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

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severall of your Lordshiep's friends did e the faveur to see me and
asseur me upon your Lordships acount of their friendship. I waited on
my Lord Nidsdell and wee have esteblished a corespondence. Stenes
did me the faveur to call here yesterday as he went to see som of his
relations. He told me Craigdaloch and Maxwelltoun and severall others
waited at Maxiltoun for me, thinking I would pass that way, so that I
am here resolved to lieve in perfait friendship with all that ar your
friends ; and I must aeknouledge I fynd them extreamly disposed to it
which I atribut to your Lordship's influence. I was last night to wait
on my Laidy Kenmur, my Lord being from hom, who she said kneu
nothing of my coming. 1 told her what peins your Lordship had been
at to keep her house from being a garison, and she seemed very sensible
of it. I am sorry that I must acquaint you, but I shall doe it to nobody
els, that I am certenly informed my Lord Kenmur has conversed
frequently with rebelles, particularly Barskob. As to the Treasury
Comission, 1 fear I shall not be able to doe what I could wish because
of the season, for of their corn and straw their is not much left, and
their beasts this tyme of the year ar not worth the dryving. The
rebelles have lieved, I fynd, peacably here till nou and their wyfes ar
still in their houses, and takes it worse nou then they would have don
at first to be ruined ; for then they expected it, and nou after so long
forbearance they Aver becom secur. The contry here abouts is in great
dreed. Upon our marche yesterday most men wer flaid not knouing
against whom we desseined ; but the act of counsell about the saif conduct
amuses many, and will be of use to make them mor unexcusable
in the eyes of the people, if they make not use of it, which 1 am feared
feu will doe. My humble opinion is, that it should be unlawfull for the
donators to compound with any body for the behoof of the rebell, till
once he have made his peace ; for I would have all footing in this
contry taken from them that will stand out. And for the securing the
rents to the donators and the King, it is absolutly necessary their be a
fixt garison in Kenmur instead of Dumfries ; for without it I am nou
fully convinced wee can never secur the peace of this contry, nor hunt
those rogues from their hants. It is a mighty strong pleaec and propre
I
above all ever I sau this use. I shall give this advise to no body
but your self, and I doe it the mor friely that my Laidy told me, if the
King would bestou two or three hondred pounds to repair the house,
she would be very well pleased his souldiers came to lieve in it. Doe
in it as you think best; but if it could be don with their satisfaction, it
would be great service to the King ; for having that post seur I might
with the pairty I have answer for the rest. I have taken out the half
of Captain Strachans pairty from Dumfries, not seing what they ar
good for their, unless it be to lay secur and doe nothing. I sent yesterday
tuo pairty s in search of those men your Lordship gave me a list of j
on of them to a buriall in the Glencairn, the other to the fair at Thornhill
; neither of them are yet returned ; but Stenes tells me that the
pairty at the buriall miscaried ; that he pointed to them on of the men,
and they took another for him, tho I had choysed a man to comand the
pairty that was born their about. They shall not stay in this contry
but 1 shall have them. The first thing I mynd to doe is to fall to work
with all that have been in the rebellion, or accessory their too by
giving men, mony or armes ; and nixt recetts, and after, field conventicles;
for what remains of the lawes against the fanatiks, I will
threaten much, but forbear sever excicution for a why 11, for fear people
should grou desperat and increase too much the number of our enimys.
My Lord, their is on faveur I must deseir of you and I believe when I
have got it I will not by land with it ; which is, that your Lordship would