Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

292 FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. [1660.
the sescion of men which the world cannot deny to be men of pietie, abilitie,
and integritie, and fill them with , you will vp with the Act of
debitor and creditor ; you will improve the good. Dare you now perswade
yourselfe from the parliament and my Lord General Monck as the desert of
your appeareance, fastening vpon otheris (that can give a very good accompt
of then nonconcurrence) such aspersions as may render them odious to the
present government, and to lay the fundation of persecution and suf-
ferings to good men, under the notion of factious and seditious. Some ' of
quhich designs (if there be anie trueth in the information) are unseasonable, in
my poore judgment, and some of them are pernicious and wicked. Nor will I
believe that good men, or good patriots, will ever be freinds to such courses,
which, though they should prove successfull, will neither give much mater of
feare or triumph to him who shall wiselie observe the transactions of Provi-
dence in these late times. But the trueth is, your lordship being the person
who, of all that assembbe, may give life or mine to such motions, and vpon
quhom, as a chieff instrument, will be fastened either the honour or blame, or the
moderation or violence of consultations, I durst not for my oune parte concurr
in the commission, unless vpone some belief that not only such courses would
not be pleaseing to your lordship, but that you would set your selfe against
the same, carefullie avoyding quhatsoever may be to the detriment of godlie
ness and godly persons, or aipt to foment and beget divisions at such a time.
It was not without much argueing in my oune minde that I have now taken
pen ; but bebev it not without some measure of desired seriousness. And if
you judge the mater, so also (alloweing me some information and satisfaction,
which I bebeve your lordship is more able than any ebs to doe,) I shall wil-
lingly concurr in signeing of the commission. And if the Lord hath designed
your lordship for good offices in this, quhen your imployment is looked vpon
as dangerous both to your selfe and the cause, it shall both be my joy, and ane
bond of perpetuating vpon me the obbgation of,
My Lord, your lordship's most humble servant.
Pollok, Friday, January 26, 1660.
[Indorsed by Sir George Maxwell : " Coppie of the letter sent to E. Glencairne."]