Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

John Middleton, First Earl of Middleton. 59
Middleton's safe arrival in France when Knox con-
ferred with them, directed him, if neither he nor Lord
Newburgh 1 were at Court, to seek the Marquis of
Ormond, 2 and ask him to present him to his Majesty ;
but this he had not thought necessary to do, as both
Middleton and Newburgh were there.
A humble request, or rather condition, was
attached to these offers of service, which if not
granted, neither those in Scotland, nor the lords in
the Tower, hesitated to declare that they would no
more think of serving his Majesty — which was, that
everything relating to these affairs should be kept
from the queen, the Duke of Buckingham, 8 the Lord
Jermyn, 4 and the Lord Wilmot. 5 They professed all
duty to the queen, but knew that she had so good an
opinion of Argyle, that he would in that case be
certainly made acquainted with all that took place.
The king did not expect that much would be
achieved by his friends in Scotland ; but he did not
1 Sir James Levingston, first Viscount Newburgh, a staunch Cavalier,
and one of the gentlemen of the bedchamber to Charles II. Died
December 26th, 1670.
2 James Butler, afterwards Duke of Ormond, born 1610, died 1688.
5 George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, the favourite of Charles
II., born 1627, died 1688.
4 Henry Jermyn, created Lord Jermyn in 1643, advanced to the
earldom of St. Albans in 1660. He was thought to be married to the
Queen Henrietta.
5 Afterwards first Earl of Rochester.