e temper of the house, would not venture to oppose this
motion directly, but proposed that the clause should be formed into a
separate act, and the expedient was approved. Though the Duke of Athol
entered a vigorous protest, to which the greater part of the cavaliers
and all the squadrone adhered, comprehending four-and-twenty peers,
seven-and-thirty barons, and eighteen boroughs, the act for the treaty
of union was, after much altercation, finished, empowering commissioners
to meet and treat of an union; but restraining them from treating of any
alterations of the church government as by law established. Whilst this
important subject was under consideration, the duke of Hamilton, to
the amazement of his whole party, moved that the nomination of the
commissioners should be left to the queen. Fourteen or fifteen of the
cavaliers ran out of the house in a transport of indignation, exclaiming
that they were deserted and basely betrayed by the duke of Hamilton.
A very hot debate ensued, in the course of which the duke was severely
handled by those whom he had hitherto conducted: but at length the
question being put whether the nomination should be left to the queen
or to the parliament, the duke's motion was approved by a very small
majority. He afterwards excused himself for his defection, by saying he
saw it was in vain to contend, and that since the court had acquired a
great majority, he thought he might be allowed to pay that compliment to
his sovereign. He was desirous of being in the commission, and the duke
of Argyle promised he should be nominated. The queen refusing to honour
him with that mark of distinction, Argyle would not suffer himself to
be named, and threatened to oppose the union, but means were found to
appease his resentment. Two drafts of an address being presented by the
earl of Sutherland and Fletcher of Saltoun, beseeching her majesty to
use her endeavours with the parliament of England to rescind that part
of their act which declared the subjects of Scotland aliens; and
an overture of a bill being offered, ordaining that the Scottish
commissioners should not enter upon the treaty of union until that
clause should be repealed; the courtiers moved that the parliament
should proceed by way of order to their commissioners, and by address
to her majesty. After some debate, the house assenting to this proposal,
the order and address was drawn up and approved. The great and weighty
affair of the treaty bein