Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

ioo The Earls of Middleton.
Majesty's letters. As you are very just to me in not
imputing the misfortune I have met with to me, so
I should be irrational and brutish to think it were in
his Majesty's power to time his own business or do
things impossible. It was never in my thoughts to
blame any of his Majesty's ministers, for I am not
ignorant of the difficulties you have all met with, and
he that is not armed against these rencounters will be
every day at a stand. This I will pronounce against
myself if ever I disserve the king, yea, if I serve him
not in all things where there is a possibility, I shall
be the most ingrate, unworthy person alive ; for yourself
and others, if I should but entertain the least thought
of jealousy of you, your former favours have been ill
bestowed, and I the most worthless of men. To fall
away from my most gracious sovereign, and mistrust
his most faithful ministers because they cannot work
miracles and perform impossibilities, would be such
an action as the worst of characters cannot express.
I confess my trouble has been very great, that the
king should suffer in my person, and that in a place,
I may say, truely affectionate to him, but unable to
serve him because of their own great burthens ; yet
my greatest trouble came from an advice I received
to take employment with these men I have levied,
without being discharged of my trust, which did
occasion my writing of that letter to the good