Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

1 62 The Earls of Middleton.
barton, Ailesbury, Lichfield, and Dundee, 1 did their
utmost during the three days he remained here to
induce him to think better of his resolution to
abandon the country. Other officers of merit, the
Bishop of Ely, several gentlemen of the town who
visited him, did the same. " They all," says Mac-
pherson, " argued against his flight with united
efforts." A servant of Lord Middleton's, named
David Middleton, repeated the following conversa-
tion between Lord Dundee and the king to Carte
the historian, which he overheard while mending
the fire : — " ' Make your stand here,' said Dundee,
' and summon your subjects to their allegiance.
Give me your commission ; I will undertake to
collect ten thousand men of your disbanded army
together, and with them will carry your standard
through England, and drive the Dutch and their
prince before you.'
"To this the king answered, ' He believed it might
be done ; but it would cause a civil war, and he
would not do so much mischief to the English nation,
which he loved, and doubted not but his people
would soon come to their senses again.' "
Middleton, who foresaw too truly that this hope
would probably prove fallacious, pressed James to
1 John Graham of Claverhouse, the brave Viscount Dundee, born
1650 ; killed at Killiecrankie, in the hour of victory, 1089.