INTRODUCTION xxxi

H. ( ). 74.

ended that great man, with his family, at that time.' 1-le
had a more cordial personal admiration for a very different
statesman, Lauderdale, though he often disapproved of his
policy. At his death he writes, 24 of August, 1682, dyed H
John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, the learnedest and
powerfullest Minister of State of bis age, at Tunbridge
Wells. Discontent and age were the ingredients of his
death, if his Dutchesse and Physitians be freed of it for she
had abused him most grosely, and got all from him she could
expect. The Duke of York was certainly most ungrate
to Lauderdale for Lauderdale was the first who adventured
in August 1679 to advise the King to bring home the
Duke of York from Flanders. 1 Argyll he deemed to be
wanting in magnanimity. In 1671 he writes on the subject li,
of a point in a lawsuit being decided in Argylrs favour,
1 This was my Lord President's doing [Stair], he being my
Lord Argyle's great confidant. It was admired by all that
he blushed not to make a reply upon his FatheFs forfaultor,
and whow he had committed many treasonable crimes before
the discharge, and to see him rather than tyne his cause,
suffer his father rather to be reproached and demeaned as
a traitor of new again, by his own advocats.' So fourteen
years later he writes, "Vhate\'er was in Argile's first trans- 1
gression in glossing the Test (which appeared slender), yet
God's wonderfull judgements are visible, pleading a con-
troversie against him and his family, for the cruall oppression
he used, not only to his fathefs, but even to his oune creditors.
It was remembered that he beat ~Iistris Brisbane done his
stairs for craving hir annuelrents, tho he would have bestowed
as much money on a staff or some like etiriosity.' He was,
however, one of Arc, 11"s counsel when he w as prosecuted for
taking the Test, with the explanation 1 that he conceived

1 Sir George hiackenzie also, who criticises Lauderdale's proceedings very
freely, pays a fine tribute to one trait in his chamcter, C Lauderdale who knew
not what it was to dissemble.ll~moirs, p. 182,

II. N. 11.

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H. O. 184.

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