Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Jacobite relics of Scotland > [First series]

230 NOTES.
he advanced, drawing parallels betwixt preceding and present
times. He was a well-accomplished gentleman in most kinds of
learning, well acquainted with the constitution of this kingdom,
very dexterous in choosing the proper seasons and means of
managing a debate in parliament, and a forward useful man in a
party. Mackay, speaking of him, says, " He was the only peer
that opposed the act of succession in Scotland, when the duke of
York was present ; for which he was sent prisoner to the castle of
Edinburgh. He hath been angry with the administration of all
reigns ever since, because he can never get into any post. Sets
up for a patriot ; loves to make long speeches in parliament, and
hath the vanity to print them. A rough, fat, black, noisy man,
more like a butcher than a lord."
Haddington. — The earl of Haddington was entirely abandoned
to Whiggish and commonwealth principles, and one of Cockburn
of Ormiston's beloved pupils. He much affected, and his talent
lay in, a buffoon sort of wit and raillery ; was hot, proud, vain,
and ambitious.
Ormiston. — He was a man of good understanding, and wanted
not abundance of application to business ; but of so hot, virulent,
turbulent, and domineering a temper, that he was uneasy even to
his own party. Of all that were concerned in the government,
there was none equalled him in vindictive persecution of all that
he thought enemies to the established government of either church
or state, having upon that score regard for neither sex, age, nor
quality, but, Jehu-like, drove always most furiously on, and by
these means preserved his interest at court, serving as a scarecrow
to terrify others.
Sir James Stuart. — Sir James Stuart of Groodtrees was an emi-
nent lawyer of this period, supposed to know all the virtues of his
trade, and popularly termed Jamie Wylie. He was King's advo-
cate from the Revolution to 1709 ; a keen Revolutionist and
Presbyterian. There are many traditional anecdotes about him
at the Scottish bar.
Mr Coclchurn. — Cockburn junior of Ormiston.
Lord Polworth. — Lord Polworth and his comrades used fre-
quently to strip naked and burn their shirts in the taverns, at