Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

206 The Earls of Middleton.
son " (his nephew John, afterwards fourth earl 1 ), "as I
am of Tarbat 2 and Oueensberry's 3 good behaviour
in the Parliament, which should be encouraged ; and
that the discontents among our enemies prove for
our advantage, and that our friends persevere, which
in a great measure is beholding to the good manage-
ment of you and your partners. The king is very
sensible of the good behaviour of the clergy and the
bishops, and I have taken particular notice what
you say of the Bishop of Edinburgh. The king
entreats all of you to continue and dispose of every-
thing for the best, that when it pleaseth God to
give the opportunity, things be found in a readiness.
I do not remember that the two priests said any-
thing of your affairs, and I am sure Dr. Cockburn
gave me no letter of the 25th February from you.
I keep very carefully all your letters that I have
received from him, and I find none of that date
amongst them.
" I have told you formerly that the king was
resolved to have no Secretaries of State for Scotland
till he be on the other side, as you have advised him ;
1 He married Lady Elizabeth Stanhope, daughter of Philip, second
Earl of Chesterfield, and died 1712. (Burke.)
2 Sir George Mackenzie, created Viscount Tarbat in 1685. He was
well received by William, and restored to his office of Lord Clerk
Registrar in 1692.
3 James, second Duke of Queensberry, Lord High Treasurer of
Scotland.