History of the Fife Pitcairns

LORD ROBERT PITCAIRN. 107
ately with Bishop Leslie, Bishop Gordon, and Lord Livingston,
who told us she had read our representations, but she was not
quite satisfied as to the justice of our cause. We replied we had
no liberty to enter into any discussion which could tend to lessen
the prerogative of the King.
Such being the state of the negotiations, we sent some of our
number to her to Greenwich to learn if she had anything to do
with us, and if not, to procure leave for us to depart and return
home to meet Parliament, and transact our private business, at the
same time to assure Her Majesty of our desire to oblige her, and
it would be better in our power to do so at home, than when
residing in a foreign country.
This urgency procured us an order to attend at Court on the
5th of March. We contended that the equity of our cause had
been clearly established.
Next day we went to the Queen's palace as arranged, and heard
what her counsellors had to propose. After hearing them, we
asked them to give it us in writing, which they did.
Accordingly next day Robert Pitcairn was sent with this answer :
That the subject came under the cognizance of the Estates, and
could not be discussed by so small a number as we were, and the
day after, March the 9th, he returned to Court with the same in
writing, having been desired the day before to do so ; at the same
time he earnestly entreated the Queen to allow us to return home.
On March 20th we were recalled to Court, when the Queen,
ordering us to be introduced, addressed us in the following
terms : —
She had examined our answer, and clearly perceived that none
but the Supreme Council of the Scots could give any certain
answer. Therefore as she was told there would soon be a meet-
ing of Parliament, a Committee should be chosen, composed of
both parties, and she would also send commissioners. . . .
The matter was still protracted from day to day, till the Queen
returned to London the last day of March ; at last on the 4th of
April she sent for us, and having apologized for the delay, she
informed us that the mother of our King had written a sharp
letter to her Ambassadors for their presumption in treating of her
cause as they had done ; wherefore since she violently opposes the
method of bringing about a peace I proposed, I shall not
longer detain you, but if she should repent and accept of my pro-
posal, I do not doubt you will do your duty.
Thus at last we were dismissed kindly and courteously, and on
the 8th of April set out for home. 1
1 Buchanan's Hist, of Scot., vol. ii. p. 601.