did not the Lord make it up in Himself, which I must acknowledge to the praise of His grace.

I would you would think to write sometimes to your dear friend my Lord Chief Justice, of whom I have often put you in mind. And truly, my Dear, if you would think of what I put you in mind of some, it might be to as much purpose as others; writing sometimes a Letter to the President, and sometimes to the Speaker. Indeed, my Dear, you cannot think the wrong you do to yourself in the want of a Letter, though it were but seldom. I pray think on; and so rest, -yours in all faithfulness, ELIZABETH CROMWELL.'

2

This Letter, in the original, is frightfully spelt; but otherwise exactly as here: the only Letter extant of this Heroine; and Lot unworthy of a glance from us. It is given in Harris too, and in Noll very sorrectly.

And now for letter concerning Provost Jaffray and his two fellow-p: ores from Dunbar Drove.

FOR THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LIFUTENANT-GENERAL DAVID

LESLEY: THESE

Edinburgh, 17th January 1650. Sir. --I perceive by your last Letter you had not met with Mr. Cvrstairs and Mr. Waugh, who were to apply themselves to you at Provost Jaffray's and their release," in exchange for the Scamen and Officers. But I understood, by a Paper since shown me by them under your hand, that you were con tented to release the said Stamen and Officers for those three Persons,—who have had their discharges accordingly.

I am contented also to discharge the Lieutenant, “in exchange* for the Four Troopers at Stirling, who hath solicited me to that purpose.

1 The grammar bad; the meaning evident or discoverable, and the bad grammar a part of that!

'think of' is the Lady's old phrase.

• Milton State-Papers, p. 40.

• Custaires.

I have, here enclosed, sent you a Letter, which I desire you to cause to be conveyed to the Committee of Estates; and that such return shall be sent back to me as they shall please to give. I remain, Sir, your humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

Here is a notice from Balfour: At Perth, 22d November 1650 (Rege præsente,' the King being present, as usually after that Flight to the Grampian Hills he is allowed to be), 'the Committee of Estates remits to the Committee of Quarterings the exchange of Prisoners anent Mr. Alexander Jaffray and Mr. John Carstairs, Minister, with some English Prisoners in the Castle of Dumbarton.' Nevertheless, at this date, six or seven weeks after, the business is not yet perfected.

3

Alexander Jaffray, as we know already, is Provost of Aberdeen; a leading man for the Covenant from of old; and generally the Member for his Burgh in the Scotch Parliaments of these years. In particular, he sits as Commissioner for Aberdeen in the Parliament that met 4th January 1649; under which this disastrous Quarrel with the English began. He was famed afterwards (infamous it then meant) as among the first of the Scotch Quakers; he, with Barclay of Urie, and other lesser Fallen-Stars. Personal intercourse with Cromwell, the Secretary and Blasphemer, had much altered the notions of Mr. Alexander Jaffray. Baillie informed us, three months ago, he and Carstairs, then Prisoners-on-parole, were sent Westward by Cromwell 'to agent the Remonstrance,' -to guide towards some good issue the Ker-and-Strahan Negotiation; which, alas, could only be guided headlong into the ditches at Hamilton before daybreak, as we saw !—Jaffray sat afterwards in the Little Parliament; was an official person in Scotland, and one of Cromwell's leading men there.

1 The next Letter. 2 iv. 168.

* Thurloe, i. 172. Laigh Parliament House. Balfour, iii. 382.

• Ousted our friend Scotstarvet,-most unjustly, thinks he of the Staggering State (p. 181). There wanted only that to make the Homily on Life's Nothingness complete!