know not where they are!  They are now the Kirk invisible.  I will be forced to open the letter, and send copies attested to them, and keep the original till I can find out our Primate.  The poor ministers are sorely oppressed over all.  They generally stand right.  Duke Queensberry was present at the Cross when their new mock king was proclaimed, and, I hear, voted for him, though not for the throne vacant.  His brother, the Lieutenant-General, some say is made an earl.  He is come down to Edinburgh, and is gone up again.  He is the old man, and has abused [deceived] me strangely.  For he swore to me to make amends.  Tarbat is a great villain.  Besides what he has done at Edinburgh, he has endeavoured to seduce Lochiel by offers of money which is under his hand.  He is now gone up to secure his faction (which is melting), the two Dalrymples and others, against Skelmorly, Polwart, Cardross, Ross, and others, now joined with that worthy prince, Duke Hamilton.  Marquis Douglas is now a great knave, as well as beast, as is Glencairn, Morton, and Eglinton.  And even Cassilis is gone astray, misled by Gibby.[88] Panmure keeps right and at home.  So does Strathmore, Southesk, and Kinnaird.  Old Airlie is at Edinburgh under caution.  So is Balcarres and Dunmore.  Stormont is declared fugitive for not appearing.  All these will break out, and many more, when the King lands, or any from him.  Most of the gentry on this side the Forth, and many on the other, will do so too.  But they suffer mightily in the meantime, and will be forced to submit if there be not relief sent very soon.  The Duke of Gordon, they say, wanted nothing for holding out but hopes of relief.  Earl of Dunfermline stays constantly with me, and so does Dunkeld, Pitcur, and many other gentlemen, who really deserve well, for they suffer great hardships.  When the troops land, there must be blank commissions sent for horse and foot for them, and others that will join.  There must be a Commission of Justiciary, to judge all but landed men.  For there should be examples made of some who cannot be judged by a council of war.  They take our people, and hang them up, by their new sheriffs, when they find them straggling.[89]

“My Lord, I have given my opinion to the King concerning the landing.  I would first have a good party sent over to Inverlochy; about five or six thousand, as you have convenience of boats; of which as many horse as conveniently can.  About six or eight hundred would do well, but rather more.  For had I had horse, for all that yet appeared I would not have feared them.  Inverlochy is safe landing, far from the enemy, and one may choose, from thence, to go to Moray by Inverness, or to Angus by Athole, or to Perth by Glencoe, and all tolerable ways.  The only ill is the passage is long by sea, and inconvenient because of the island; but in this season that is not to be feared.  So soon as the boats return, let them ferry over as many more foot as they think fit