Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

98 The Ear/s of Middleton.
Monro, calling to mind what the seer told us in May
preceding, wrote of it, and sent an express to me to
Lochslime, in Ross, where I then was, with it." x
Alexander Middleton and his family had probably
their sufferings, likewise, for the royal cause. In the
entry of the baptism of his seventh child, Catherine,
August 18th, 1654, Vice-Principal Middleton is
designated as residing in Gordon's Mill. This being
during Cromwell's usurpation, it is likely that he was
deprived of his post, and became indebted to his wife's
father for a home. There is an interval of eight
years between this entry and that of the next child,
Jean; as there were only two years at most between
the baptisms of the elder children, and the same dis-
tance of time between the two younger who follow
Jean, there may have been other children baptised
elsewhere, on account of the family being forced to
quit Aberdeen until the Restoration.
In September, 1656, Charles, in gratitude for
Middleton's services, bestowed upon him the title of
earl. 2
A rupture taking place between England and
Spain, the king endeavoured to take advantage of it
to further his restoration, by promising to invade
England, should a sufficient force be granted him.
Soon after, Colonel Sexby, a mortal enemy of Crom-
1 Pepysian Correspondence. 2 Search in the Records.