Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

1 30 The Earls of Middleton.
This report seemed unfounded, for on the 31st
Lord Middleton declared at last his being ready to
go as soon as ever money could be obtained to
pay the garrison. Pepys had orders to get money,
but how soon he knew not.
April 26th, Colonel Macnachan, a Scotchman,
brought a letter from Lord Middleton, saying, at the
same time, that he was in great distress for £500
to relieve Lord Morton (the widower of his daughter
Grizel) with. Pepys knew not upon what account.
He was asked to advance this sum without order,
upon Lord Middleton's pay upon Tangiers, " which I
was astonished at," says Pepys, " but had the grace
to deny him with an excuse."
May 3rd, Pepys had a great mind to talk to the
Duke of York about the ruinous condition of Tangiers
before it was too late, but dared not when it came to
the point, because of the duke's great kindness to
Lord Middleton. On the 7th he set out to see the
Duke of York with the^same intention, but his heart
failed again from a like cause. 1
Lord Middleton did go at last to Tangiers, prob-
ably soon after this. Unfortunately he did not turn
over a new leaf in another climate, but continued his
former intemperate habits. In the year 1673, 2 while
in a fit of intoxication, he fell down a staircase, and
broke his arm so badly that the bone protruded
1 Pepys' Diary. 2 Search in the Records.