xxviii JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER

H. O. 148.

H.0.6

a great mathematician, chemist, and mechanick, and wrought
oft in the laboratories himselfe he had a natural mildnesse
and command over his anger, which never transported him
beyond an innocent puff and spitting, and was soon over, and
yet commanded more deference from his people than if he
had expressed it more severely, so great respect had all to
him. His clemencie was admirable, witnesse his spàring 2 of
Oliver Cromwell's sones, tho on of them had usurped his
throne. His firmnesse in religion was evident for in his
banishment he had great invitations and offers of help to
restore him to his croun if he would turne Papist, but he
always refused it.\ As for his brother James, now our
present King, he is of that martiall courage and conduct,
that the great General Turenne was heard say, if he ware to
conquer the world, he would choise the Duke of York to
command his army: Such were Lauder's loyal sentiments, as
set down in a private journal a year before his servants and
clerks were arrested, and the seizure of his papers threatened.
But his Protestantism and his jealousy of Popery were equally
strong. In 1680 he notes that the minister of 'Vells in
Nithsdale had turned Roman Catholic so this is one of the
remarkable trophees and spoils the Papists are beginning to
gain upon our religion.' A little further on he is indignant
at ridicule being thrown on the Popish Plot. 1 Not onl y too
many among ourselves, but the French, turned the Plot into
matter of sport and laughter for at Paris they acted in
ther comedy, called Scaramucchio, the English tryalI, and
busked up a dog in a goune lik Chief Justice Scrogs.'
Again, A Papist qua Papist cannot be a faithful subject:
He had, however, no sympathy with the Covenanters, a name
which he does not use, but he describes them as praecise
phanaticks.' He did not consider it unjust to bring them to
capital punishment, because they denied the right of the
king to govern, though on grounds of humanity and policy