamed to speak to him. He is certainly over head and ears with 38 (Argyll). I thought it neceffary to deal fomewhat more freely with 55 (Annandale) than I use to doe, and got fuitable returnes; for he told me that your Lordship, Selkrig, 57 (Belhaven), and I were out; that our places were to be fill'd immediately; that he knew of nothing as yet done about Tweedale and Rothes; that it was probable their places might be vacated, but not fill'd till after the Seffion; that the inftructions were not concluded, for that the Commiffioner and his Cabinet were ftill for the Treaty-he and 52 (Ormifton) for 24 (the Succeffion); that he believed they would be despatcht this night, for her Majefty to chufe; that he was refolved to venture all upon the Succeffion; that Melvin and Leven would be upon the fame foot; that he had laid his reafons before the Queen, and fhowed me his letter to 5 (the Lord Treafurer), with a memoriall upon the neceffity of infifting on the Succeffion; both which appeared to me plain and strong; but this is to be a fecret. That which confounded me moft was, that he faid his letters, both from 5 (the Lord Treasurer) and others, bore, that neither 60 (the Court) nor 6 (the Whigs) would be satisfied with any thing but the Succeffion. I remember of one expreffion of 5's (the Lord Treasurer's), that please or displease whom it would, 24 (the Succeffion) behoved to be preft. O the height of villainy! for how is this reconcileable with our letters. Ther was one other paffage I took notice of in his memoriall,—that laft year A (the Queen) fought Minifters to goe along with her measures, but that this she was put to feek measures to please her Minifters, when those that were turned out would have gone along with 24 (the Succeffion). Said that 38 (Argyll) had challanged him for vifiting 46 (Baillie), and faying to him he was against 38's (Argyll's) meafures; and for fending letters to Court without firft fhowing them to him. 55 (Annandale) own'd both, upon which there was a round rekoning. I am not like to make up the breach. 53 (Marchmont) has dealt plainly with 38 (Argyll), but to no pur