A.

It's plain enough, that this Letter was written from London. I Have had none from you ſince the 5th. of this Inſtant, your ſtile; ſo that my Payn. Friend grows very impatient; but I have ſent your laſt with that of Melfort's Letter to Payn was delivered by Mr. James Smith, Son to Mrs. Smith. David's, and by this time I ſuppoſe he is ſatisfied; for I am informed all mine came ſafe to him. But I have ſent you his to let you ſee what he ſays in his Phanatick Humour, for I know he is troubled he has no Anſwers for his Friends here, that write to him conſtantly by me; and I am aſſured they take it very ill, and think him or me in fault that ſent them. Therefore I earneſtly beg of you to ſollicite David to ſay ſomething, for they are good Friends of your The late King. Brothers, and not to be ſlighted. My old Who ſhe is, is no Myſtery. Counteſs alſo writ you her ſelf, but I never heard whether you received it, and every week I have her duty to your Brother and Queen. Siſter, and Service to you; and always ſays, ſhe lives no longer than ſhe hears your good Family is in Health; and I am indeed very much concerned leſt I hear you are ill ſince your laſt, in which you aſſure of the pain in your head, which grieves me to the heart: For I prefer it before my own. Therefore for God's ſake let me have the ſatisfaction of hearing from you as often as you can: I have not failed a Poſt ſince my Friend went, and all double. I have very little News, but This Paragraph, and the encloſed Letters, ſhow the time in which this Letter was written, tho it be not dated. one thing I cannot omit to tell you, that one Payn a mad Jacobite, is removed to the Caſtle of Stirling, and that the Lord Seaforth is to be tried for his life, and many more ſuch as theſe are likely to have their due reward. As to our Parliament, Seymore made a Speech, and told them of the Houſe, That the French was making great Preparation, which muſt be provided againſt, both with a Fleet and Money; but this is thought was only to preſs for raiſing Money; ſo that I think, to comfort you, we have no Becauſe the Fleet only, and not Money alone, could hinder a Deſcent in Scotland. fears of that. Dear Aunt I have ſent you That is the Letter C, which is from the Nephew Mr. Payn, whoſe Letter is to his Aunt too. one of Nephews, and beg you to do what you can for one in his Circumſtances; for I cannot chuſe but love him. I am told that Mrs. It appears elſewhere who Mrs. Mowet is, and that it is a man, and no mean man. Mowet cannot be long out of the That is, in Priſon; ſee the beginning of the Letter C. Doctor's hands, ſo very ill ſhe is. But more of this from my That is one under the Name of Gray the Writer of the Letter B, and of the Letter D and E, apparently an Engliſh-man. Friend that I hope will be here ere this come to your hands, if his health will permit; ſo that if you write, yours will meet him in Town, if it pleaſe God, to whom I reſign all my Friends and Affairs: I was to ſee for Anſwer of Mr. Iske for whom I left the Letter of Money Buſineſs, to get Anſwer, but could not light of him, but he had your Letter, but I will by the next Poſt; Pardon this long Scroll, and give me leave to continue my humble Thanks, and be honoured with the Title of, Madam, your moſt Grateful, Humble Servant, That is Mary Brown, as will appear by the Cover to to the Letters D and E. Mary B.

There is found among Mrs. Smith's Papers, a Letter dated the 4th-of February, the Direction of it is torn, but ſo much remains — Son to the — Robert Jameſon in Edinburgh. It is written by the ſame Hand with the Letter A, and Signed M. B. inſtead of Mary B. It is plain, that this M. B. is at London, and manages the Correſpondence betwixt Aunt at Paris, and Nephew Payn here, with the aſſiſtance of Mrs. Smith. The Letter is thus; the Blanks are Words that cannot be read.

Loving Mother, Feb. 4.

I Have this day by a Honeſt faſt Friend ſent you 50 Drams of the beſt Balm of Gilead that I could get, you will certainly have it, do not you trouble your ſelf for a day, I have taken care you ſhould have no trouble, for God's ſake ſay what you can to my Sick Friend for me, for I am ſo oppreſſed that I cannot write to her, but pray let her ſend me a Note under her hand at the Receipt of her Preſent, and then I ſhall have as much more when _____ is ſatisfied, but the Note muſt be made to me, for I had Orders; this is deſired, and pray let her thank Mr. Friend which ſaid little of it to me, but my Aunt aſſured me he did ſo much in it to my Aunt's Brother and David, that they could refuſe no longer, for he was very plain with them, and I find is ſo in all their Affairs, which I think is Juſt. I ſaw one that came from my Aunt's Brother this Week, but I hear nothing of my poor Brother, which diſtracts me, but they are all well and in good heart, but no more; but to his Buſineſs, I hear ſad News of Sick No doubt the late Archbiſhop of Glaſgow, who being then Priſoner in the Caſtle of Edinburg, had leave from the King to retire to Holland. Friend, that the Doctors ſay ſhe muſt change the Air, I wonder you ſay nothing of it, ſince Lady L. tells all: Pray let me know the 〈1 span left blank〉 let not Mr. L. know I tell you 〈1 span left blank〉 Pray let me hear from you, by which you will oblige

your Grateful Daughter and Obliged Friend for ever whilſt M. B.

The back of this Letter being torn, there appears only — Son to the — — Robert Jameſon in Edinburgh.

The Secretary was obliged at London to reſtore the Originals of the Letters D and E, of which he produced the Copies in Parliament; but when he had them, they appeared to him to be writen by the ſame Hand with the Letter B, (of which he has the Original); And therefore by one under the Name of Gray, for ſo the Letter D is ſigned, it is evident by the Letters themſelves that this Gray is an Engliſhman, and the Concerter and Manager of the whole Buſineſs; it ſeems he was lurking in the North of England when he wrote the Letters B, D, E, for they are dated the 4th and 25th of December, that is on Sundays, which is the day after the Poſt-day at Edinburgh, which is Saturday. It is evident by the Letter B that he was going into Scotland; and by the Letters D and E that he actually went to Scotland. It is otherwiſe known that an Engliſh-man of ſuch a Character came to Edinburgh about the time here ſpoke of, and that he keeped no mean Company there.

B. December 4.

I Had yours this morning, with That is, it ſeems one to himſelf. one to Mr. Gray, I am ſtrangely amazed I have none from your It is plain the Letter has been written to Mary Brown. Aunt, I cannot find the meaning on't, and never man had more need of Comfort than my ſelf at this time; I have Letters from your That is, Mrs. Smith, Mary Brown's loving Mother. Mother and Macgill my Lord Melfort's Page confeſſes that he brought Letters from his Maſter to two Noblemen under the Name of Balfour: Mrs. Ford owns that ſhe received the Letters from him, and delivered them to Mrs. Smith who abſconds. It ſeems too otherwiſe clear enough who Balfour is, and that he and Mrs. Mowet are one. Balfour which would ſtrike That is the News mentioned in the Letter A. and the putting in of the new Agents mentioned in the Letter C. to wit, the Advocate and Juſtice Clerk, which was done in the end of Mr. Jonſtoun's Month, a Week or two before the date of this Letter. Terrour into any man, but I'm reſolv'd what will be fate, to enter into that Curſed That is Scotland, which ſhews he was then in the North of England. Countrey, and put my luck to the laſt tryal. I do not know what can be the meaning of thoſe I wiſh ſo well to teaze me at ſuch a diſtance, it ſhall not break the Reſpect I have for thoſe I'm obliged to. Your Friends favouring me at this diſtance, and ſo little Merit of mine, all Obligations being on that ſide, makes me the unhappieſt man in the World, I only wiſh it were in my power, my Life ſhould not be too dear a Sacrifice. You may aſſure your ſelf I am ever your Servant, and you tell me you have not ſeen my Wife, nor heard from her Brother, 'tis no matter, I care not how few you ſee of my Acquaintance, and pray tell all I am ſtill in That is in London. Town. Be ſure you write to your and my That is their common Aunt at Paris. Complaint that ſhe may be ſenſible how I reſent not hearing from her, and that I do not altogether deſerve ill uſage after the Charges I have undergone, and the Hazards I have riſqu'd for their ſakes; once more I am for ever yours.

C. December 3. 1692.

I Am forced in ill for want of better Paper Payn writes to the ſame Aunt. deareſt Aunt to let you know that I am obliged to Change That is, change his open Priſon of Blackneſs for cloſe Priſon in Stirling Caſtle. The King had ordered this on the 14th of November. The Councils Order is on the 29th, and was given out on the 1ſt of December, two days before the date of this Letter, he was actually ſent to Stirling on the 6th. my bad Lodging for worſe, being relapſed into my old He had been cloſe Priſoner before in Edinburg Caſtle. Diſtemper again, my Phyſicians being reſolved not to let any Breathing viſit me till it pleaſe God to reſtore me to my perfect Health, they alledging that my keeping too much Company doth great miſchief. All my Conſolation in this miſerable Condition is, that Mrs. This Name is in ſeveral other Letters. Friend is juſt come into the Neighbourhood; and though I fear I ſhall not be ſo happy to ſee her, yet my Deareſt Couſin, I doubt not, will do it ſpeedily: For ſo it is contrived to be by my dear and diligent Friend's Negotiation, who is the very Life and Vigour of all your The late King. Brother's Affairs here, and the prop of his Family, running, going, and ſpending her ſelf to the laſt penny in his Service. And but for her's in the firſt place, and Mrs. Mowat's in the ſecond, your poor He himſelf, for he writes to his Aunt. Nephew might have periſht long ere this for mere It's known they neglected to ſend him money. want, to no great Credit no more than Advantage of your Brother; for tho he may have many more able, he has not a faithfuller Servant in the World. Oh His Phanatick Humour, in Letter A. God! how can he be ſo deſpiſed amongſt his Relations, when their Enemies conſider him ſo much, and all their honeſt Acquaintance that knew him, have ſome eſteem at leaſt for him. This is all I will, and leſs I cannot ſay, for all the ſtrange regardleſs uſage he has met withal from It's known that in the late Reign Melfort was his Enemy. David; and let it ſtand as it doth, ſince Mrs. Mowat This word is thus ſpelled in other Papers of Payn's Hand-writing, lately ſeized in his Chamber. Wrights me word ſhe and Mrs. Mowet and Melfort begin to be reconciled, and ſo Payn hopes to be reconciled with Melfort too. It's plain Mowet is a man, and a man of Note. him begin to underſtand one another better, and are like to be perfect Friends, which for your Brother's ſake I hope will continue real on that ſide, as I am ſure it is on this. She and Mowet and Little-John here, are Balfour and Little-John in Letters D. E. and their reconciliation there as here, is the foundation of all. Its known who among the diſaffected Party were reconciled this laſt Winter. Littlejohn has had a meeting too, where all things have been ſo explained between them, that I hope will produce a laſting Concurrence in diligence for your Brother's Service, to which ſole end all my Endeavours therein have tended; and now I aſſure you See in Letter E. I thank God, &c. all things here are in perfect order for bringing on the That is the Invaſion, ſee trade Letter E. Trial, as ſpeedily as your Brother pleaſes, and the ſooner the better I am ſure, for his The King. The Commiſſions for the new Advocate and Juſtice Clerk were ſigned on the 28th. of November, that is ſix days before the date of this Letter. Adverſary is very diligent in ſearching out new Agents, that are like to be more able and faithful to him, than thoſe he has hitherto employed; and I aſſure you ſucceeds extremely in his deſign, and has in a manner united all the Presbyterians. It's known that by the Changes made in the Spring before, they were ſomewhat cooled in their zeal, which this new change revived again. Mechanicks, by this means to be entirely his, ſo the Cauſe may grow worſe, but cannot mend by delay of the Trial. And as It ſeems he is anſwering Letters. for Compoſitions and Bargains with particulars, it is of little or no importance, ſince mens ſeveral Intereſts and Deſigns are ſo different, that they are impoſſible to be reconciled before the Reſtoration. Cauſe be ended, and he walk the Exchange again. In the mean time care muſt be had that his The known Cant for a Declaration. Letters of Attorney be fairly and fully drawn, as methinks is eaſy to be done; and I would have ſent a Draught as I told you in my laſt, but that I cannot with all my Diligence procure a Copy of the laſt to make a true Judgment why it is ſo univerſally cried out upon by thoſe of the Creditors have ſeen it. But now I muſt to To cloſe Priſon, and ſo have no more an opportunity to tamper. Bed, and mind no more Buſineſs perhaps while I live, but yet cannot die an honeſt man, if I do not with all the Earneſtneſs of my The Word Sole for Soul is written ſo too in the Papers that were ſeized in his Chamber. Sole recommend to your The late King, Queen, and Melfort. Brother, The late King, Queen, and Melfort. Siſter, The late King, Queen, and Melfort. and David, the diligent No doubt Mrs. Smith, who has all along taken care of him, and is an active ſtirring Woman. Gentlewoman I mentioned before, as the moſt uſeful Perſon beyond all Compariſon of any Body they have here. The four Perſons mentioned may well be ſuppoſed to be two Noblemen with the late Archbiſhop of Glaſgow, and a Lord the known Friend and Correſpondent of the Nurſe, that is, of the Counteſs of Errol, now Governeſs to to the pretended Prince of Wales at Paris. This Mrs. Mowat Littlejohn the ſick Miniſter, and Nurſes Friend, nay, all our Relations here, not only continually allow, but by daily Proofs will teſtify. This makes me beg, that ſince there is the That is, Sir James Rochied, Town-Clerk of Edinburgh, who died about a week before the Date of this Letter. Clerk of the Town ſhe Mrs. Smith lives in Edinburgh. lives in is newly dead, the Place may be procured for her Mr. Patrick Smith Advocate, who abſconded. Husband or Mr. James Smith her Son. Son, It appears not to whom the late K. James was to write, but the Magiſtracy only can put in the Clerk. The ſtanding Magiſtracy was then under Proceſs, and in a few days after thrown out: The Letter then was to come to thoſe who could influence the new intended Magiſtracy. a Line from your Brother doth it, and I am very ſure it is impoſſible for him to employ his Pen more The Town-Clerk's Place is one of the moſt beneficial Places in the Kingdom, and is during Life. deſervedly; the Motion I aſſure you comes not in the leaſt from her, ſhe being the moſt diſintereſt Creature breathing, but was of her own accord propoſed by Mrs. Mowat, who alſo ſaid ſhe would write to ſecure the Favour for fear of ſomebodies It is evident the late King's Friends here were in Factions amongſt themſelves about the diſpoſing of the Clerk's Place, and that Payne finding his Party not ſtrong enough to carry it for his Friend, would have Aſſiſtance from France, and would have it early, leſt ſome other Pretenders ſhould worſt him there alſo. interpoſing between your Brother and David, to prevent ſo juſt a Requeſt in her behalf as this is. For God's ſake propoſe it earneſtly in Mrs. Mowet's and my Name, to your Brother and David, and intereſt too therein your That is, the late Queen, ſee incomparable Lady, in Letter E. excellent Siſter, and if ever I was ſo happy to do or endeavour any thing was It's known that in the late Reign the Queen reckoned her ſelf obliged to Payne, and protected him. acceptable to her, may her Memory thereof plead for me in this Requeſt. Dear Aunt, lay all nice or timerous Reſerves by, and preſs it home as an honeſt Matter, Melfort and the Counteſs of Errol. and the moſt earneſt Deſire of your dutiful Nephew. Adieu. My Service to L. David, and L. Nurſe, join her in the matter I beſeech you for her Friends ſake and mine.

It's plain that the Letter C. is written by Mr. Payne, by the Declarations of thoſe that know his Hand-writing, of which ſome have ſeen him write, and by comparing it with other Letters and Papers written and ſigned by his own Hand, nor does he deny it in private to his Friends.

To ſhow that Payne is capable of the Folly of writing ſuch a Letter, it can be proved by the Perſons Oaths to whom he ſpoke, and who told it at the time, that on the 5th of December, which was two days after the Date of his Letter, he ſaid to one whoſe Office as well as his Allegiance, obliged him to a Diſcovery that an Invaſion was deſigned. That the late King James had his Officers ready both in England and Scotland, and that the Invaſion would be certainly ſome time in the Spring, and poſſibly ſooner than was apprehended.

To ſhow too that Payne was in uſe to borrow ſuch Names as Aunt Mowet, Couſen, or Brother, &c. There follows the beginning of a Letter of his written by his own Hand, and in all Appearance to Madam Smith, for the Letter was found amonſt her Papers, it's dated the 26th of February laſt.

Dear Madam,

I Had nothing to add, ſo only writ one Letter per Carrier laſt Week, and in the encloſed to my Neice, you will perceive my Thoughts of Mrs. Mowets Father ſhould they not be your or hers, however ſend them forward, for they are eaſily amended by her Letters to my Aunt then the Omiſſion would be to my The late King. Couſen, whom it imports to know Matter of Fact truly, in ſo conſiderable a Suit as his is. And for my own part, I hardly believe that generous L. L. makes ſo right a gueſſe at the Deſigns of that Man as his Daughter doth; I wiſh I may be deceived, &c. What is more is private Buſineſs.

The Letters D. and E. that follow were taken and came to the Secretaries hand in the ſame manner with the former Letter A. B. C. They were under a Cover, dated the 30th of December, and written at London, directed to Monſieur Vincent Nerieux as the other Cover, but under to Mr. Robert's. The Covert is ſigned Mary Brown, and written by the ſame Hand with the former Cover; There is nothing more material in the Cover, I have not heard from you, ſay ſhe, theſe two Mails, but this came to my Hand to Night, &c.— to Night, the 30th of December, that is, on a Friday, the day on which the Poſt arrives from Scotland and goes for Holland.

The encloſed Letter D. is directed for Mrs. Little, and dated the 25th of December, the day after the Poſt day at Edinburgh, as has been obſerved, and written by the ſame Hand with that of Letter B.

D. December 25th.

I Had a It ſeems Mrs. Little is my Lady Melfort, and that ſhe writ the whole Letter, to which this is an Anſwer, but that David her Husband dictated the half of it. Letter half from you and half David as I take it, tho written with your own Hand. I ſent Dowglas ſeems to be Payne, ſee the beginning of the Letter A. Dowglas his from David, and am much obliged for my own. I have perfectly cured the Diſeaſe between Balfour and little John, and ſhall work on till I find the bottom of my The late King, the ſame with Brother in Payne's Letter, to Aunt, and with Couſin in his other Letter to Madam Smith. Couſens Affairs. I fancy I ſhall meet with things as I would wiſh, but I wonder I hear not offer from you, Mr. A Earl well known. Courtney writ to Mr. Tate, ſo did my Patient and her Son. I'm ſurprized there ſhould be no Return, 'twill diſcourage the like Practice, and I can aſſure you Courtney is troubled at it, and with Reaſon, for he is both conſiderable and has He has been ſometime in Priſon. ſuffered much; ſo pray conſider this, for the Example is of importance: as for my ſelf I am over-whelmed with Grief for the loſs of poor Mrs. Probably an Earl who died much about the time of this Letter. Gypps, to whoſe Family I owe ſo much. I have writ ſeveral to David, and one to Mr. Tate ſince I came here. I The reaſon of the Complaints here and elſewhere, that Anſwers came not, ſeems to be Mogal, Melfort's Page his ſlowneſs, who was long on his way from Paris with a great number of Letters. beg where I make any Demand in mine, I may have either a condeſcending or a refuſing Anſwer. Pray let me know how my Undertakings are reliſh'd, and how I ſtand with my Couzen; my Service to Balby. I am yours, Gray.

I wiſh you a merry Chriſtmaſs.

The Leter E. encloſed in the Letter D. was directed for Mr. Ford, and of the ſame Date and Hand-writing. The Secretary declared that he had ſeen Letters ſigned David Ford, written by my Lord Melfort's own Hand.

E. December 25th.

I Had yours for James Balfour and Gray the Writer, as hath been ſaid, ſeems to be in the North of England, and therefore upon the Receipt of Melfort's Letter for Balfour, was obliged to ſend an Expreſs to Balfour, who lives in Scotland. ſent it expreſs to him, when the Return is made you ſhall have it with all imaginable Care. I have, I thank God, perfectly cemented the Difference between Balfour Pain, Mowet and little John. and little John, having both their Engagements ſolemnly made mutually and with a joint Pain laſting Concurrence. Concurrance to Pain your Brothers Service. ſerve my Couſen, to the laſt Laſt drop of their Blood. Penny of their Stock, and their Opinions and Demands under their Hands, which I thought the ſureſt way of dealing: I Pain, all things here are in perfect order. thank God your Eſtate in theſe Parts is in very good condition, and the Of Men of Intereſt or Courage. Generality of all that have Stock, or dare any way venture, are reſolved to join you, ſo that An Invaſion. Pain Trial. Trade is in a fair way of ſucceeding here. I have now at this time a Meſſenger with James Balfour, after whoſe return I ſhall make little ſtay in theſe Parts, you ſhall know by me what you may rely on, where the The Cant is Trade Money, and Pay-maſters is Men and Officers. Money ſhall be raiſed, and who the chief Pay-maſters, which is all I can do.

I wonder you do not make Returns to Courtney, my Patient and her Son, ſince they are conſiderable enough to deſerve it, for God's ſake give no cauſe of Diſguſt, but let the Labourers be encouraged, ſince a bare acknowledgment of their Service will do it.

A Correſpondence betwixt London and the North. Correſpondence is deſired from hence with Briſtol, and 'tis left to my management to ſettle, 'tis of too great Importance for me to take upon me; therefore I humbly deſire your Advice and my Couſen's Orders, whom I ſhall truſt with it at that place, and to whoſe Hands it ſhall be committed.

I was It's plain he had been in Scotland. received by James Balfour and little John with all the Demonſtrations of Friendſhip poſſible, placing an entire Truſt in me as to the Managements of my Couſens Affairs, and by all their Adherents, they expreſs a very great ſenſe of your paſt Services, and Ability to ſerve my Couſen in the future: But you This as well as his Stile ſhows he is no Scotchman. know the Humours of that Country-People better than I.

Let me hear from you if you pleaſe, how I ſhall proceed at my return to Briſtol, I dare not appear here for their Creditors; for thoſe that arreſted my Father, lie ſtill in wait for me. My humble Duty to my Coſen and his incomparable Lady, and let them know I ſhall never fail to ſerve them with my Life and Fortune. Sir, I am very much your Servant, and ſenſible of the Favours you have done me. Adieu.

The Secretary declared in Parliament, that he was obliged at London to reſtore the Originals of the Letters D. and E. but that he was ready to atteſt upon Oath, that the Copies produced were true Copies of the Letters ſhown to him as Originals, and which he indeed believed to be Originals. And for a Confirmation of the Truth both of the Originals and Copies of the Letters D. E. he offered to have the following Matter of Fact verified upon Oath by the Perſons concerned who had indeed been examined by the Committee.

The Matter of Fact is this; Upon Information given at Edinburgh in December laſt, that one Captain Maire, who has lived for the moſt part in England, was going thither upon ſome unaccountable Deſign, four Officers were privately ordered to catch him, and ſearch him for Letters; which they accordingly did, on the 26th of December, ſeiſing on him not far from the Borders: They found on him only one Letter, which they read, and finding nothing in it but as they imagined about Trade, they neither keeped him, nor it. But it's plain that this was the Anſwer which Gray's Expreſs was to bring from Balfour, and conſequently the Anſwer to my Lord Melfort's Letter which Gray had received and ſent to Balfour, and which Anſwer Gray ſays ſhould be ſent to Melfort with all imaginable Care: For the Letter which the Officers read was ſigned Balfour, and directed to Gray, as they owned at their Return to Edinburgh before they or any other could know the Import of their Error, and which they now owned again to the Committee. The Time too quadrats. Gray ſays on the 25th of December that he had ſent an Expreſs to Balfour, which poſſibly he had ſent the day before, or ſooner, or only the ſame day; but at which time ſoever he ſent the Expreſs it's no matter, he ſays expreſly in his Letter of the 25th, I have now at this time a Meſſenger with James Balfour; ſo the Anſwer might well be found with a Bearer on the 26th, which is confirmed too by the Character of Maire, who has now fled for it.

To all this it is added, that it can be made appear by other Proofs than thoſe here mentioned, that there was a Deſign in the North this Winter. That one was ſent from the late King to manage and carry on that Deſign. That his Inſtructions were conſulted and concerted by thoſe about the late King and the French Miniſtry: That my Lord Melfort was the Original Procurer of theſe Inſtructions. That the Nature of the Deſign, and the Character of the Perſon employed, were of a peece, that is, equally bad; that the Perſon employed did actually come to the North. That he is an Engliſh Man, that he returned to London in the Spring, and in all probability will be found where ever the Reconciler Gray is to be found.

F.

Follows the Beginning of another Original Letter from Mr. Payne to Mrs. Smith, dated the 29th of December, 1692. G. Dear Madam,

I Wiſh with all my Heart there were proper Words in the World, or that I had them at leaſt to expreſs the Gratitude I owe to your Ladiſhip, for the boundleſs Friendſhip you ſo conſtantly expreſs to me a poor miſerable Stranger, ſo perſecuted, that if God had not raiſed me ſuch a charitable Friend as your ſelf, muſt have languiſh'd in this unprecedented Reſtraint, without knowing how to cry for Help, and have been heard, except by that God himſelf, who has inſpired you with ſo much Charity as thus to be concerned for me. May it be His bleſſed Will that I may live to ſhew, I would be ſufficiently Grateful if I could: And in the mean time accept my worthleſs, tho hearty Thanks for all their Favours, and moſt particularly, for giving Mr. James Smith theſe too frequent Troubles; he can inform you fully of my preſent Condition: And by him I have ſent an Order for paying the next or any other Money may be ſent for me to your Ladiſhip, having alſo received by him from you Twenty Dollers.

Follows another Original Letter of Mr. Paynes, wherein three ſeveral times the word Write is ſpelled Wright. H.

Honoured Madam,

I Have had two Biles broke out upon me, on each Wreſt one; and either they occaſioned a Feaver, or a Feaver occaſioned them; ſo that it was impoſſible for me to put Pen to Paper the laſt Week: But now, I thank God, I much better, tho it is very painful to me to Wright: I had your good Cheece, and all you ſent per Carrier ſafe; and muſt deſire you to ſend me five Pounds in by him this time: I wiſh too you would be ſo kind to ſee the Governour from me, and thank him for all his Favours which indeed are many: He promiſed to ſpeak to Mr. Johnſtone from me; and as he finds him, I ſhall Wright, or not Wright to him. For I have all my Life-time avoided making Court to no purpoſe: Therefore beg you would by any means get the Secretary inquired into, how he is inſtructed concerning me: As alſo take Advice, whether I ſhould apply to Parliament or no. I proteſt I can hardly hold my Pen to thank you for all Favours; and to preſent my Service to all Friends, therefore pardon me that I abruptly am forced to ſay,

Dear Madam, adieu.

Letter from the Lady Largo, 4 May, 1693.

PAyn's Letters is like to bring Trouble to ſeverals, the poor Woman that took care of him is like to ſuffer ſeverely, ſhe is forced to flee. I fear Coats Trouble will be unavoidable, tho it's brav'd out as yet—

Another of hers, 9 May 1693.

NOw to come to your own private Concerns, I believe your Man Coats will be impriſoned for his Bills, there's uncuſtomed Goods that will break him, and he cannot go out of the way ſince all the Partners would ſuffer: ſo he muſt appear every day on the Change, but God knows the Diſquiet he ſuffers; for tho they do not yet know the Goods to be his, yet being in their Hands, it's certain they will know: And be the worſe, he will not write to his Factor, for all Letters are opened, and that may hazard the breaking of his Credit: But he begged that I might tell Mr. Best his Condition, that ſo he might inform and adviſe—

Letter from London, taken upon the Lady Largo's Women, dated 9 May, 1693.—

I Am informed the Duke of Gordon is an Enemy to David, and ſpeaks meanly of our Relation, which I am unwilling to believe—

The Differences betwixt the Duke of Gordon and my Lord Melfort, and how ill ſatisfied he is with the Uſage he met with from the late King, is well known.

Payne in his Treatiſe in Anſwer to King's Book, written with his own Hand, and ſeiſed in his Chamber, ſpeaking of Sir Philem-O-Neal, ſays, a blacker and more helliſh Sole never animated a Human Body—