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

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tlien to find your f auer that my wifes famely shall not suffer for Muriklands
fait, especially since the occasion of it was her famelys forfeitur
for his Majestic. When I was at Edinburgh, there was litle done in
that reparation your Lordship ordored James Smith to do in these
lodgings I posses ; but I hear it is goeing on now, and I doubt not but
that apartment will be found so much the better that there will be no
reason to grudge the expence^ if the Avorkmen do their dutie. I was
lately at my house in Avendale, where I was not this 6 year befor, and
found it in a much worse condition then I expected. I have ordered
some reparation of the roofe, but I am affreyed ether that, or what you
thinke to bestow on it for the conveniency of a garrison, will hardly be
gote done befor the spring. I hear Captain Clelands troope is to be
there this weeke, wher I thinke they may lay in the toun with as litle
hasard as they did in Douglas. Meldrum has been in this countrey
some weeks past, and they say his bussines is some ordors from your
lordship. He has comitted severall irregularities, which when I did
acquant himself of them, I mett with scarce civill returns. I should
haue expected, haueing the honor to be a privie counsellor and shirriffe
of the shire, befor any had acted within my jurisdictions, to have been
acquanted with it, and I should have been ready to have given my
concurrance, that his Majesties service might have been done and the
countrey not so much abused as they haue been by him. The particulares
I shall not trouble your Lordship with till meeting, which I
intend shall be in November next ; and untill then, if your Lordship
will be pleased to recall him, it will put a stop to abusses comitted and
shall be no prejudice to the service you haue trusted him with, and so
frie this countrey of many opressions committed. I return my thanks
for the fauer of seeing your son in passing, and from my eldest son I
did hear of your sons aryvall at London, whom he commends extreamly.
My most humble service to my sister, and my wifes to you both ; so,
adieu h^rtely,
184. Health of the Earl of Nithsdale—new donator to forfeited
estates,
[c. 1683]?
1 received your Lordships and heard also more fully from James
Johnston as to those particulares you spoke of to him. I am sory to
hear that Earl Nithisdales health is so dangerous, and I wish his
famely very well, but untill I be fully extricat of Earl Anandales tutory
I Avill not easely ingadge in another. I did see the new trust given to
your donator; iff Dumfries shire wer in it also, I doubt not but you
wold haue my thoughts of itt. Iff your pouer in the gouerment wer as
litle as mine, I am apt to think that his task will be much more to iind
out rebells then looke after those already forfeit ; for I am sure some
that are so are not so much as inquired after by him, which I told him.
I shall be glade to hear you arc well recovered of the indisposition you
last mentioned, and my wife and my daughter remembers there most
humble service to you and all of us to my sister ; so, adieu.
Tell Drumfries I find his charity as litle as his other devotions, and
that my wife desires to know what he means by bitch foxes it being a
new word to her.
For the Marquis of Queensbery, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.
185. Disadvantages of pressing the Test.
Glasgow, 8 October 1684.
Your Lordship has so full accounts of our proceedings by our jurnalls
and letters that I can ad litle to it. Our gentry has been very franke in