[Sidenote:  Decisions, i. 366.]

  [Sidenote:  H.O. 74]

  [Sidenote:  H.N. 11]

  [Sidenote:  H.O. 184]

  [Sidenote:  Decisions, i. 160.]

  [Sidenote:  H.O. 55.]

A still more striking illustration of Lauder’s political views is afforded by his numerous observations on Argyll, who played so great a part in public affairs during the period covered by the manuscripts until his execution in 1685.  Argyll was not a sympathetic figure to Lauder, but, as usual, he does justice to his qualities, and recognises the tragedy of his fate.  On the day of his execution he notes, ’And so ended that great man, with his family, at that time.’  He had a more cordial personal admiration for a very different statesman, Lauderdale, though he often disapproved of his policy.  At his death he writes, ’24 of August, 1682, dyed John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, the learnedest and powerfullest Minister of State of his age, at Tunbridge Wells.  Discontent and age were the ingredients of his death, if his Dutchesse and Physitians be freed of it; for she had abused him most grosely, and got all from him she could expect....  The Duke of York was certainly most ungrate to Lauderdale; for Lauderdale was the first who adventured in August 1679 to advise the King to bring home the Duke of York from Flanders.’[23] Argyll he deemed to be wanting in magnanimity.  In 1671 he writes on the subject of a point in a lawsuit being decided in Argyll’s favour, ’This was my Lord President’s doing [Stair], he being my Lord Argyle’s great confidant.  It was admired by all that he blushed not to make a reply upon his Father’s forfaultor, and whow he had committed many treasonable crimes before the discharge, and to see him rather than tyne his cause, suffer his father rather to be reproached and demeaned as a traitor of new again, by his own advocats,’ So fourteen years later he writes, ’Whatever was in Argile’s first transgression in glossing the Test (which appeared slender), yet God’s wonderfull judgements are visible, pleading a controversie against him and his family, for the cruall oppression he used, not only to his father’s, but even to his oune creditors.  It was remembered that he beat Mistris Brisbane done his stairs for craving hir annuelrents, tho he would have bestowed as much money on a staff or some like curiosity.’  He was, however, one of Argyll’s counsel when he was prosecuted for taking the Test, with the explanation ’that he conceived that this Test did not hinder nor bind him up from endeavouring alterations to the better either in Church or State.’  Argyll, who had escaped, was sentenced to death in his absence, attainted, and his estates forfeited.  Lauder strongly disapproved of the proceedings.  He writes, ’There was a great outcry against the Criminal Judges, their timorous dishonesty....’  These words, ’consistent with my loyalty, were judged taxative and restrictive, seeing his loyalty might be below the standard of