Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

186
THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
business to drive matters to extremity, not so much in favours
of the present Government as to excuse the supposed failures
and extravagances of the last. If this be your designe in
advysing the Comissioner, who is known to have nothing ill or
barbarous in his nature, to bring men of quality to torture
under a Government that justlie values itself upon reforming
all abuses of that kind, assure yourself, that, as you can gain
no reputation with those of any thought or temper of your
own party by such horrid measures, so whatever comes of
others, if you divert not this, as to Mr. Paine in the Castle, by
God and all that’s sacred, you shall dye the death, and think
not that your spurious titles, or any oyr circumstances yr. are
in at present shall save you from this fate. Sir George
Lockhart1 was your superior in all things, except villany and
ingratitude, and depend upon it, Mr. Paine, tho’ a stranger,
hes many * dares to espouse his interest.’ Then per postscript
Vitce tuae Dominus est quis quispiam contempsit. Sen.
This letter was delivered to Sir John (as I understood
afterwards) by the first that opened the door about eight of
the clock, and presented to Melvill by nine: Upon which a
Councill being called in the Abbay and the question being put
torture or no torture, it was after much heat, and publick
reading of the letter, carried in the negative, for this reason
that it was not improbable he that wrote the line, might have
the heart to execute it, and in such a case (they said) the
government was likely to lose more by Sir John’s death, then
could be gained by Mr. Paine’s discoveries, so his torture
which was fixed to a certain hour that afternoon was absolutly
laid asyde and not so much as mentioned for severall moneths
yrafter till Sir John Dalrymple was called to England out of
harms way, and to a post likely to protect him,2 but in the
* he that pistoled Sir George Lockhart.
1 Sir George Lockhart of Carnwath, the President, assassinated by John
Chiesley of Dairy when walking home from church. He assailed him as he
stepped into Old Bank Close to enter his house, 31st March 1689, being
Easter Da/.
2 Is this supported ? He was a principal Secretary of State and much in
London.