Ayrshire > Volume 2

78 HISTORY OF AYRSHIRE
and " bussie leirning everie day." With his two brothers,
Henry and Alexander, he was sent to Glasgow University
in 1628, ; and there is an account preserved of the
" plenishing " the " bairnes " took with them. So far
as the future Earl was concerned, that was as follows : —
" To Lord Hew, ane stand of satting clothes, with ane
pair silk stokingis, ane pair garsteris and rosses, with
gold and sylver perling ; ane red and yellow fether ;
ane scarlet cloth and wupes ; twa rede freise waist
cottis ; ane gylt sword and serff ; twa pair of welvet
pantonis with sylver lace, ane stand of scarlet clothis ;
Item, ane caster felt hat with ane common felt hat and
two gold hat bands." He seems to have remained in
Glasgow till 1633, when he was sent to Paris to complete
his education. The journey to London he describes in
an interesting letter to his father. Starting from Setoun,
the first night he reached Dunbar, the next Berrie,
" quhair he restid the Sabath," and then proceeded to
Netherby. His horses for the most part were by this
time " all lame," and he " took post," leaving his horses
to be brought on after him. In due time he reached
London in excellent health. The King received him very
graciously, but it was thought best he should not see the
Queen, " because of the miscontent she was in for the
present with the Treasurer's son, my Lord Wasson, being
ambassador, for intercepting a packet of Her Majesty's
and my Lord Holland's directed to the Chevaler de Par,
and sent back by Lord Wasson to His Majesty." In
the autumn of 1634 ne an d his brother Henry returned
from Paris, where they had been studying military
matters, and particularly the art of fortification, to
London, where, as recorded in a letter from Sir David
Cuninghame to their father, " their discreet and well-
fashioned carriage and behaviour had been such as had
gained favour and respect from all."
The young lord had not long returned home before
he began to take an interest in public affairs, and not
always on the same side as his father. Baillie had known
him from a child and had taken an interest in his educa-