Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart

PROQUIRITATIONS. 413
3. Seeing the covenanters, who are at this time accounted the State's adversaries,
kept, some three yeers ago, a garison in the Author's house for the space of a twelve-
month ; and that, for these many yeers past, by several exactions, tolerated plunder-
ings, and other such like unmerciful dealings, without any just occasion given, his
rents have been made almost totally unserviceable — that he may now, for his greater
peace in the future, be exonered of the English garison which is in his house, and,
after its removal, have himself fully setled in his own, with all maner of ease and
tranquility, is the humble desire of N. Wa.
4. That to the overthrow of equity in the person of the Author, the rigour of a
wrested law be not permitted to become the executioner of the spleen and covetous-
ness of his implacable adversaries, is the earnest desire of B. H.
5. That the Shire of Cromartie, which ever from the beginning hath been the re-
ceptacle of the most harmless inhabitants, be not bestowed on any other then the
Author, whose predecessors, for uprightness and integrity of carriage, were not, if
equalled, inferiour to the best of any nation, is the longing desire of Yo. Bn.
6. That the Author being as a clear spark from whence gleameth the greatest part
of the pure light that is to be seen of any learned invention in that country of Scot-
land, it be not quenched and quite extinguished by the foul and black water of an
usurious puddle, drunk up there by too many of the natives almost of all sorts, is the
humble request of Bu. Ts.
7. That they who look meerly to the present time, without any regard of the
future, be not permitted to deprive him of his means, who for the good of after-ages
employs his spare hours most vertuously, is the true desire of D. J.
8. That those who, long before the distractions of Scotland, had enslaved them-
selves to the abominable vice of oppressing others, be not permitted, now that by their
means that country is brought lowe, to meddle with the estate of him who never in-
jured any, is the earnest suit of E. G.
9. Seeing he is born to the profit of few, who thinketh onely on the people of his
age ; and to that of fewer, whose thoughts exceed not the reach of his own proper
interest — that due consideration may be had of the difference betwixt the Author's
competitors of dark and narrow projects, and his own splendid and ample endeavours,
comprehensive by appearance of the whole latitude of time, is the strong desire of
X. Ya.
10. That outlandish nations, where the Author's fame dwells advantagiously with
an expansed reputation, will most highly extol the restorers of him to his own, for an
act of perfect and well-principled generosity, is the confident opinion of Ai. Bs.
11. Seeing there is none, considering the relations and tyes whereunto the Author
by nature and duty was bound, can with any shew of reason be accounted more blame-
less then he — that he have his sequestration taken off, his person no longer detained
as a prisoner of war, and some competent acknowledgement allowed him for the great