^{page 1 note a} The spelling seems to show that these were written out by Charles Maitland, who was acting as Lauderdale's deputy.

^{page 1 note b} See vol. ii. p. 241.

^{page 3 note a} Shafteslbury.

^{page 5 note a} See vol. ii. p. 243

^{page 6 note a} The king.

^{page 6 note b} Parliament, or Scotland.

^{page 7 note c} Hamilton.

^{page 8 note a} From his daughter, the wife of the writer.

^{page 8 note b} Hamilton and Tweeddale started from Scotland about Dec. 8. (23136, f. 46.)

^{page 9 note a} Kincardine.

^{page 10 note a} Gilbert Burnet.

^{page 11 note a} Sir T. Osborne.

^{page 11 note b} Henry Coventry.

^{page 11 note c} The correspondence between Essex and Henry Coventry, in the Essex papers (Ashburnham MSS., British Museum), shows that this was the case.

^{page 12 note a} Shaftesbury's ostentatious patronage of Monmouth did not begin till later.

^{page 13 note a} Brother of the Earl of Essex, a leading member of the country party. His Parliamentary speeches (Parl. Hist, iv.) merit close attention.

^{page 16 note a} This tavern figures frequently as the meeting-place for all political parties.

^{page 16 note b} See Letter VIII.

^{page 17 note a} Shaftesbury was dismissed, Nov. 9, 1673.

^{page 21 note a} Tweeddale was on the Commission of the Treasury.

^{page 21 note b} He was attacked this day in the House of Commons.—Parl. Hist. iv. 637.

^{page 22 note a} Charles frequently used this monogram as his signature to familiar letters.

^{page 23 note a} Lord Halton. He was disgraced for peculation some years later.

^{page 26 note a} Halton.

^{page 27 note a} In a letter to the Duke of York which accompanied this he reminds him that Dumfries had been a prime mover in the billetting plot, of which he was now hoping to act the second part.

^{page 31 note a} O'Brien.

^{page 33 note a} He was attacked on this ground in the following year. See Parl. Hist. iv. p. 684. The Act was for the repeal of the laws hostile to Scotland, on condition that the Scottish Parliament should pass a similar Act.

^{page 34 note a} Apparently an intercepted letter.

^{page 35 note a} The design of doing this was concealed even from the Ministers most in confidence until the last moment.

^{page 38 note a} Evidently an intercepted letter.

^{page 47 note a} Burnet, i. 369, says that at this time “ Lauderdale took all possible methods to become more popular. He connived at the insolence of the Presbyterians,” &c.

^{page 49 note a} Apparently a second wife. His first wife was Mauritia de Nassau, younger sister of Lady Arlington and Lady Ossory. For this former marriage, and its sad ending, see Lord Lindsay's “ Memoirs of Lady Anna Mackenzie,” p. 84.

^{page 50 note a} In the Middleton Administration.

^{page 59 note a} humour.

^{page 61 note a} Wife of the Lord of Sommelsdych.

^{page 62 note a} Leighton retired at the end of this year, went into England, and died there, June, 1684 (Wodrow, ii. 272, note). Alexander Burnet succeeded him on September 29, 1674.

^{page 64 note a} Kincardin adds : “ So wee dismist them, and were glad to get out of the briers at that rate. It is strang that all sorts of people should thus grow mutinous together. I pray God avert what it threatens.”

^{page 65 note a} Much of the correspondence is now addressed to the Duchess. She was auxious to marry one of her daughters to Athol's son.

^{page 67 note a} I have omitted this matter of the advocates from my selection. It may be read in Mackenzie's Memoirs, and in Burnet.

^{page 68 note a} An intercepted letter. This and the two following letters have been accidentally misplaced. A reference to the dates will show where they should hare come.

^{page 73 note a} A copy in the hand of Charles Maitland,

^{page 77 note a} Cf. Wodrow, ii. 280.

^{page 78 note a} Athol.

^{page 78 note b} Rothes.

^{page 79 note a} The first notice of the breach with Kincardin.

^{page 79 note b} Brought on, says Burnet, by excessive drinking.

^{page 80 note a} Alexander Burnet had been living in retirement since his resignation in 1669.

^{page 80 note b} A fresh proclamation against conventicles was issued March 1, 1676.

^{page 81 note a} Countess of Wemyss, mother of the Duchess of Monmouth.

^{page 82 note a} See Charles Maitland's letter of Aug. 3, 1675.

^{page 83 note a} i.e. the “ faction ”—Hamilton, Tweeddale, and their adherents.

^{page 83 note b} For this Committee, see Wodrow, ii. 234.

^{page 84 note a} Burnet, i. 400, declares that Carstairs had no warrant, and that, after his apprehension, a warrant was antedated, to cover the illegal act.

^{page 84 note b} Now in active sympathy with the party. See, for this affair, Burnet, i. 400, who gives precisely the account, mutatts mutandis.

^{page 85 note a} Lauderdale is stated to have had a hearty contempt for him.

^{page 86 note a} From the Collection of John Webster, Esq. M.P.

^{page 87 note a} The Duke and Duchess had gone up to Scotland.

^{page 87 note b} James was always favourable to the Quakers, their principles of complete tolerance bring in accord with his views for the Catholics in England. His connection with William Penn will be recollected.

^{page 89 note a} From the Collection of John Webster, Esq., M.P.

^{page 91 note a} Burnet, i. 417.

^{page 93 note a} This refers to perhaps the worst act of Lauderdale's rule, the letting loose 8,000 Highlanders at free quarters upon the west. It was with the full approbation of the Bishops, and I think at their suggestion, that this was done. Perth, hoping to raise his fortunes by compliance, is eager in co-operation. Within a year disappointment turns him and Athol into stormy opponents of Lauderdale. These Highland nobility were absolutely selfish. (See pp. 95, 107.)

^{page 95 note a} See Wodrow, ii. 383, for the instructions actually given.

^{page 99 note a} Afterwards 4th Duke of Hamilton.

^{page 99 note b} Wodrow, ii. 433. He inherited his father's principles.

^{page 104 note a} Scil. Twitnam. See p. 100.

^{page 106 note a} Burnet, i. 419. (See p. 93.)

^{page 107 note a} In defiance of a proclamation, dated January 3, forbidding it. For their defence see Burnet, i. 420.

^{page 107 note b} See p. 93, note.

^{page 110 note a} As, indeed, on the whole, it did. But see p. 112.

^{page 112 note a} The next letter shows more directly that it was the desire to avoid further complications with the English Parliament that led to these orders. Moray writes, “ Many of the members of the H. of C. are blowne up by these peoples fals calumnies that are come up ; so as the kinge fears they will be hye upon it, and wishes it past befor they sit.”

^{page 113 note a} The King's great desire to avoid complaints coming to the House of Commons caused this.

^{page 115 note a} So that their authors may be open to prosecution for leasing making.

^{page 116 note a} The first manifesto of the remonstrators, in 1648. See Wodrow, i. 47, 48.

^{page 116 note b} See for this Wodrow, ii. 442.

^{page 117 note a} He refused the bond lately demanded.

^{page 118 note a} Brouncker.

^{page 118 note b} On which he could depend.

^{page 123 note a} Charles has given leave for the malcontents to come to London.

^{page 124 note a} In his letter, Alexander Burnet says that Sheldon “ seemed very apprehensive of the danger to which they may be exposed if our adversaries be not checkt & curb'd,” and two days later he finds it “ no difficult work to persuade them scilicet the English bishops to oune and affect our interest.”

^{page 126 note a} See Dictionary of National Biography, Art. Alexander Bruce.

^{page 131 note a} I know of no other instance of Charles allowing himself to lose his ordinary nonchalance. See letter LXXXI. p. 140.

^{page 136 note a} The action of Athol and Perth has been noticed in previous letters.

^{page 148 note a} He did, and gained a large majority.

^{page 149 note a} James Rocheid of Inverleith was town clerk of Edinburgh in 1683, most probably also in 1678, when he is designated “ Scriba communitatis burgi de Edinburgh,” but not “ communis clericus,” the usual designation of the town clerk. The Rocheids of Inverleith were an Edinburgh family of some consideration. (Kindly communicated to me by T. Dickson, Esq., Registry Honse, Edinburgh.)

^{page 153 note a} The only practical benefit which the party appear to have gained.

^{page 154 note a} Not signed.

^{page 156 note a} It will be remembered that immediately after the disgrace of Middleton the composition of the articles was altered as to make the king absolute. Hamilton's reference to the first parliament is, therefore, natural.

^{page 164 note a} This letter is from the Stow Collection.

^{page 172 note a} The Supplication is in Wodrow. That contained in these letters is practically identical.—See Appendix.

^{page 176 note a} He and John King were both executed on August 14.

^{page 179 note a} See two preceding letters.

^{page 181 note a} Containing declaration against Popery.

^{page 183 note a} Monmouth.

^{page 188 note a} The leader of the extreme Covenanters.

^{page 188 note a} This had been the effect—no doubt looked for—of all indulgencies, and the Bishop displays sound judgment in this matter.

^{page 190 note a} See ante.

^{page 190 note b} In a letter of Jan, 20, James says, “ I long to heare that the 26 is well past.” I do not know to what he alludes.

^{page 191 note a} Lord Advocate.

^{page 191 note b} See Burnet, 514, and succeeding letters, 109, 113, Also Wodrow, iii. 235.

^{page 192 note a} The testimony of the Privy Council is, of course, worthless as evidence in such a matter, but it is worth remembrance that Pepys speaks highly of James's government of Scotland from personal observation.

^{page 194 note a} It is strange to find the signature of Argyll to this.

^{page 195 note a} This refers probably to the attempt to deprive Argyle of his hereditary jurisdictions in Scotland.

^{page 197 note a} Burnet i., 514.

^{page 199 note a} Carriage.

^{page 199 note b} Cleared.

^{page 201 note a} This is evidently one of the false depositions referred to by Burnet, i., 515.

^{page 203 note a} See Letter 110.

^{page 209 note a} Wodrow iii. p. 225.

^{page 213 note a} See Wodrow i. 80. He was imprisoned in 1660 without any cause shown, and banished without trial.

^{page 217 note a} The Roman Catholic peers.

^{page 219 note a} See p. 204 for a former instance of the Duchess's enrichment of herself.

^{page 219 note b} Possibly that of Jan. 14, p. 22 of the present volume.

^{page 225 note a} See p. 195.

^{page 226 note a} Son of Charles Maitland, of Haltoun.

^{page 226 note b} See vol. i. p. 115.

^{page 229 note a} He died at Tunbridge Wells, Aug. 20, 1682. His brother succeeded to the Scotch Earldom, not to the English Duchy.