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without his knowledge; that his being made Secretary had been part of that scheme; but condefcended on no other particulars, fave that, as he fuppofed, Loudoun was to be Secretary: said now was the time to lay afide all animofities, and to join cordially in the Succeffion; complained that Argile kept up all from him, only because he had declared his opinion freely against the prefent measures, and that he had told him that he trufted too much to Stair, &c., whom, he faid, he knew to be no friends to the Succeffion. A great deal more of this nature past. I heard all, and said little, except to blow the coal, which perhaps may be of fome use: but I'm afraid this difguft do not continue; it fhall not want in me to contribute to it. Therefore I defign to wait on Annandale to-morrow. This morning I had a vifit from one of the other fide, the Prefident of the Seffion. After a long preamble of his concern in me, and what pains the family had taken to gain the Commiffioner's good graces to me, not without hope of fuccefs, he defired to know my opinion and advice about measures for the Parliament, and said he hop't I would deal as franklie with him as he would by me. any prefacing, I told him roundlie, that it seemed he knew me not, for I was not to be put upon in that manner; for that after the treatment I had met with, I would give no opinion, nor the least infinuation, what I thought the most proper measure, or whether I would concurr if it were proposed in Parliament, for that I knew they were upon a scheme, and that they onlie wanted mine and other's thoughts to frame it fo as might best answer their own ends; that I was the more averfe to it, that he had infinuate I might thereby preserve my place, for that I thought it below me to declare my opinion, when that was offered as a bait in the manner it was done. After a good dale of talk, to bring me into a reasoning upon measures, which he found in vaine, at last the business came out, that the Commiffioner was willing to be well with me, but was under ties to fatiffie Glasgow, and if I would condefcend to be a Lord of Treafurie, it might be done, and all brought to rights betwixt Argile and me. Your Lordship may eafily judge how choaking this was, for with difficulty I contained myself, but at last told him, I abhorred the thoughts of it; that I would never be fo mean as to confent to being degraded; that I deserved better of the Government, and hop't to be advanced; that I was obliged to him for what he had done for me without my knowledge, but that I could not eafily forgive those that had conceived fo mean ane opinion of me, and therefore entreated he would

interpofe no more in my concern, for at this rate I might be induced to think he had no kindness for me. From all this, I conclude they are in ftraites how to frame their business, and yet I believe they are determined, and that the scheme will be sent off this night, or to-morrow; for Loudoun and Prefident of the Seffion are going to the countrey. The Advocate has made a draught of inftructions, but what they are, or if to be fent with the scheme, I cannot learn. You'l perceive by this what our fate is to be; but to be done in such a manner as that Argile muft beare the weight of it, and is like to be fool enough to take it upon him. I'm verie uneafie to be left to my owne conduct in this criticall juncture. I thought it my duty to acquaint your Lordship with all this; but I doubt, before you get to the end of it, you will be curfing, or perhaps praying, to have no more from me of this kind.

MY LORD,*

LXXXV. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

I RECEIVED Your Lordship's yesterday, but can as little be positive as

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to what will be, as ever, for a written fcheme may either be defir'd for a delay, or for a lasting witness; but, in fhort, it is needless to reafon upon gueffes. In my opinion, 46 (Baillie) should endeavour to blow the coal gkr lffukoh xkug

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betwixt 36 (Seafield) and 38 (Argyll), upon his meeting with 39 (Duke Hamilton). Pray let me hear how 58 (the Old Party) is pleaf'd, and what he expects, and what he has done. The bearer must be here on Sunday's night; and on Monday I fhall fend in another.

Farewell.

Pray if you fee Gorthy, tell him I was going to write to my Lord Montrofe, but had fo little to fay, that I was afham'd.

Floors, 25th May 1705.

66

In this letter, and in all those written by Roxburgh to Baillie in May and June 1705, except that of 28th May, Baillie is addressed as My Lord," although he had ceased to hold the office of Lord Treasurer-Depute.

LXXXVI. FROM THE SAME.

MY LORD,

THERE is nothing 55 (Annandale) can do that can furprise me; and however uncertain the effects of it may be, I think there can be no harm in qsfrkefou

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trying GGG (Annandale) [with] fome fuggar plums; but as for Prefident of Seffion, none but fuch a fimple fool as he would have carried fuch a meffage to 46 (Baillie). Now that 55 (Annandale) is broke with 38

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(Argyll), and Stair's got in, it's much to be fear'd that blanks be afk'd, with a power to make use of them before or after AA (the Scottish Parliament); and therefore I think it very neceffary that 53 (Marchmont) ftay in town till an answer come to the packet that was to go off this morning, that in cafe this be the measure, 38 (Argyll) may be plainly put to it; for it is impoffible that Stair would ever condefcend to OO's (Argyll's) undertaking, and at the same time lose 59 (the New Party) and 55 (Annandale), unless he propofes his fcheme in order to have the matter faile, and fo put 6 (the Whigs) into the belieffe that it would be needlefs hereafter to try any more 25 (Scottish Parliaments); and that therefore it would be neceffary to have troops from 22 (England). This puts the government in 58 (the Old Party)—himself the head; and 38 (Argyll) but his tool and his fkug*, tho he may have the name on't. By this means, even in the cafe of confufion, 38 (Argyll) and his friends have a hit to be

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ugflrfmfr masters, or at least will be able to make their bargain fure for themselves. This is a pretty long reflexion; but I have nothing else to do. In the mean time, I fuppofe, you'l take care to be a peace-maker betwixt 38 (Argyll) and 55 (Annandale): and pray let me know what 39 (Duke Hamilton) is adoing, for 36 (Seafield) no doubt will tell you lyes enough about him.

Farewell.

I had almoft forgotten to thank you for your long letter, and indeed the write was better than ordinar.

Floors, 26th May 1705.

8 o'clock at night.

Shelter, protection.

LXXXVII. TO THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

MY LORD,

I WROTE fully yesterday, and now have little to add, but that they've been on the inftructions fince Thurfday. The firft draught was by the Advocate, at the fight of the Chancellor, Staires, and Philiphaugh, but of what fort they are, I cannot learn for certaine, but have fome ground to believe that they goe upon the Treaty, and that it is upon that foot Argile is to undertake for a majority, that he may get rid of us. The Commiffioner, and reft of that fet, were this day dining with the Chancellor, in order, as I'm told, to finish the inftructions to be fent off this night, together with their scheme, for that it is defigned the Parliament should meet at the day. If what I wrote in my last hold, your Lordship needs not be in the dark about our fate. I find, indeed, they intend to save some of us, of design to create jealoufies, but neither your Lordship nor I are like to be of that number, for by my answer to the Prefident of the Seffion, I think I have done my owne business, and the rather that I had occafion to renew it laft night upon a meffage I had from Argile, by Sir Gilbert Eliot, to the fame purpose with the other. This makes me conclude they will endeavour to feperate us at any rate, and confequentlie cannot be confident of their own ftrength, for all the noise they make; but must be under difficulties how to frame their scheme fo as to please their own people, and [at] the fame time not to take too great a load upon them in cafe their undertaking fhould faill. I spoke to the Chancellor, that he would procure a Treafury for figning our precepts. He told me he had mentioned it to the Commiffioner, but that he would not hear of it. Juft now I had a fecond meffage from Argile, defiring to know if I would take it ill to be continued of the Council and Exchequer when outed of my place. My anfwer was, that, at that rate, I would accept none of his Grace's favours, but goe out in common form. Withall, I'm credibly informed, that Staires, &c., have brought Argile over to the Treaty, Nomination, Cefs, and no more this Seffion; that onlie Annandale and JusticeClerk are for the Succeffion; that the Parliament is to be adjourned to the end of June; that the Juftice-Clerk had told the Commiffioner roundlie that he had put himself into fuch hands as would ruine him; that Annandale has likewise spoke home to him against Loudoun's being Secretary, be

cause of Stairs alliance, and bid him take whom else he pleased. I do noe find that any of them have got fatiffaction.

May 26th, 1705.

LXXXVIII. FROM THE EARL OF ROXBURGH.

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I GOT your's of the 26th late last night, and have been interrupted this whole day, fo fhall not get my Munday's letters till Thursday; but till next week I expect nothing worth the reading. In the mean time 35 (Roxburgh) is truly confounded, for 54 (a Treaty) is destruction for 21 (Scotland), and 59 (the New Party) knows it, and yet may be forced to go along with him [it?]. For, unless 49 (Montrose) come into 64* (Succeffion), it's needlefs for 53 (Marchmont) and his friends to think of Z (Succeffion); and if 64 (Succeffion) can't do, fo that it were folly to try it, what can 59 (the New Party) go to? for 35 (Roxburgh) has long ago, by their advice, propofed the alternative to 60 (the Court), and to go floughfully into 54 (a Treaty) would be to fet up 58 (the Old Party) for ever, and ruin 21 (Scotland); fo that, in fhort, if 64 (Succeffion) can't do, I can fay nothing poffitively; for there is great danger in a short AA (Scottish Parliament), and therefore would gladly be at a point as to 64 (Succeffion), which, in my opinion, we can only be by 51's (Rothes') waiting upon 49 (Montrofe), and telling him in plain terms, that it's either now or never W (Scotland) is to be faved ; and if he and his friends will come into 24 (Succeffion) upon 31 (Limitations), the fettlement may be as they please, and fo 38 (Argyll) pift upon; for 60 (the Court) would not dare to refufe Z (Succeffion), at any rate. If 49 (Montrofe) comes into this, 53 (Marchmont) may then speak plain to 38 (Argyll); but if he will not, 55, 53, 52, and 59 (Annandale, Marchmont, Ormifton, and the New Party) need not think on't, but muft refolve to depend on Providence.

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I have read 45's (Johnstone's) letter, and his arguments have weight; for fuppofe 24 (Succeffion) fhould carry, 60 (the Court) may afterwards, by a

* The secret cypher, but decyphered as above on the original letter.

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