The manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of ... - Electric Scotland

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You may send your letters to my wife, for you may remember
except with my wife I told you I wold corespond with none by the post
but by expreses.
For the Earle of Quensbery.
145. Removing the forces that were on free quarter—not admitted to
kiss the king's hand &c. 15 May—Complaints required to be given in
in writ.
May 9. [1678],
Yours by Sir G[eorge] L[ockhart] and Kin[cairn] I received. The
accounts I can give you of our affaires here are not much more then
what you may perceave by the reraoveing of the forces that wer on
frie quarter and the present stop of these things was pressed on us,
and that His Majestic has called up some of the counsellors, but till
they come no further proeeedor is in our affaires ; nor are any of us
that are plentifes to be admitted to kis his Majesties hand till then,
least it may discurrage the Counsellors and seam in so far to coudem
them unheard. Tho this be hard measure, yett wee cheerfully submite
to itt. I marvell how you can expect I should aske leave of the King
for you to come up, since the doeing so wer to condem many that have
done otherways. It wer more generous to do as your friends has
done, but I will pres itt no more since I find you continew so positively
resolved on the contrare. It was scarce worth your pains of wishing
joy to my friendshipe with Kelhead at this distance, but I do not
repent me to be civill to any that is so to me ; and if he find it his
interest, no doubt his professions Avill be reall, and more I do not
expect. It was an advantage to you that I did not acquaint you with
my corospondance by Carlile since it is discovered ; but why you need
say any thing in vindication I do not understand, for sure I should
never suspected any thing that is so mean from you ; but T hope any
discoveries they may make that way will nether advantage them much
nor prejudge me. I am sory yours or my nevoy AnandaJes men should
come to opress me or any of my friends, but I know wher to lay it
and I hope never to live to be so unhappy as any particulare interrest
of mine should rander me in a condition to opres my neighbours and
fi'iends or be assisting it itt ; but I hope to live to wether all these
misfortunes. I hear of your being to be alt Edinburgh, and I wish
with all my soull you and your friends their may take right measures.
Those of late has been taken I am sure has been highly prejudiciall to
those that may justly pretend to be your friends, and perchance at long
run may be found to be so to your seines. There is an expres sent
doun with this who can tell all particulare stories, so I shall not need
to trouble you with them, and shall onely ad that in my friendshipe for
you, I have never come short in sutable returns to what I have mett
with. But I will leave all reakinings till meeteng, and wish you may
prefer mor the publict interrest to your ouen particulare one ; and then
I am sure you shall neuer haue reason but to beleive me as I have all
ways professed to you ; so I beg of you lay aside all diflerent methods
and ways, and unite close with your friends and do some thing that it
may apear so to the world, wherin as you will do the best service yow
can to the King and the cuntrie, so it will remove all mistakes, which
I am sure I wish heartely, being very desirous to continew in the reall
friendship our relation and interrest tyes us to, which I shall never
fail on my part ; so, adieu.
My humble service to my sister.