Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

1 1 8 The Earls of Middldon.
Another violent and tyrannical Act was carried
against persons who should endeavour to persuade
the king to restore the children of those who had
been attainted by Parliament. 1 It seems like a
judgment upon Middleton, who passed this Act with-
out instructions for the purpose, that his own titles,
lately conferred upon him, were forfeited by his son in
1695 (his direct male line ended in the persons of
his grandsons, who died without issue; and the Earl-
dom of Middleton and Lordships of Clermont and
Fettercairn, although expressly granted to his heirs
bearing the surname and arms of Middleton, have not
yet been restored to the representative of his brother,
Alexander.
Middleton and the other ministers, fearing from
the favour shown by the king to Lord Lome, that
they would be disappointed of their hope of sharing
the Argyle possessions, determined to impair them.
Argyle having formerly obtained a grant of the
Marquis of Huntly's (his brother-in-law) estates, on
the ground of his being a considerable creditor, con-
ditionally on his paying 400,000 marks owing to
other persons, the Parliament now restored the estate,
free from incumbrance, to Huntly, leaving his debts
chargeable upon the Argyle possessions.
This treatment Lord Lome naturally resented
1 Burnet.