Account of the families of Birnie and Hamilton of Broomhill

OF HAMILTON OF BROOMHILL. 51
your Grace, and the whole work of God in the land, to the present di-
rection and special advyces of the Almighty, under whose covert you and
all your company may be safe in that day when you shall engadge against
the common enemie. This the prayer of him who is your Grace's
humble servant, and ready to be commanded, &c.
The bishop's sincere loyaltie for the King, his master, in the above
letter, most plainly appears, his Majestie being now basely delivered up
to the English by his own countrymen, imprisoned in Hurst Castle by
his unnatural, seditious, and traitorous subjects ; saccriledge, rebellion,
and devestation, absolute masters. Yet yow see his hopes mightily re-
vived in this little armie, that, by the goodnesse of God with respect
to such a cause, his majestie might be again sett at libertie, with the re-
storation of the true orthodox religion in thir parts, wherein he was
educate and ordained. But it pleased God, because of our sins, to dis-
appoynt them, and the bishop must live, and see yet blacker tragedies.
Several tymes his designs were to leave his country ; but the tears of
so good a wyfe, and of fyue or sex poor helplesse children, joyn'd with
the commands of his parents, and the houttings of so many relations
about him, overawed him. But where could he fly? England this year,
1649, worse, if worse could be, than Scotland. He must now stay, and,
with several other excellent and good men, be obleidged, not only to yield,
but forc'd along with these cruel, impetuous, fanatical torrents, else perish.
Under these heavy clouds he liv'd, untill it pleased God, by the sun-
shyne of a happie restoration, to dispell them. Yet his behaviour in this
masterly period shall be known by another letter to him from John Earle
of Midleton, then commissioner to King Charles the Second his two ses-
sions of his first parliament, dated at Halyrood-house, the third of April
1661, as follows: —
Reverend Sir,
The former knowledge of your good temper and peaceable
disposition, together with your affectionat loyalty towards the King, has
occasioned me at this tyme to give you the trouble of this letter. I know