WILLIAM AND MAEY.
277
dissolving the Convention.
CHAP.
XIII.
They therefore proposed that,
before the seal was broken, the Estates should resolve to con—j C89tinue sitting, notwithstanding any such mandate. The Jaco-bites, who knew no more than the Whigs what was in theletter, and were impatient to have it read, eagerly assented.
A vote was passed by which the members bound themselves toconsider any order which should command them to separateas a nullity, and to remain assembled till they should haveaccomplished the work of securing the liberty and religion ofScotland. This vote was signed by almost all the lords anagentlemen who w'ere present. Seven out of nine bishops sub-scribed it. The names of Dundee and Balcarras, written bytheir own hands, may still he seen on the original roll. Bal-carras afterwards excused what, on his principles, was, beyondall dispute, a flagrant act of treason, by saying that he and hisfriends had, from zeal for their master’s interest, concurred ina declaration of rebellion against their master’s authority; thatthey had anticipated the most salutary effects from the letter;and that, if they had not made some concession to the majority,the letter would not have been opened.
In a few minutes the hopes of Balcarras were grievously dis- direct of
° * James s
appointed. Ihe letter from -which so much had been hoped and letter,feared was read with all the honours which Scottish Parliamentswere in the habit of paying to royal communications: but everyword carried despair to the hearts of the Jacobites. It was plainthat adversity had taught James neither wisdom nor mercy.
All was obstinacy, cruelty, insolence. A pardon w'as promisedto those traitors who should return to their allegiance within afortnight. Against all others unsparing vengeance was de-nounced. Not only was no sorrow expressed for past offences:but the letter was itself a new offence: for it was written andcountersigned by the apostate Melfort, who was, by the sta-tutes of the realm, incapable of holding the office of Secretary,