Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

Charles, Second Earl of Middleton. 289
himself in the presence of the ladies, to make them
cry) " was cupped (veutouser) yesterday to pay his
court to my Lord Middleton."
The Countess of Middleton had some fear that
her young charge might be kidnapped. She seems
to have entered heartily into her youthful amuse-
ments, and to have borne her part in them.
July 7th, Hamilton writes to Berwick that the
countess (probably Lady Middleton) was ready to tear
his eyes out, because he had not only neglected to
answer her two last letters, but told every one that she
had written to him. " I had intended to write all the
news from here, but time presses. I will only tell you
of two bold haymakings undertaken by our ladies a
few days ago — one on the cannon of the new castle, the
other on the contrescarp of the terrace. They returned
with glory, and with more hay than St. Germains has
had for a long time, in their falbalas, their corsets, the
pockets of their petticoats, their stockings and shoes.
Mademoiselle (the princess) and the countess distin-
guished themselves in the sight of all the troops, who
stopped to look at them. They ascended the pyra-
mid of hay, raised nearly to the sky, and, with heads
foremost, fought a thousand battles in the air, until
they fell down suddenly, with no further injury than
some bruises and a slight disarrangement of dress,
which was no disadvantage."
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