400 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. lxxix. 



designe on the castle was very well laid, it was discovered 

 about nine at night, and as they had concerted they begune 

 to putt it in execution between 11 and 12. They were 

 actually getting their ladder drawen up, by a sentinell 

 they had corrupted within the garrison. We have gote 

 the ladder and other materials with a number of arms 

 they left when they rune. The Highland men, above 20 

 of them were at Kinross nixt day ere they halted. We are 

 bussied to find out the plotters ; there are several taken up ; 

 some were seised, one comeing from the wall with a fire 

 lock in his hand without hat or wige, they call Captain 

 McClean, another, Leslie, taken at the root of the wall, 

 mistook the town guards for some of their own folks and 

 gave the parolle which was St. Andrew.- Had the castle 

 been taken they were to a given the signal by three rounds 

 of the guns, all their friends were to hasten hither and the 

 body of the Highland army was to march presently for the 



south,'" etc. 



{Page 164.) 



" Letter from ' George Drummond ' (afterwards Provost 

 of Edinburgh) to Lord Polwarth. ' Munday, one aclock, 

 12th September, 1715.' — Giving some reports of the rebel 

 movements. He also states that in expectation of a second 

 attack on the castle of Edinburgh ' a lieutenant and 24 

 men of the town guard with 30 of us went out and kept 

 guard at the back of it all night in Livingstouns yards, but 

 we had the pleasure of coming into town safe in the morn- 

 ing without having seen an enemy. . . . On Saturday, one 

 of Arthur's accomplices called Johnstoun, an old servant of 

 Leven's was apprehended in the town : he confesses he was 

 with him Thursday att 9 att night, went in quest of him 

 att the back of the wall att 11, says he mist him, owns he 

 lay att a stouk side all night, but will go no further. He 

 is in close prison feeding on bread and water. The other 

 centinell confessed all on Saturday, but the corporal con- 

 tinues yet a disingenuous dog.' " 



Of Dr. Arthur's movements subsequent to the flight he 

 himself describes we know little. That he was in direct 

 communication with and met the Earl of Mar we gather 

 from his own statement, and also from the record by Patten 

 of his arrival on the Borders : — 





