1639.—May 29.
46. Heads of Conference betwixt Hamilton and some Covenanters.[208]
The whole Discourse (so far as I can remember of it) may be reduced to these Heads.
Their Invitation of your Excellence to go in person to His Majesty, to present their Desires, and to mediate for an Accommodation.
To this your Excellence answered,
First, that having full power from His Majesty to treat and conclude of all things concerning that Business, you held it unnecessary to go to him.
Secondly, your Excellence thought it unfit, you having so great a Charge here, which required your presence, and they having propounded nothing that could give sufficient occasion to such a Voyage to undertake it.
Thirdly, that if the distance from His Majesty were thought by them to be a hindrance to the Treaty, they might address themselves to His Majesty by such of the Nobility as were about him, who was not distant above threescore and twelve miles from the Leaguer.
They replied, that things would be more facilitated by your Excellence’s being there, wishing, that as you had a part in the beginning of these Affairs, you might have the Honour to put an end to them.
Your Excellence returned, that the Lords Traquair and Roxburgh, who were now with His Majesty, were imployed in them before you; which they acknowledged, but wished it had never been, confessing that they were spoiled before you had the managing of them.
Concerning a Cessation of Acts of Hostility, both by Sea and upon the Frontiers, where they complained of divers Insolencies committed by the Horse-troops of His Majesty; your Excellence answered, That in what concerned the first, you had committed none since your coming hither: true it was, you had stayed and taken many Barques and Boats, but some of them you had dismissed without touching any thing that they had in them; and these from whom you did take to supply your uses, you had paid them for it: that this day you had sent to Burnt-Island, and would doe so to other Places, to offer them full permission of Trade, provided they would swear not to carry Arms against His Majesty, and take the Oath of Fidelity; and for the Fishermen you required no Oath.