Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

138
THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
Next day we separately convened at his LoJ Levy, and after
breakfast he shewed me the Coppy of a bond he designed I
should sign and grant him, wherby I was to be oblidged under
the penalty of five thusand pounds not to depend upon, or offer
to be raised by, any but himself. Here, said I, my Lord am I
bound neck and heele with a witness, but wher is my security,
If I disingage myself from others to be raised by your Lop/
or protected by you ? That, said my Lord, is what you are
not at all to question ; adding that he was not ignorant that
at the finishing the Bargain entered into by the Marquess of
Athole and Clunie I was to go to Court with Athole’s
Recomendations, and he would lett me see that he had no less
interest to raise me then the Marquess of Atholle, or any
other subject. If I but signed that bond he would furthwith
he said wreat to the Earle of Aberdeen1 who was then
Chancelor and to the Duke of York in my behalf.
Upon these positive assurances my friends perswaded me to
sign and deliver the bonds, upon which my Recommendations
were ordered to be made ready.
After dinner his secretarie was called for, and two letters
wreitin it seems by his Lops/ order, on for Sr Robert Gordon,2
ane other for the Earle of Aberdeen; in both which, with ane
aire of much sincerity as seemed to me and my freinds, he told
them what had passed, and his own resolutions to raise me,
therfor Intreated the Earle of Aberdeen might Recommend
me seriously to his royall highness, which he beleived, without
his wreiting, might serve mybussiness; but if his Lo/ thought
his recommendation necessary in conjunction with his Lops/,
upon the first intimation of his Lops/ oppinione and advice If
1 Sir George Gordon of Haddo, created Earl of Aberdeen, November 1682.
He was Chancellor of Scotland till 1684, when he resigned and was succeeded by
Lord Perth. Mackay calls him the ‘ solidest statesman of Scotland.’ He was
a special favourite of the Duke of York, and had much influence with him till he
opposed his measures as to the Test. See Letters to the Earl of Aberdeen,
Spalding Club.
2 I take this gentleman to be Sir Robert Gordon, third of Gordonston.
While he was younger of Gordonston he was much engaged in public business,
and was placed on several important commissions, such as that on Tithes and
Planting of YAxYs.—Letters to Lord Aberdeen, Spalding Club; The Brodies'
Diaries, Spalding Club. He travelled much, and from his scientific knowledge
was by some regarded as a necromancer. See The Book of the Setons.