think so, none of any party or persuasion having given you greater assurances of their loyalty, as their letter from their General Assembly, dated

expressed, full of panegyrics and compliments so high that, if it had not been in answer to your letter, so kind and gracious to them, would have looked too like flattery from such a meeting. That you might know if they still continued in the same sentiments, your Majesty ordered your Chancellor to call for them, believing very justly that, according as they intended to behave, their party would follow their example. The Earl of Perth, judging they would not use freedom with him because of his religion, desired me to find out some person, who would not be disagreeable to them. Sir Patrick Murray was pitched upon, a gentleman of ability and goodness, who had not attached himself to any party, but was glad of an occasion to serve his friends without regard to their party or persuasion. He got together the leading men amongst them, and told them that your Majesty, considering the many favours you had shown them, expected they would now let their gratitude appear by influencing their parties to join heartily against the unnatural invasion [which] was threatened; and that, according to their behaviour in this conjuncture, they might expect your favour and protection. They answered drily, they were then but a few in town—that in a fortnight there was to be a general meeting, which they doubted not would give your Majesty satisfaction. When that time came, they put off giving any positive answer until they had new assurances from their friends in Holland, and were made high with expectations to have (by the Prince of Orange) the government of Church and State put into their hands. They then desired Sir Patrick Murray to give their answer that they owned God had made the King an instrument of showing them some favours, but, since they were now convinced that what was done for them was only with design to ruin the Protestant religion, they would meddle no more with him, nor have communication with any he trusted, considering the chiefest among them were either Popish or Popishly affected; as for their behaviour in this conjuncture, they would carry themselves as God should inspire. From that time both they and the gentry of their party took less pains to disguise their resolutions, but still fear of accidents kept them from

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doing anything the government could punish; nor were any of them thoroughly trusted in affairs by your principal enemies—if any were, it was the Earl of Annandale, then at London. When the Presbyterians got their indulgence, he declared himself of their party, but soon tired of them, and came to the Lord Chancellor, and told him it was his youth only had misled him; that now he was resolved heartily to serve the King; that he had renounced that party, finding them enemies to monarchy, and that he intended to go straight to London. He had a recommendation to your Majesty from the Chancellor, as he desired, and was very graciously received, and got a promise [of] the Earl of Airlie's troop of horse, or a new regiment to be raised for him; but finding your affairs in greater disorder at London than he imagined, he became desirous to join with some of the nobility he was informed to be the most disaffected to your Majesty. The first he opened himself to was the Earl of Drumlanrig. He told him that he knew, by the company he kept, that he was not pleased with the present government,-he was as much dissatisfied with it himself; that he was resolved never to draw his sword against the Prince of Orange, who he hoped was coming to deliver them; and that, if his Lordship and his friends would trust him, he would join most heartily with them and run their fate. Earl of Drumlanrig answered him, he was joined with honourable persons, and could say nothing upon that subject without their consent, but that he would speak with them and give them an answer next day. He appointed him to meet in the city with the Duke of Ormond, Mr Boyle, (grandchild to the Earl of Burlington,) and Mr Maule, a gentleman in the Prince of Denmark's service. After they had dined, Drumlanrig gave the Earl of Annandale his answer from Prince George and those that were present, that they willingly accepted of the proposition he had made to them, provided he gave his oath after the most binding manner. His Lordship being most willing, Mr Maule officiated, and gave him the Sacrament—that he would go in with them, and join the Prince of Orange. But when it came to the push, his Lordship failed, pretending a misfortune incident to young men of his age, which was an excuse not taken of his hands. When the Prince of Orange came to London,

he was put into a messenger's hands for several days, which gave him so great a disgust of his Highness' Government, that he entirely rejoined your friends.

While such practices were going on in England, your Council and Secret Committee had taken such methods, that even the most dissatisfied lived quietly, expecting the event; which was attributed entirely to the just posting of the army, though not considerable for number, yet so affectionate to your service that they kept all the nation in a due respect, though I cannot say love, to your Government. But so soon as your Majesty sent orders that the army should be brought together, and be in readiness to march into England, all the discontented in the nation thought they had met with their just time, believing your affairs must be in a miserable condition in England when you was obliged to bring up so inconsiderable a force, and by that to leave a whole nation exposed to your enemies, which otherwise, upon many accidents, might have been so useful to you.

When first the Earl of Melfort wrote of it to your Secret Committee, they immediately sent an express to lay before you all its inconveniences, and likewise to propose a design they had well laid, that the modelled militia, the gentry on horseback, and four thousand of the choice of the Highlanders, should form an army of fifteen thousand good men ; there was money in the Exchequer sufficient for their subsistence, and even to have raised ten battalions more, if they had been thought wanting. This army they proposed should march to York, or at least to the Borders of Scotland, which would effectually have hindered all the risings in the North of England, which made so great a noise, and were magnified much above their worth or numbers, to the great prejudice of your affairs. But, instead of following this unanimous advice of your Council, Secret Committee, and the opinion of all your best and wisest friends, the Earl of Melfort wrote down an order, (not supersigned by your Majesty, but only in your name,) commanding, upon sight thereof, all the regular forces should instantly march for England, and that any of your servants or friends who were afraid to stay behind might come along with them. The order was positive and short,-advised by Mr James Stewart at a

supper, and wrote upon the back of a plate, and an express immediately dispatched therewith. With a sorrowful heart to all With a sorrowful heart to all your servants, your orders were obeyed, and about the beginning of October they began their march-three thousand effective young [men,]-vigorous, well disciplined and clothed, and, to a man, hearty in your cause, and willing, out of principle as well as duty, to hazard their lives for the support of the Government as then established both in Church and State.

The Council, after their departure, ordered the modelled militia to be brought together about Edinburgh, and some of them to be quartered in the Canongate; but these new-raised men (that would soon have been disciplined and brought into order, if mixed with the regular troops) signified little to keep up the face of authority; nor was their Commander, Sir George Monro, (named by the Council until your orders were known,) much better of the trade than these new-raised men, having lost by age, and being long out of service, anything he had learned in Charles Gustavus' days, except the rudeness and austerity of that service. The Presbyterian and discontented party, seeing themselves now at liberty, and the Government abandoned, took their opportunity, and Edinburgh was filled with them from all quarters of the nation; they then took off their mask, and formed several clubs, where they deliberated upon what was to be done as freely as if allowed by authority. The Council and Secret Committee knew from spies amongst them all that passed, yet were obliged to shut their eyes at what they had not power to suppress.

The chiefs of these meetings were the Earls of Glencairn, Crawford, and Tarras, Lords Ross and Mersington,' (a few months before put into the Session to oblige the Presbyterians,) Sir James Montgomery, Anstruther younger, Mr William Hamilton, advocate, Mr William Lockhart, Drummond of Riccarton, Laird of Blair Greenock, Mochrum,2 Livingstone, Master of Burleigh, George Hall, merchant, George Stirling, apothecary, Sir Alexander Bruce of Broomhall, Menzies, a merchant, David Pitliver, Leuchat,3 Reidie, the Master of Melville, Cockburn of 'Alexander Swinton, Lord Mersington of the Session.

3 Alexander Spittall of Leuchat.

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James Dunbar of Mochrum. 'George Moncreiff of Reidie.

Ormistoun, Sir Patrick Murray, and Lord Bargeny. Several joined them afterwards, but these were the chief leaders amongst them, until their brethren from Holland met them at London, and eclipsed them. The Presbyterian Ministers did not attend their public meetings, but, according to their ancient custom, nothing was determined without consulting them, and that they approved. One of the first things taken into consideration was how to hinder all correspondence between your Majesty and Council, which Sir James Montgomery undertook and performed so effectually, that few packets coming or going escaped him, and the rising of the Northern Counties of England under the Earl of Derby and Lord Lumley, who had the same design, put a stop to correspondence, and prevented all knowledge of what was doing in England. Some few flying packets got through from the Earl of Melfort to his brother, but in them the truth disguised, and the facts quite different from what the Viscount of Dundee wrote to me. At last one got through with the news of the Prince of Orange's landing; to know the truth of what was doing and receive your commands, Lord Chancellor and the Secret Committee thought fit to send a merchant, one Mr Brand, being most likely, upon the pretext of his trade, to pass through; but he went straight to the Prince of Orange, was introduced by Dr Burnet, and pretended [that] he was sent by his Highness' friends to assure him of their good disposition to his service. When it was known at Edinburgh that Mr Brand had acted so contrary to his commission, the Viscount of Tarbat was most unjustly suspected, for, at that time, none was more apprehensive of the Prince of Orange's coming over, considering his declaration for Scotland, by which it was evident he intended to sacrifice all to satisfy the Presbyterians and those who came over with him, who were for the most part his personal enemies. This way failing of having your commands, the Council ordered three of their number to attend your Majesty, the Viscount of Tarbat, Sir George Lockhart, Lord President, and myself; these two excused themselves, not being able to ride post, so I was sent alone. Some days before I left Edinburgh, it was spread abroad that the rabble intended to make an uproar-industriously given out by these meetings to frighten away those you trusted,