1st Duke of Gordon

96
menta of the period as "Caesar," "Sabina," "Mr
Duncomb," "Sir Solomon" (Mar and Kellie
Papers): "675: haz:" (Bucoleuch Papers): "Gor
mond" (House of Lords Papers: Hist. MSS.
Coin. I. 152), and "Mr Gray" (Stuart Papers).
The Duke was a specially desirable colleague,
for he was a power in the land. An undated
paper of advice to the Chevalier St George, quoted
in the "Elphinstone Papers," states that he could
raise and keep 900 men in the field. True, he
was suspected, for, if his traditional loyalty made
him favour the Jacobite project, his natural cau-
tiousness made him hesitate to throw himself
openly into that cause. Thus, Captain John
Ogilvie (a spy known as "Jean Gassion"), report-
ing on Scots affairs in 1705, declared (Portland
Papers, Hist. MSS. Com., iv., 276) that the
Jacobites were "afraid he will not risk, but on
sure grounds. However, his following will rise,
for they are most part papist." Hooke himself
reports that the Duke, the Earl of Panmure, and
some other lords, "were desirous to promise
40,000 men without comprising the Presbyterians
in the west, and by the estimation mentioned in
their memorial it appears that they had good
reason for it." The Duke of Gordon himself,
with his friends, promised 3000 foot and 500 horse
and dragoons besides the two whole clans of
the Mackenzies and Frasers.
The Duke was, therefore, well worth cultivating,
and Louis thoug-ht it advisable to introduce
Hooke to him, for which purpose he wrote two
letters to His Grace, both of them being pre-
served in the British Museum (Add. MSS. 20,858,
ff. 94,181). The first letter is dated Versailles,
June 17-28, 1705: —
My Cousin, — I am so thoroughly acquainted
with your zeal for the good of your country that
I am persuaded you will hearken with pleasure
to what Mr Hooke, colonel in my service, will
have to say to you touching the desire I have to
succour the Scottish nation in maintaining their
laws and liberties; and you are to believe that
on this, as well as on all other occasions, I will
shew the marks of esteem and affection which 1
have for you personally. Wherfore I pray God
to put you, my cousin, in his holy and worthy
protection. Louis.
The second letter is undated. It rums: —
My Cousin, — I received with pleasure at the
return of Colonel Hooke the confirmation of what
I already knew of your zeal for the good of your