agreeing with his English
parliament, made another tour to Scotland, and attended the Scots
parliament there; in which parliament, (that he might more effectually
gain the Scots over to his interest) he not only granted a ratification
of all their former proceedings, both in their own defence, and with
respect to religion, but also dignified several of the Scots nobility:
and being sensible of the many great and good services done by this
noble earl, he was placed at the head of the treasury, and the day
before the rising of the parliament all the commissions granted to, and
services and employments performed by Archibald, earl of Argyle, in the
service of his country were approved of; and an act of parliament made
thereon was read and voted, the king giving him this testimony in
public, That he dealt over honestly with him, though he was still stiff
as to the point in controversy. And on the same day, Nov, 15th, 1641,
the king delivered a patent to the lion king at arms, and he to the
clerk register, who read it publicly, whereby his majesty created
Archibald earl of Argyle, &c. marquis of Argyle, earl of Kintyre, lord
Lorn, &c. which being read, and given back to the king, his majesty
delivered the same with his own hand to the marquis, who rose and made a
very handsome speech in gratitude to his majesty, shewing that he
neither expected nor deserved such honour or preferment.

During the sitting of the foresaid parliament, another incident
occurred, wherein a plot was laid to destroy this nobleman, in the
following manner: Some of the nobility, envying the power, preferment
and influence that he and the marquis of Hamilton had with the king,
laid a close design for their lives. The earl of Crawford, colonel
Cochran, and lieut. Alexander Stuart, were to have been the actors (in
which it was insinuated, that his majesty, lord Almond, &c. were privy
to the design), which was, that Hamilton and Argyle should be called for
in the dead of the night to speak with the king; in the way they were to
have been arrested as traitors, and delivered to earl Crawford, who was
to wait for them with a considerable body of armed men. If any
resistance was made, he was to stab them immediately, if not, carry them
prisoners to a ship of war in the road of Leith, where they were to be
confined until they should be tried for treason.--But this breaking out
before it was fully ripe, the two noblemen the night before went off to
a place of m