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

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me ; but I wold rather choise to stay at Preston and lett every body go.
This was the nearest I could go ; there is no fear of any offence that
wold be taken aboue at any numbers of company should meet me, and I
should be glade with all my heart they wold send me any message to
discharge the company with me to come in to the Abbay court, as I
hear is talked, but I do not beleive itt. It is not an houre since I come
here, so has hasted bake the footman to lett you know that
I will be att
Preston about 2 o'cloake ; so till meeting I onely ad a hearty adieu.
149. Lauderdale's pretensions checked—0£ hawks to be sent to his
Majesty.
Hamilton, 31 July [c. 1678].
At ray return from Crafurd I found your Lordships by James Johnston.
The Earl of Lithgow is very happy to be still so kindly remembered by
his' Majestic, and you will have the advantage of haveing of your friends
in place of others aded to the Exchequer ; and now I hope Lauderdales
pretensions will trouble you no more when he has been so severly
chequed; and I doubt not but so soon as the report comes to his
Majestic, his brothers affaires will have the same succes. I can not at
this time be with you being ingadged in many privat affaires ; and beside
I find it not very convenient to make so frequent jurneys there, especially
when it signiQes so litle, but may rather have occasion to give offence,
which I will shun all I can. Iff you have no commands for me I am
uncartain of my time of being at Kinneill ; however, the raears shall be
sent to you, Edinburgh, or to the Sanquhair, as you think fitt. For
halks I have none worthy sending to his Majestic ; tuo tersells of falcon
I have, the one I got from Earl of Airly, which I never saw fly, and is
sitting in the cott. You may try at him, iff he be fitt for your purpose,
and you shall have him ; the other, I pouted him this sumer, and all his
fathers are in blood- and' many broke. I have a red halk also, but it
seams it is none of those you desire. The bearer will give you an
account of what company I have here, and to morrow I go to Glasgow
with my nevoy, Anandale. Your commands shall be very wellcome to
me and shall meet with all the ready performance in my pouer. My
wife remembers her humble service to you ; so with all kindnes, adieu.
150. His citation before the council— Hallyards denies giving information.
Edinburgh, 9 November [c. 1678]?
I had the honour of your Lordships of the 2^ since I came here. I
am very sory to find you are so apt to mistake me, for I suppose my last
letter did not inferr that I thought your lordship privie to the citation I *
had befor the Councill, but that you knew of it befor I got my citation ;
which I thought wold the rather a hasted your comeing here to haue
been a witnesse to haue seen what was in it ; and I doubt not but you
wold haue been convinced, as all the world that heard it is, of the
wnkindnes of those that occasioned it, and I wish they may be more
just to the friendshipe I hear your Lordship has now struke up with
them then they have been to me. I can not but regrate that your lordship
thinks I minde of you of things you sayed to me that you do not
remember of. Whatever my faillings are, none can justly charge me
with makeing storys; and I am very sure I have never made use of any
thing you euer sayed to me to your disadvantage, but you may excuse
me fo remember your self of things when I meet with the contrare
affects from you. But being just now goeing out of the toune, I shall
say no more till meeting ; and then useing friedom is the best way [to]