gs, that in three months I
never heard from you, seeing by Mr. Hay I had so earnestly
recommended it to you, and told of this way by Inverlochy as
sure. If you could not have sent expresses, we thought you
would at least have hastened the dispatch of those we sent.
McSwyne has now been away near two months, and we know not
if the coast be clear or not. However, I have ventured to
advise Mr. Hay to return straight, and not go further in the
country. He came not here until the 22nd, and they
surrendered on the 13th.[86] It was not Mr. Hay's fault he
was so long of coming, for there has been two English
men-of-war and the Glasgow frigates amongst the islands till
of late. For the rest of the letters I undertook to get them
delivered. Most of the persons to whom they are directed are
either put in bond, or in prisons, or gone out of the
kingdom. The Advocate is gone to England, a very honest man,
firm beyond belief,[87] and Athole is gone too, who did not
know what to do. Earl Hume, who is very frank, is taken
prisoner to Edinburgh, but will be let out on security. Earl
Breadalbane keeps close in a strong house he has, and
pretends the gout. Earl Errol stays at home. So does
Aberdeen. Earl Marischal is at Edinburgh, but does not
meddle. Earl Lauderdale is right, and at home. The Bishops?
I know not where they are! They are now the Kirk invisible.
I will be forced to open the letter, and send copies
attested to them, and keep the original till I can find out
our Primate. The poor ministers are sorely oppressed over
all. They generally stand right. Duke Queensberry was present
at the Cross when their new mock king was proclaimed, and, I
hear, voted for him, though not for the throne vacant. His
brother, the Lieutenant-General, some say is made an earl.
He is come down to Edinburgh, and is gone up again. He is
the old man, and has abused [deceived] me strangely. For he
swore to me to make amends. Tarbat is a great villain.
Besides what he has done at Edinburgh, he has endeavoured to
seduce Lochiel by offers of money which is under his hand.
He is now gone up to secure his faction (which is melting),
the two Dalrymples and others, against Skelmorly, Polwart,
Cardross, Ross, and others, now joined with that worthy
prince, Duke Hamilton