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

536
REBELLION PAPERS
[dec. 27
much encourag’d to hope that this Gentleman would plead
guilty. His flight, and the manner of it, is ye a mystery;
but his keeper is shrewdly suspected to have been privy to the
plot.
All the four judges have had copies of Master Douglas’s
case, and are inclineable enough to give credit to its contents.
The man’s misfortune was great in his unmannerly receipt of
the transcript of his indictment at the Bar; which was taken
to be the effect of a peculiar stubborness, and his being
harden’d in his iniquity. But they are, I believe, convinced
that the awkwardness of his mien (on that occasion) did not
proceed from any want of a proper sense of his condition. I
cannot well apprehend that above a Couple will be executed.
To shew your Grace how sedulous our northern Jacobites
are to keep up their sinking cause in spight of all justice and
gibbetts, I have inclosed another of the Edinburgh libels that
are scatter’d amongst our people, to move their hearts to
tender compassions, and traiterous conspiracies.
Your Grace is so sure of my obeying your summons, whenever
my attendance is necessary, that I do humbly hope that you
will grant me as long a dispensation for staying at home as
can conveniently, at least, be afforded. I am far from being in
right keeping for an immediate journey with the judges. I
want to be recruited in some particulars wherein they abound.
’Tis very probable they may leave us to-morrow, for I am just
now told that their Petit Jury (by Judge Tracy’s special
direction) brought in the only person they have to try not
guilty. I expect the particulars of this report every minute;
and (if they are worth it) they’l be dispatch’d to my Lord of
Lincoln by your Grace’s ever obedient servant,
W. Carliol.