434 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
which originally appeared in a note to “The Household Book of Lady Marie Stewart, Countess of Mar”&
a work now of great rarity, only a very small edition having been printed. It was edited by Charles Kirkpatrick
Sharpe, Esq. There is no date to it, but we are informed by the editor that it WM published in 1814.
It is aa an illustration of’ the followiq entry of 1st September 1640. (Page 43) The Comptar craveu
allowance of two nights charges, being sent to waitt upon the buriall of COL Blexander, his corps, which was
buried before he came att Tyninghame, 63sh. 4d.” To this the editor appends the following note in reference to
the Colonel :-“ Colonel Alexander Erskine, Lady Mar’s third son, was blown up in the Castle of Dungha,
together with his brother-in-law the Earl of Hadington. ‘ Upon Sunday the 30th August 1640, the Earl of
Hadington, with about eighty persons, of Knights, Barons, and Gentlemen, within the place of Dunglass in the
Merse pertaining heritably to the Lord Hume, was suddenly blown up in the air, by a sudden tire occasioned
thus : Haddington, with his friends and followels, rejoicing how they defended the army’s magazine frae the
English garrison of Berwick, came altogether to Dunglass, having no fear of evil, where they were all sudd edy
blown up with the roof of the house in the air, by powder, whereof there was abundance in this place, and
never bone nor hyre seen of them again’-&aZding. Bishop Guthrie remarks, that ‘ The very day the Scota
entered Newcastle, Dunglass Castle, in the keeping of Haddington (who had left the King’s party, and held it
under Ledie), was blown up about mid-day ; he and about sixty gentlemen were buried under one of the walls,
which fell upon them as they stood in the close. The King said upon it, albeit he had been very ungrateful
to him, yet he was sorry that he had not at his dying some time to repent.’
U Sir Robert cfordon, in his History of the Sutherland Family, asserts that Lord Haddigton and Colonel
Alexander.Erskine had returned the day before from a victorious skirmish with the English, and were at
dinner when the explosion took place. He adds, ‘This was ascryved to a servant of the Earle’s (ane Englishman)
who was his barbour, but how truly I know not.’
“Alexander Erskine, son to John Earl of Mar, had a letter of provision of the abbacy of Cambuskenneth,
31st May 1608. Re and his brother, Lord Cardrm, were two of the chief mourners at the funeral of their
Uncle, Ludovick Duke of Lennox, who died 16th Februay 1624, and was buried at Westminster’(8z’r Robert
Gordon’e ETistory of thc Sutherland Family). He was knighted, but at what time is uncertain, and was in the
French milita,ry service, as appears from a letter printed by Lord Hailes, and communicated by Lord Alva. It
is addressed to a person unknown in France, by the leaders of the Scottish army, written in bad French (which
is translated by Lord Hailes), a d dated from the camp at Dunse, 20th August 1640 :-
a ‘ Sq-The state of our affairs has constrained us to levy a numerous army for preserving this kingdom
from utter ruin ; hence it is that we coidd not permit Colonel Erskine to transport his regiment (into France)
last year, and the same course still obligea us to employ the Colonel at home in the defence of his country.
Although he is exceedingly zealous in the public service, yet he will not accept of any commission from UH,
unless with the consent of his Most Christian Majesty, and under the condition of being permitted to repair to
France at whatever time he may be required. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peace is the aim of our
desires, and the wish of our souls ; as soon as that is concluded, we shall demonstrate, by our assisting Colonel
Erskine in his levies, and by procuring good recruits for his Majesty’s service, that true Scotsmen can never
forget their ancient alliances, and the common interest which unitea them with fiance ; and therefore, Sir, we
again entreat you to represent what has been here said, and the situation of Colonel Erskine’s affairs, to his
Majesty, and to his Eminence. We hope to obtain these favours by pour means ; and, besidea the obligations
which you will thereby confer on the Colonel, you will oblige ua to remain, Sir, your most humble servants,
k LESLIE. AROYLE. RorEEa. MAR BALCAXRAS. BELMERINOSE. AFOBTE.’
This letter waa written only ten days previous to the Colonel’s death, which tradition affirm8 to have been
regarded as I punishment of Providence for hie amorous pejuriee tow& Anna Bothwell (a &er of Lord
-Holyroodhonse),whose lament has exercised the subtile wits of antiquarians, in the ascertainment of her
pedigree She has been made out to be the divorced Countess of Bothwell, and also, I believe, a Miss Boawell
