INTRODUCTION xxxiii

H. O. 196.

H. O. 189.

uews of Argyll's landing on the west coast came, this is his
note, Argile, minding the former animosities and discontents
in the country, thought to have found us all alike combustible
tinder, that he had no more adoe then to hold the match to
us, and we would all blow up in a rebellion but the tymes
are altered, and the peeple are scalded so severely with the
former insurrections, that they are frighted to adventure on
a new on. 1'he Privy Council, though they despised this
invasion, yet by proclamations they called furth the whole
heritors of Scotland," and so on. Some look on this invasion
as a small matter, but beside the expence and trouble it hes
put the country to, if we ponder the fatan consequences of
such commotions, we 'Il change our opinions for when the
ramparts of government are once broke down, and the deluge
follows, men have no assurances that the water will take a
flowing towards their meadows to fructify them no, no, just
in the contrare.' ArgS 11 was discovered and apprehended in
his flight by a wesv er near Paislcy, of whom Lauder says,
I think the ~rebster who took him should be rewarded with
a Htle heritage (in such a place wher Argi1e's death will not
be resented), and his chartre should bear the cause, and he
should get a coat of arms as a gentleman, to incouradge
others heirafter.' It does not appear that this suggestion
was acted upon.

But while Lauder was a supporter of the existing order of
govermnent and opposed to all revolutionary plans, his
journals disclose that in the state of public affairs he found
much matter for criticism and ground for an~iety. In 1674
lie tells of what will happen wheaever we get a fair and
unpraelimited Parliament, which may· be long ere we sC{;
it.' In 1683 he writes sadly Though we change the
Governors, yet we find no change in the arbitrar~· crovern-
ment, For we are brought to that pass we must depend
and court the Clul11celor, 'l'reasurer, and fi few other great