them.  He applyed himselfe to those who were most trusted by the kinge with a marvellous importunity, and especially to the Chancellour, with whome as often as they had ever bene togither, he had a perpetuall warr.  He now magnifyed his constancy with lowde elogiums as well to his face, as behinde his backe, remembred many sharpe exspressions formerly used by the Chancellour which he confessed had then made him mad, though upon recollection afterwards he had founde to be very reasonable.  He was very polite in all his discources, called himselfe and his nation a thousand Traytors, and Rebells, and in his discourses frequently sayd, when I was a Traytour, or when I was in rebellion, and seemed not aequally delighted with any argument, as when he skornefully spake of the Covenante, upon which he brake a hundred jests:  in summ all his discourses were such, as pleased all the company, who commonly believed all he sayd, and concurred with him.  He [renew]ed his old acquaintance and familiarity with Middleton, by all the protestations of frendshipp, assured him of the unanimous desyre of Scotlande, to be [un]der his commaunde, and declared to the kinge, that he could not send any man into Scotlande who would be able to do him so much service in the place of Commissyoner as Middleton, and that it was in his Majestys power to unite that whole kingdome to his service as one m[an:] all which pleased the kinge well, so that by the tyme that the Commissioners appeared at London, upon some old promise in Scotlande, or new inclination upon his longe sufferings, which he magnifyed enough, the kinge gave him the Signett, and declared him to be Secretary of State of that kingdome, and at the same tyme declared that Middleton should be his Commissyoner, the Earle of Glengarne his Chancellour, the Earle of Rothesse, who was likewise one of the Commissyoners, and his person very agreable to the kinge, President of the Councell, and conferred all other inferiour offices, upon men most notable for ther affection to the old goverment of Church and State.

67.

By BURNET.

The Earl of Lauderdale, afterwards made Duke, had been for many years a zealous Covenanter:  But in the year forty seven he turned to the King’s interests; and had continued a prisoner all the while after Worcester fight, where he was taken.  He was kept for some years in the tower of London, in Portland castle, and in other prisons, till he was set at liberty by those who called home the King.  So he went over to Holland.  And since he continued so long, and contrary to all mens opinions in so high a degree of favour and confidence, it may be expected that I should be a little copious in setting out his character; for I knew him very particularly.  He made a very ill appearance:  He was very big:  His hair red, hanging odly about him:  His tongue was too big for his mouth, which made him bedew all that he talked to:  And his whole manner was rough and boisterous, and very unfit