The chiefs of Grant - Electric Scotland

1CC3.] THKEATKXED CHAllOE OF UIGU TREASON'. 283
tlie Laird luid been indicted Ly the Lord Advocate on no less a charge
than th;it of liigh treason, and tliat tlie summons aa'us ah-eady issued, and
about to be served upon him by a herald. On learning this fact, they,
with the Laird of ]Moyness, had vraited upon the Lord Advocate, and tried
to reason hirn out of the charge, but only incurred his displeasure. i!e had
indicated what the grounds of the charge were—That the Laird li;td given
intelligence to the English, and had also received a warrant from them to
have arms to keej) his house against the rebels—which he would prove
under the Laird's own hand. The latter's friends persisted in their belief
of his innocence, and succeeded in getting the serving of the summons
delayed for ten days, during which they promised to inform the Laird of
the charge against him, and get him to come to Edinburgh and clear
himself The rest of the letter is occupied with suggestions as to the
Laird's procedure, cousistiu'f of i)rudential reasons for the Laird's not o-oino-
to Edinburgh, if ho could do otherwise, with advice tliat he should cmplov
the services of his brother George, Avho, they say, was both willing and
able to undertake such a work, and to terminate it successfully.'
In a letter of reply the Lau'd thanks his correspondents lor their
kindness, and declares his intention, seeing his credit and loyalty to his
Majesty was Cjuestioned, of going south in the following week, though, he
adds, the time of the year and the weather were not agreeable to the
constitution of his body.'-
William Grant of Cardells, a day or two before the date of the
precedmg letter, had written to the Laird of A\liat was transpiring, and
distinctly charged the Laird's brother George with being at the bottom of
the accusation.
'•' Know," he says, " that be your brother, his meanis and
agitation, yow ar to be sittit befoir the Parliment .
. . tlie citatione is
giffin out be tlie Lord Aduocat this day. I wiss your mother had born
ane gray ston quhen scho did bring foorth Georg."^ The writer also
refers to a letter enclosed from his brother George, and cautions the Laird
not to trust a word of it. The following is probably the letter referred
to, but it is without date :—
' Original L'-tter, dated "Jd February lOGl, at Castle Cirant.
2 Draft Letter at Gaitle Grant. ' Vol ii. of tliis wurk, [. ST.