1st Duke of Gordon

55
veell and calm; I yish itt eontdnow long so._ 1
aru intyrly, your lordship's affectionat cussing
and humble servant,
Gordon.
On May 11, 1685, James II. wrote to the Duke
from St James's ("Spalding Club Miscellany,"
Hi., 220) : —
Till this day I did not receve yours of the 8 of
April, by Mr Dunbar, he nauing been sick ever
since his arrival here till now, and now I have
not had much tyme to discourse with him, but
intend it within a day or two. Lord Melvill is
eertinly gone from Amsterdam, with some arms
and ammunition for Scotland or Ireland, to see
if they can make any disturbance there; for Lord
Argile, lie either went before or with him, which
I do not certainly know ; but before this gett to
you, I am confident you will heare more of them.
And asm I have not tyme to say more, but that
you .shall always find I have that consideration
for you which you have reason to expect.
J. E.
A ivy 11 landed on the west coast in May, and
on May 22, 1685, the Duke received a commission
of lieutenancy from King James, and commanded
the northern forces raised to oppose him. Moray
announced the fact in a letter of the same date :
"The Kinge lies dispatched Lt. Coll. Maxwill to
attend the Dwk of Gordone and be asistinge to
him in the management of the Commission of
Liuetennosy the King now sends him'''' ("Buc-
cleuch Papers"). The warrant, quoted herewith
(dated May 22, 1685) is interesting not only as an
example of one of the earliest of such commis-
sions, but as bringing into prominence the im-
portance of the force under the Duke, and the
part it was destined to play should the Argyll
invasion have been protracted beyond this period
it actually was: —
James R. — Forasmuch as His Majestie's service
requiring that in this present junctyre of affaires
he clhoiild entrust persons of known loyalty and
integrity to serve His Majesty as his lieutenants
in those parts of his said kingdom, where he shall
have use for them, and that His Majestie reposing
special trust and confidence in 'his right trusty
and entirely beloved Cousin, George, Duke of
Gordon, etc., to be His Majestie's lieutenant in
the .shires after-mentioned. Therefore, to have
nominated and commisioned, likeas His Majesty
by these presents nominates and commissfcooiates
tiho said George, Duke of Gordon, to be His
V:;j.v<iieVi lieutenant in the shires of Banife,
Elgin, and Inverneyse. Impoworing him, or