after them.  The Lord Mainart, brother in law to the Duck of Lauderdale, is made thesaurer of the Kings house.  Sir Robert Howard, commonly called Sir Positive, is made Secretary to the Treasurer.  The Duck of Monmouth is made Lord Cheiff Justice of all the forrests in England benorth the Trent.  My Lord Lauderdale hes undoubtedly had a great hand in this extraordinary revolution; for they are on the caballe with him, and are all his confident privado’es.  The old nobility cannot but repute them selfes slighted when they sie thesse great offices of State conferred upon [muschroomes][623] upstarts.  But this is a part of the absolute power of kings to raise men from the dunghill and make them their oune companions.

    [621] i.e. first.

    [622] Interlined.

    [623] Interlined.

In the beginning of December 1672 died Mr. George Norvell, advocate, on of the greatest formalists that was in all the tolbuith.  His place as agent for the Colledge and toune of Edinburgh was by Act of the Toune Counsell conferred upon Mr. Robert Lauder, portioner of Belhaven, some few days after.

At the same tyme died Mr. Thomas Buck, advocat.

On the 14 of December 1672 the Faculty made choice of Sir G. Lockhart for their Dean, Sir Robert Sinclar having of some tyme before showen a willingnes to demit in regard he discovered many of the faculty displeased at him for his faint surrender and breaking the unity of the Faculty in the matter of the Regulations and for sundry other particulars.

On the 2’d of January 1673 died Mr. John Andersone, advocat.

About the beginning of January 1673 James Hamilton was received ane under clerk in place of Jo.  Kello, who died (ut supra notatum) in May 1670.

On the 14 of January 1673 the Earle of Atholl was received ane extraordinar Lord on the Session in place of the Earle of Dumfermeling, who died (ut supra dixi) in May 1672.

In May 1673 died Mr. John Muirhead, advocat.

In June 1673 I was named by the Lords to be on of the advocats for the poor the yeir enshueing, but upon the mediation of my Lord Abbotshall I was excused.

On the 19 of July 1673 Forbes of Tolquhon was fined by the Lords in 40 lib.  Scots for opprobrious speaches to Mr. David Thoires, advocat, and calling him a knave.

On the 5 of Januar 1674 I was appointed on of the privat examinators of such as offered to enter advocats for that year.

On the 10 of Januar 1674 died Mr. Robert Dicksone, advocat.

In the beginning of this year 1674 died Mr. William Wallace, advocat, and on of the Shiref Deputes of Edenbrugh shire.

In the beginning of March 1674 died Sir James Lockhart of Lee, Justice Clerk.

On the 4 of June 1674 Mr. Thomas Murray of Glendoick, advocat, was admitted and receaved, in obedience to the Kings letters, a Lord of the Session, in place of Lee deceissed, as he was ane ordinary Lord, for they say Sir William Lockart the Collonell had his place by way of survivance and reversion of Justice Clerk.