Cochrane, in promoting the reconciliation of Charles and his hereditary
liegemen. Suffice it to say that, whilst his lordship’s predilections
and services were in favour of the constitutional power of the king, he
made a firm stand against his despotic tendencies, especially when
meditating the subversion of the Scottish Church, under the guise of
ecclesiastical reform.[11]
-----
Footnote 11:
“Charles and Laud determined to force on the Scots the English
Liturgy—or rather a liturgy which, whenever it differed from that of
England, differed, in the judgment of all rigid Protestants, for the
worse.”—_Lord Macaulay._
-----
In the national struggle which ensued after the death of Charles I. Lord
Cochrane was amongst the most active in raising troops to assert the
right of Charles II. to the throne. The subjoined letter from that
monarch, divested of its antique orthography, will show the nature of
the services rendered.
CHARLES R.
“Right trusty and well-beloved—we greet you well. We have seen your
letter to the Duke of Hamilton, whom you give no encouragement; so
hope that sometime you, with the horse raised upon the baronies of Ayr
and Renfrew, shall soon be in arms.
“Having been engaged to give to General-Major Vandrosk the first
regiment of horse raised within our kingdom of Scotland, we could not
possibly break our promise to so deserving a person. But seeing your
brother was appointed to have the command of one of the regiments of
foot before they were converted into horse, he will now be
disappointed, as likewise will Col. Cunninghame, of their
expectations. We have, therefore, thought fit to desire you to shift
your brother up to the army to us, and we do oblige ourselves to take
him into our particular favor, and to give him the command of a
regiment either of horse or foot.
“We likewise find you desire the removing of the garrison from Newark,
but having advised twice with our Committee of Estate, we find it is
not for the good of the service to remove the said garrison; but we
are content that the strength be reduced to the number of threttie
soldiers only.
“We shall desire that you would be assisted in hasting these levies,
and continue in your barony all public despatch, so as you may be in
continual receipt of our respects to you.
“So we bid you now heartily farewell, from our Camp Royal at Woodhend,
the fifth of August, 1651.
“To our right trusty and well-beloved,
the Lord Cocorane.”
The preceding letter marks the dawn of that ingratitude towards his
tried adherents of which Charles has been, not without reason, accused.
Lord Cochrane’s reward for raising “the first regiment of horse in
Scotland” was the displacement of his brother from the command, in
favour of a Dutchman; notwithstanding that the whole expenditure had
been borne by his lordship, whose fate it subsequently was that the
Stuarts should draw largely upon resources which, to the injury of his
descendants, his loyalty ungrudgingly supplied.
Passing over the defeat which followed, I select from others a letter
addressed by Charles, when in exile, to Lord Cochrane, under the assumed
name of “Lenos and Richmond;” its purport being to show that the
unfortunate royal family depended upon Lord Cochrane’s management not
only for advice, but, what was more to the purpose, for the means of
subsistence.
“February 2nd, 1657.
“MY LORD,—I find myself very much obliged to your lordship by your
great care of my dear son’s interests and mine, and have seen your
letter concerning the gentleman recommended for a commissioner, who,
though a stranger to me—yet, since it is the opinion of your lordship
that he be added to the number of the commissioners, I do in this, as
in all other things, hearken to your lordship’s advice; relying on
your lordship’s favour to me, and therefore do hereby invite him, if
he will accept the trouble, with many thanks to your lordship and to
him.
“I must further beseech of your lordship to intend the raising five
thousand pounds upon Glasgow, and to labour the sale of Methuen and
Killmorocate, both with all possible expedition.[12]
“I hope to have the happiness of seeing your lordship in these parts
ere long, that I may have a larger conveniency of making my
acknowledgments to your lordship for your eminent favour to
“Your lordship’s most humble servant,
“C. R. LENOS and RICHMOND.
-----
Footnote 12:
This letter appears to mix up the affairs of Charles and the Duke,
probably with a view to avert danger to Lord Cochrane, if
intercepted.
-----
“For my Lord Cochrane.”
Whether Lord Cochrane visited the exiled court or not, I have no
documents to decide; nor is it at all material; these letters being
adduced to show the nature of his connection with the Stuarts in their
day of humiliation, which only appeared to add to his zeal for their
welfare.
The “son” alluded to in the preceding letter was the Duke of
Monmouth[13], for espousing whose cause, in the subsequent reign of
James II., the Cochrane family suffered severely.
-----
Footnote 13:
“Charles, when a wanderer on the Continent, had fallen in at the Hague
with Lucy Walters, a Welsh girl of great beauty, but of weak
understanding. She became his mistress, and presented him with a son,
upon whom he poured forth such an overflowing fondness as seemed
hardly to belong to his cool and careless nature. Soon after the
Restoration the young favourite made his appearance at Whitehall,
where he was lodged in the palace and permitted to enjoy distinctions
till then confined to princes of the blood royal.” _Lord Macaulay._
-----
Soon after the Restoration in 1660, Lord Cochrane was sworn a privy
councillor; and by his Majesty’s special choice was constituted one of
the Commissioners of the Treasury and Exchequer, which great and weighty
employment, says Crawfurd, “he discharged with admirable prudence and
integrity, to the general satisfaction of the whole nation. Increasing
still more in wealth and honour, he acquired the lordship of Paisley,
where he fixed his seat, and lived with great splendour and hospitality
for many years. After the barbarous murder of the late king, his
lordship contributed his best and hearty endeavours towards bringing
home Charles II. to inherit the rightful possession of the throne of
these realms; which, no doubt, was the cause, when Oliver Cromwell came
to be called protector, why he fined my Lord Cochrane, among other
royalists, in 5000_l._ sterling, by special ordinance of the
Commonwealth of England, dated April 12th, 1654.”
The following letters from the Dukes of Lennox and Monmouth are still in
my possession, and from historic interest alone require no apology for
their introduction in this place.
“London, Dec. 27, 1662.
“MY LORD,—I received a discharge from your lordship, which being
ill-drawn, I have forborne to sign it; but shall readily perform it so
soon as it comes to my hands corrected by Mr. Graham.
“I must intreat of your lordship’s endeavours to raise fifteen hundred
pounds upon the two years’ rent of Jyla and my other lands for the
year 1661; with which I would desire your lordship to discharge the
six hundred pounds you borrowed for me when I was at Edinburgh, and
the seven hundred pounds I borrowed of Sir James Stuart at the same
time. The rest to be returned to me, who am
“Your lordship’s humble servant,
“LENOS and RICHMOND.
“For my Lord Cochrane.”
“P.S.—I desire your lordship to excuse my own writing, for nothing but
illness should make me make use of another.”
“London, Feb. 26th, 1663.
“MY LORD,—Give me leave to add this trouble to your lordship’s
favours, in desiring that you will be pleased to send me a full
account of all you know of the condition of my affairs in Scotland.
And wherein and how you conceive any part of my estate proper or
casual may be better improved to my advantage, with your lordship’s
advice for the management thereof for the future. If you know of any
grants made by me to any person in Scotland when I was there, which
may be prejudicial to or on my estates, you will be pleased to
acquaint me with it; for I am resolved to repose all my confidence
upon your lordship’s directions, and to take measures of all the
management of my affairs from them.
“I shall wholly trust to your lordship, and therefore entreat you will
not impart this to anybody, but conceal the request of
“Your lordship’s very humble servant,
“LENOS and RICHMOND.
“For my Lord Cochrane.”
“Whitehall, Aug. 25th, 1663.
“MY LORD,—I must desire your lordship to give yourself the trouble of
sending me word how my engagements stand to my estate mortgaged in
Scotland, that I may know whether it be convenient that the several
persons to whom it is mortgaged should receive the profits of the
lands mortgaged to them till both principal and interest is satisfied.
Or whether it be convenient if one person, in the name of the rest,
should receive the whole profits of the estate, and engage to pay all
the debts, both principal and interest, in so many years, and then to
return the estate to me again. I must beg your lordship’s faithful
advice in this, having found it so formerly. And, good my lord, let me
know in how many years my estate will pay the debt upon it, both
principal and interest. I cannot believe anybody will be so warm in my
concerns as yourself, and therefore wholly repose this trust in you,
desiring you to send me in writing a conveyance of my estate to
yourself for the payment of the debt in the aforesaid years, with the
return of the estate into my hands, who am, my lord,
“Your lordship’s most obliged servant,
“LENOS and RICHMOND.”
The following letter, written to Lord Cochrane after the removal of the
Court to Oxford on account of the plague raging in London, will show the
straits to which even the wealthiest of the Scottish nobility had been
reduced.
“Oxford, November 11th, 1665.
“MY LORD,—I had written to your lordship before this had I not an
intention of coming to Scotland myself. But being now prevented by
other affairs, I must desire your lordship to make all the possible
speed that may be to return me five hundred pounds out of the thousand
pounds that are due to me.
“My lord, _I never was in a greater strait in my life_, the plague
having prevented my tenants’ payment. If you ever did intend to oblige
me, I am sure you could never have a better opportunity than making me
a present payment.
“Good, my lord, do not fail me, who am,
“Your most humble servant,
“RICHMOND and LENOS.
“For my Lord Cochrane.”
“P.S.—My uncle Aubigny is very sick at Paris, and we expect to hear he
is dead by every post,—the last letters assuring that he was past
recovery.”
“July 1666.
“MY LORD,—I need not acquaint your lordship how great a confidence I
have of your lordship’s friendship and assistance. Having now sent
Boreman into Scotland to attend and follow your lordship’s directions,
and my Lord Newburgh’s, for the completing and settling the whole
affairs of the Admiralty. If my Lord Macdonnel goes on in his intended
bargain, I shall expect 6000_l._ to be paid and returned to me by
Michaelmas. Please to remember the 100_l._ you reserved till Boreman’s
coming. I shall trouble your lordship with nothing more at present,
but the assurance of being,
“Your lordship’s very humble servant,
“RICHMOND and LENOS.
“For my Lord Cochrane.”
“London, 18th Sept. 1666.
“MY LORD,—Though I consider that 5000_l._ is too small a sum for so
considerable and convenient an estate to my Lord Macdonald, yet I am
satisfied to be ruled by the market and the exigency of my own
affairs, but especially by your lordship’s judgment and kindness, of
which I have had so good experience.
“My lord, the sad accident of fire which hath lately happened in
London _hath almost ruined us all_. I must therefore earnestly entreat
you to return me what money you have in your hands of mine, with all
possible speed, not knowing which way to turn myself at present, there
being no such thing as money here. Pray, likewise hasten Boreman in
returning what money is due to me on the prizes, in doing all which,
you will very much oblige
“Your lordship’s humble servant,
“RICHMOND and LENOS.
“For my Lord Cochrane, at Edinburgh.”
I have purposely refrained from comment on these letters, as being
foreign to the purpose of this introductory chapter, which is not to
dilate on immaterial subjects, but simply to point out the connection of
the Cochrane family with the Stuarts, and their faithful adherents. The
subjoined, from the Duke of Monmouth, is also curious, as alluding to
the disaster of invasion, in addition to those of plague and fire.
“June 28th, 1667.
“MY LORD,—So soon as I received your lordship’s of the 26th of May I
was commanded by the king for Harwich, and have ever since been so
hurried about in this confusion upon the arrival of the Dutch, that I
have not had time to answer your lordship, to whom I do acknowledge
myself very much obliged for your care of my affairs; and if it lies
in my power to acknowledge it otherwise than in words, your lordship
shall ever find me really to be, my lord,
“Your lordship’s real friend and servant,
“MONMOUTH and BUCCLEUCH.
“These for my Lord Cochrane.”
On the 12th of May, 1669, Lord Cochrane was created Earl of Dundonald.
The annexed is his Majesty’s order for the patent:—
“Our sovereign Lord, considering that it hath been always the ancient,
constant, and worthy practice of all kings to confer titles and
degrees of honour and dignity upon such of those subjects whose good
services and worth have so deserved, and that his Majestie’s father of
blessed memory did, in the year 1641, dignify and confer upon his
right trusty and well-beloved William Lord Cochrane, the title of Lord
Cochrane. And now his Majesty—in consideration of his faithful
services, and for the better encouragement of him and his family to
continue in their constant and affectionate adhering to his interest
and service for the future—being graciously pleased to confer a
further mark of his royal favour upon him, doth therefore, of his
royal and princely power, ordain a letter patent to be made and
decreed under the great seal of his ancient kingdom of Scotland, in
due form, making, constituting, and creating the said William Lord
Cochrane, and his heirs male, which failing, the oldest heirs female,
without division, already procreate or to be procreate, of the body of
the said William Lord Cochrane, &c. &c. &c., to be called and designed
now and for ever hereafter Earl of Dundonald, Lord Cochrane of Paisley
and Ochiltree, &c. &c. (Then follow the usual technical formalities.)
“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY.—This contains your Majesty’s warrant for
a patent to be passed under the great seal of Scotland, for creating
William Lord Cochrane Earl of Dundonald, Lord Cochrane of Paisley and
Ochiltree, with power, &c. &c. &c. For subscription.
“LAUDERDAILL.”
“Sit supra scribitur,
“CHARLES R.”
The subjoined letters from the Duke and Duchess of Monmouth, the latter
the heiress of Buccleuch[14], are not without historical interest.
-----
Footnote 14:
“Monmouth was married, while still in tender youth, to Anna Scott,
heiress of the noble house of Buccleuch. He took her name, and
received with her hand possession of her ample domains. The estate
which he acquired by this match was popularly estimated at not less
than 10,000_l._ a-year.”—_Lord Macaulay._
-----
“Whitehall, May 2nd, 1671.
“MY LORD,—This is expressly to beg your lordship’s pardon, that I writ
not to you by the person that brought you my commission concerning my
lands, in which I was confident to put your lordship’s and Lord
Cochrane’s names; being assured that neither yourself nor any of your
family would deny me the favour of your assistance in the management
of my estate, which I have now taken into my own possession, and hope
to see the good effects of it. I beseech your lordship to give my
service and excuse to my Lord Cochrane, and tell him I hope he will be
no worse a friend to me than you have been, who, I must acknowledge,
have obliged me ever to be, my lord,
“Your very humble servant,
“MONMOUTH and BUCCLEUCH.
“For Lord Dundonald.”
“Whitehall, May 25, 1671.
“MY LORD,—I know not how to express my thanks to your lordship for the
trouble I have put upon you in your journey to Branxholme, where your
presence hath been of that advantage to my affairs, as could not,
without you, have been expected. I thank your lordship most heartily
for this and all other your kindnesses to me, and particularly your
advice concerning Orkney, &c. and to refraine the signing of anything
but what shall be most maturely advised by your lordship, and such
other my friends to whose counsel and advice, as always faithful to
me, I shall firmly adhere, and constantly remain, my lord,
“Your very affectionate friend and humble servant,
“MONMOUTH and BUCCLEUCH.
“For the Right Hon. the Earl of Dundonald.”
“Oct. 31, 1671.
“MY LORD,—Being very sensible of your constant care and industry to
promote and advance all our interests in Scotland, and receiving daily
demonstrations of your particular kindness and friendship to us, we
are the more confident on all occasions to depend wholly upon you, for
resolution in doubtful, and assistance in difficult cases, and do
entreat your lordship to take them seriously into your consideration,
and weighing all circumstances deal freely and candidly with us, and
declare truly to us your opinion what you do conceive fit for us to do
to extricate ourselves out of those dangers both we and our estate lie
under.
“We are now both of us so near the time of our majority, and are told
that it is very necessary for us to undertake a journey to Scotland
this next spring. If your lordship be of the same judgment, we must
(if possible) find out some expedient to effect it.
“My lord, we are informed that many of our late chamberlains are
resolved to stand trial with us for 3000_l._ yet remaining in their
hands upon the balance of their accounts, unless they may have such
discharge as they please.
“We do, therefore, very earnestly recommend it to your lordship’s care
to proceed vigorously against them, not only for that, but also for
the great waste and destruction they have made of the woods. A letter
is also written to the Lord President Stair and the rest of the lords
of the session’s favour for a speedy dispatch of our concerns before
them. We shall have the satisfaction that in the place where we have
received so great obligations from your lordship and the rest of our
friends—even there we shall express with much sincerity that we are,
my lord,
“Your lordship’s very affectionate and humble servants,
“BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“ANNA BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“For the Right Hon. the Earl of Dundonald.”
“March 14th, 1674.
“MY LORD,—The great assurance we have had of your affection and
kindness to us, which upon all occasions you have given sufficient
testimonies of in your adherence to and promoting our interest in
Scotland, encourages us to entreat and, indeed, earnestlie to desire
your continuance thereof, but especially at this time, when we find
our tenants like to be ruined and undone by the severity of continued
frost and snow. How mischievous the consequences thereof may be to us,
we are not able at this distance to conjecture, only we have just
reason to fear the worst.
“But we, depending very much if not solely upon your lordship’s wisdom
and good conduct at this juncture, and very well knowing how prevalent
your countenance and authority will be among our tenants, and what
encouragement they will receive from your presence, must needs desire
and entreat your lordship that you will not fail to be at the next
land settling, for it is your discretion and prudence that shall be
our guide and measure in the regulation of our own interests, or that
of any of our tenants who shall be held fit objects of our
consideration and favour in so general a calamity, if they be
recommended by your lordship unto my lord,
“Your lordship’s most affectionate friends and servants,
“BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“ANNA BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“For Lord Dundonald.”
“September 29th, 1674.
“MY LORD,—Upon all occasions my wife and I do receive new testimonies
and proofs of your continued kindness to us, and of your unwearied
care and industry to do all good offices which may any wise conduce to
our profit and advantage. And, in truth, the great pains you have
taken about our affairs, and the trouble you took upon you of an
inconvenient journey to be at our land settling, are sufficient
assurances of your zeal and affection for our welfare and prosperity,
for which we owe you a particular acknowledgment. And I do assure your
lordship, I am so extremely sensible of these and all other the
kindnesses which you have done for us, that it shall never be my fault
if I do not make it appear how much I am, my lord,
“Your lordship’s most affectionate friend and servant,
“BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“For Lord Dundonald.”
“Whitehall, March 19th, 1676.
“MY LORD,—We are truly sorry to understand by your letter that you are
unable to ride by reason of your age and weakness, and that you cannot
go all the way in your coach to our land settling. We know very well,
and have had long and great experience, how useful you have been in
that affair for many years together; and we may have just reason to
fear that we may suffer very much by your absence from that service,
so many of our lands lying at this time waste. The tenants will be apt
to be discouraged, when they want your countenance to whom they are so
well known. But, my lord, we do not think it reasonable to press you
with arguments to undertake anything, how necessary soever it may be
for our service, if it be in the least prejudicial to your health and
safety.
“Therefore, if your infirmities cannot well dispense with your own
going that journey, we do entreat your lordship to prevail with your
son, my Lord Cochrane, to supply your place. For we are very sure that
there is not one related to you, but will have a great influence on
our tenants; and, next to yourself, we can desire none more
considerable than your son.
“We need not tell you how much the present necessity of our affairs
requires all the prudence, all the countenance and authority, and all
the diligence of ourselves, and of my lords, our commissioners, to
bring our estate out of that waste, ruinous, and scandalous condition
under which it hath lain, and we do know that your lordship will
contribute as much pains, and be as instrumental to bring this to pass
as any person whatsoever. And in this assurance we do subscribe
ourselves, as in truth we are, my lord,
“Your lordship’s most affectionate friends and servants,
“BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“ANNA BUCCLEUCH and MONMOUTH.
“For Lord Dundonald.”
The Earl of Dundonald was subsequently appointed by James the Second one
of the Privy Council of Scotland. As the place from which the patent was
dated, viz. Hounslow Heath, is of historical significance, I shall give
the document entire:—
“JAMES R.
“Right trusty and right entirely-beloved cousin and councillor! Right
trusty and right well-beloved cousin and councillor! Right trusty and
entirely-beloved cousins and councillors! Right trusty and right
well-beloved cousins and councillors! Right trusty and well-beloved
cousins and councillors! Right trusty and well-beloved councillors,
and trusty and well-beloved councillors!
“We greet you well.
“Whereas we are fully satisfied of the loyalty, abilities, and dutiful
affection to our service, of our right trusty and well-beloved Earl of
Dundonald, we have therefore thought fit to add him to our Privy
Council of that our ancient kingdom, and do authorise and require you
to admit him accordingly.
“And we do hereby dispense with him from taking the test, oath of
allegiance, or any other oath, except that of Privy Councillor only.
For doing whereof this shall be your warrant, and to him a full and
ample security.
“Given at our camp on Hounslow Heath, the 10th day of June 1686, and
of our reign the second year.
“By His Majesty’s command,
“MELFORT.”