Series 1 > Miscellany of the Scottish History Society (Second volume)

BURNET-LEIGHTON PAPERS
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junction could have entered into his head hee should rather
have sayd I was pleasd with both, for I have bin constantly
enough of that opinion that they doe much better together
then either of them does apart and have in this ye consent of
great multitudes of heads as strong and clear as his and his
brethrens are hot and cloudy, but this is a digression, of our
higher vacancies I have sayd enough in my former, and
possibly too much, but that tis alwaies tempered with
absolute submission to those y* are both so much wiser and
above mee; but for our vacant parish kirks in ye west I wish
it were taken into consideration and well resolv’d on what way
of supplying them will bee fittest in order to ye publick peace
wch I conceiv wee are mainly to eye in our whole busines. I
waited on ye Lords of Councill this week but they have given
mee neither any new comand nor advice in this particular
wch till I receiv from some yt have pouer to give it I must
forbear to attempt anything, and rather let things rest as they
bee then by endeavouring to better them, run ye hazard to make
them worse. I am not doubtfull of yor utmost assistance in
these affairs both where you are and when you return, nor
need I any more repeat ye request of ye constant charity of
yor prayers for yor poor brother and servant, R. L.
IV
Dr Leighton to Dr Burnet
[Bodl. Add. MSS., D. 23.]
Bradhurst, Jan. 12.1
Sr,—I presume yow will beleev I feign it not, when I tell
you that notwithstanding my extream lazines to ’t, I had
thoughts of writing to yow, before I received yours but yow
have ye advantage, and I the obligement of yor having pre¬
vented mee, And when I open’d it I assure yow I was glad to
1 It seems quite impossible to date or arrange the following letters, even in
conjectural order ; but we must observe that Burnet received his honorary degree
of D.D. from Oxford, September 1680, and that Leighton died in June 1684.