. Marquis Douglas is now a great knave,
as well as beast, as is Glencairn, Morton, and Eglinton.
And even Cassilis is gone astray, misled by Gibby.[88]
Panmure keeps right and at home. So does Strathmore,
Southesk, and Kinnaird. Old Airlie is at Edinburgh under
caution. So is Balcarres and Dunmore. Stormont is declared
fugitive for not appearing. All these will break out, and
many more, when the King lands, or any from him. Most of the
gentry on this side the Forth, and many on the other, will
do so too. But they suffer mightily in the meantime, and
will be forced to submit if there be not relief sent very
soon. The Duke of Gordon, they say, wanted nothing for
holding out but hopes of relief. Earl of Dunfermline stays
constantly with me, and so does Dunkeld, Pitcur, and many
other gentlemen, who really deserve well, for they suffer
great hardships. When the troops land, there must be blank
commissions sent for horse and foot for them, and others
that will join. There must be a Commission of Justiciary, to
judge all but landed men. For there should be examples made
of some who cannot be judged by a council of war. They take
our people, and hang them up, by their new sheriffs, when
they find them straggling.[89]

"My Lord, I have given my opinion to the King concerning the
landing. I would first have a good party sent over to
Inverlochy; about five or six thousand, as you have
convenience of boats; of which as many horse as conveniently
can. About six or eight hundred would do well, but rather
more. For had I had horse, for all that yet appeared I would
not have feared them. Inverlochy is safe landing, far from
the enemy, and one may choose, from thence, to go to Moray
by Inverness, or to Angus by Athole, or to Perth by Glencoe,
and all tolerable ways. The only ill is the passage is long
by sea, and inconvenient because of the island; but in this
season that is not to be feared. So soon as the boats
return, let them ferry over as many more foot as they think
fit to the point of Kintyre, which will soon be done; and
then the King has all the boats for his own landing. I
should march towards Kintyre, and meet, at the neck of
Tarbet, the foot, and so march to raise the country, and
then towards the passes of Forth to meet the King