CHARLES II.

28z

tliat the council books might be produced incourt; and even offered a copy of that day’sproceedings to be read; but the privy counsellorsmaintained, that, after they had made oath, nofarther proof could be admitted, and that thebooks of council contained the king’s secrets,which were on no account to be divulged. Theywere not probably aware , when they swore,that the clerk having engrossed the promise ofpardon in the narrative of Mitchel’s confession ,the whole minute had been signed by the chan-cellor, and that the proofs of their perjury wereby that means committed to record. Though theprisoner was condemned , Lauderdale was stillinclined to pardon him ; but the unrelentingprimate rigorously insisted upon his execution,and said, that, if assassins remained unpunished,his life must be exposed to perpetual danger.IVlitchel was accordingly executed at Edinburghin January 1678. Such a complication of crueltyand treachery shows the character of those mi-nisters , to whom the king had, at this time,intrusted the government of Scotland.

Lauoerdale’s administration, besides the ini-quities arising from the violence of his temper,and the still greater iniquities inseparable fromall projects of persecution , was attended withother circumstances, which engaged him in severeand arbitrary measures. An absolute governmentwas to be introduced, which on its commence-ment is often most rigorous; and tyranny wasstill obliged, for \yant of military power, tq

HAPIX VI.IS78.