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

256
LAUDERDALE CORRESPONDENCE [may 20
VII
liAUDEItDALE TO SHARP
Whitehall, 20 May 1664.
May it please yor Gr.,—I am so confident of yor justice and
goodnes that I am perswaded the confession of my guilt in not
wry ting for too many weeks will obtaine my pardon. And
therfor I shall not trouble yor Gr. wth apologies; but if I could
be guilty of any reall omission of duety to you I should not
pardon myself.1 This much I may say for my excuse, that I
wrote nothing of importance to Lo. Thr,2 but I constantly
desired it might serv you both. And on monday I sent him
ane Index of heads upon woh he might examine my Lo. Tweed-
dale 3 (to be also comunicated to yor Gr.), wch will well serv for
one houre’s discourse, and better than many Letters.
Now give me leave to hint at answers4 to what you was
pleasd to write to me. I shall not trouble yor Gr. with ex¬
pressions of thankfullnes for all yor kindenes, and for the good
account you have give to my Lo. of Canterburie of me and of
my freinds. For you and I are, I hope, past compliments.
Nor shall I say much to vindicat my self from giving the least
1 Sharp had returned from London in February with a grant of precedence of
all the nobility as Primate. It was merely a renewal of the grant made to
Archbishop Spottiswoode by Charles I., and is such a precedence as is now
possessed in England by the Archbishop of Canterbury. All the same, it did
not tend to enhance his favour among the Scottish peers. Sharp had had a
letter from Lauderdale in April (see O. Airy’s Lauderdale Papers, vol. i. p. 194).
It is plain the correspondence at this time was not very frequent, for Sharp,
after returning many thanks, remarks, ‘ an apology from your Lop. could not
be expected by me who know your divertions and can never doubt of your Lop.’s
reall respects.’
2 The Earl of Rothes.
3 Tweeddale was at this time restored to the king’s favour, but it would seem
that Sharp, not unnaturally, suspected him. I cannot further explain the
examination referred to. Wodrow is silent; and Sir George Mackenzie’s
Memoirs have here a lacuna.
4 This letter is certainly in reply to Sharp’s letter (April 21) printed in the
Lauderdale Papers (vol. i. p. 194), where we read, ‘ It is most satisfying to me
that my Lo. Canterbury and your Lop. keep kindnes and freedom ; it is sure my
concerne to further it what I can. I wrot once to him since I came from
London. ’ Sheldon was Archbishop of Canterbury.