Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

FEB. 1704] FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD
367
For WILLIAM LORIMER, Chamber-lane to the
EARLE OF SEAFIELD att Cullen
London, ffebry 15th, 1704.
Affect. Cousin,—I am very glade to hear that all our
ffriends are well in the north, and I wish it may be long
so with them. I was very ill some time before I left
Edinburgh, but my journey did me much good, but since
I came here I have been again taken with the same dis¬
temper, which was a violent colick, and it keept me three
or ffour dayes with a continuall gripping and purging, but,
blessed be God, I am now better again, and att pntt in very
good health. Wee did not think of being so long here
when wee came first up, but as matters have happened
it is both good that wee came, and have continued so long.
Wee had serall difficulties in King William’s reign, but
hardly any such as has happen of late. No doubt you
have heard of Captain ffresers plott. He undertook to the
Duke of Queensberry to discover that serall of the greatest
nobility in the kingdome were in a correspondance wl
Saint Germans, and for this end gott a protection while
he was in Scotland, and a pass yrafter to goe overseas.
He has made a very ill use of all these, and his intercepted
letters makes it appear that he was clossly carrying on the
pre[tended] Prince of Wales his interest; and lately one Mr.
Baillie has made a declaration that D. Queensbery and
Annandale would had him evidencing that there was a
correspondance betwixt Saint Germans and some of the
nobility, particularly D. Hamilton, D. of Athole, and my
Lord Seafield ; and this Baillie hes given in his declaration
to the Privy Council, but Queensberry and Annandale
denay this altogether. This bussines of the plott hes been
above two moneths work to our statesmen, and yet not
determined. All the steps in this matter are discovered,
and nothing can yet appear in it, but endeavours to putt
a task upon particular persons, that others might get there
places. In all this nothing was ever spoke of my Lord
Seafield, but this declaration of Baillies, which does him
rather good than hurt, and whatever his enemies attempt