LETTER FROM COLIN CAMPBELL OF GLENURQUHAY TO GREGOR McANE,
Keeper of his Castle of Kilchurn, 1570.
Gregor McAne, I commend me hartlie to you. McCallum Dow hes schawin me quhow the Clangregour hes tain vp your geir and your puir tenentis geir, the quhilk I pray yow tak na thocht of, for albeit I haue na ky to recompanss yow instantlie, I sall, God willinge, mak yow and youris sour of rowmis that sall mak yow mair profeit nor the geir that ye haue tint at this tyme, ye beand ane trew faythfull seruand to me. And gif the puir men that wantis geir duellinge onder yow be trew to yow, tak tham into the place vpoun my expenssis, and gif to thair wyifis and bairnis sum of my victuall to sustein tham as ye think expediant. I pray yow haue the place weill provydid with sic furnesing as ye ma get, and spair nowther my geir nor yit your awin, for God luuinge ws our heilthis, we will get geir enewche. I pray yow, and als commandis yow, that ye lat nain within the place but your awin traist servandis, albeit I gaif you ane command to resaue sum vtheris at my departing, and keip this writing for your warrand; for albeit the geir be awa and the ground waistit, I kepand that auld houss and haldand the rigis haill as God willinge I sall, ye beand ane faythfull servand to me, my bairnis and youris sall leif honorable in it will God, quhen the plage of God will leyth vpoun tham and thair posteritie out of memorie that molestis me and yow at this present. Send word to me gif ye mister men or ony vthir thinge ye wald haue me doand with this berar, quha is ane man that I credeit, and ye ma schaw to him your mynd. I sall provyid sum scharp boy that can writ and reid to you schortlie, and hald ye him on my expenssis sa lange as this induris, becaus credeit ma nocht be gevin to boyis. The rest to your wisdoum, and to treit yourself weill and be mirrie, and tak na thocht of geir, for we will get geir enewche, will God, quha mot have you in keepinge. At Ilanran, the xviii of August 1570. – Youris,
COLIN CAMPBELL of Glenurquhay.
FROM KING JAMES VI.
TO OUR RYCHT TRAIST FREIND THE LAIRD OF GLENURQUHAY.
Richt traist freind, we greit yow hartlie weill. The incertantie of the tyme of the arrivall of the remanent foreynn ambassadouris and sum uthir speciall occasionis hes constranit ws to prorogat the tyme of our deirest sonis baptisme to Sonnday the xviii of August, quhairof we haue thocht guid to adverteiss yow, desyring yow effectuuslie that ye will not faill to be with ws the xv day of the said moneth at the farthest, and to haist in sick quick stufe as ye haif in reddienes to the support of the chairgis to Striuiling betuix and the sevint day of the said moneth, and vennesoun and wyld foull as it may be had… about the day of the solemptnitie, as ye will gif pruiff at this tyme of your guid effectioun, to the honoure of ws and the cuntrey: sua we committ yow to God. At Stirling, the last day of July 1594.
JAMES R.
FROM SIR DAVID MURRAY, LORD SCONE.
TO THE RYGHT HONORABLE THE LAIRD OF GLENURQUHY these be delyuered.
HONORABLE SIR, The prince receaved your eagles very thankfullie and we hade good sport with thame, and according to his promeiss he hathe sent yow a horss to be a stallon, one of the best in his stable for that purposs, and comendis him kyndlie to yow, and sayis that sevin yearis hence, when he comes to Scotland, that he hopes to gett some of his breed. Yow shall excuse me that he was so long of cuming, for this is the first that he gave away since the tyme that yea was here; and yow know that I wilbe euer reddy to serve yow or to doe yow any plesure that lyes in my power without any ceremonie, and therefor I will not vse many fayre words with yow, for that is needles amongis frendis, bot remember that I am a true Scottis man vnchengable, for all that I can sie heer, and so I think to continew by Goddis grace to my lyves end. Thus recomending yow to the protection of God, I rest ever your loving freend to do yow service,
D. MURRAY.
WHYTHALL, 9 Januar 1609.
FROM THE EARL OF MAR.
TO MY VERY LOUING CUSING THE LAIRD OF GLENORQUHY.
LOUING CUSING, – Being cumed in to stay in this toun a good part of this vinter, I think my greatest sportt shalbe the huntine of the fox, thairfor I will ernestly intrett you to send me with this berar a couppill of good earth doggs. This is my first charge sens your father died, and I prey you ouss me alls familiarlie as I doo you, for without ceremonie, Cusing, you shall nott haue a freind ouer quhom ye haue gritar pouar than ouer me. – Your louing Cusing to doo you service,
MAR.
STERLING, the v of Nouember 1631.
Quhat ye send me latt itt be good altho itt should be bott on.
FROM THE LORD TREASURER AND TREASURER DEPUTE.
TO THE LAIRD OF GLENWRQWHY.
SIR, – These ar to intreat yow to do all dilligence to caus slay and send in to his Maiesties house at Halyrudehouse, against the threttene day of Junii instant, suche sortis of venesone and wyldfoullis as ar to be found within your boundis, and so frome weik to weik dureing his Maiesties aboad within this kingdome, and to evrie ane of his Maiesties seuerall howssis quhair his Maiestie salbe for the tymis, conforme to the list of his Maiestie’s jestis heirin inclosed, als fresche and in als dew tyme as convenientlie you may. Not doubting of your love to his Maiesties service, we rest youris gude freindis,
MORTON.
TRAQUAIRE.
HALYRUDHOUS, 6 Junii 1633.
His Maiesty commeth to Halyrudhowse the xv of Junii, and stayeth till the first day of Julij, quhilk night he will be in Litquhow, the next twa nights in Stirling, from that to Dunfermling i night, from that to Falkland foure nights, and from that to Halyrudhowsse, and thaire during pleasure.
FROM JOHN DICKSON.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL HIS MUCH HONOURED FREIND
THE LAIRD OF GLENORQUHY THES.
MUCH HONOURED SIR, – Immediatlie after the receat of your letter on Saturday, I went and shew your capercailyie to the king in his bed-chamber, who accepted it weel as a raritie, for he had never seen any of them before. I have been telling your man that I have a mind to send a letle tronk with some of my wifes and my oune best clothes to the Highlands, and therfor, as I desire rather to be beholden to yow then others, so I must in this calamitous tyme crave pardon to be so far troublesome to yow as to desire that yow wold any time within this fortnight send one of your tennants with a naige and creiles on him with the bearer heirof, also to cary the said litle tronk to your house of Finlarg, ther to remaine till I have occasion to dispose on it; which courtesie of yours I sall be ready to acknowledge really by all the service which God in better times sall enable me to doe unto yow. And howsoever I sall still remaine, Sir, your worships affectionat servant,
JO. DICKSON.
PERTH, the 3 of Februar 1651.
FROM KING JAMES VI.
TO OUR TRUSTIE AND WELBELOUED SIR DUNCAN CAMPBELL
OF GLENURQUHAY, KNIGHTE.
JAMES R. – Trustie and welbeloued, Wee greete yow well. Hauing understood that ther is in your boundes a white hinde, wee haue sente this bearer, one of our seruantes, to take and transporte her hether unto us; and becaus that contrie is altogether unknowne to him, we haue thought good hereby to recommende him to yow most earnestlie, requiring yow to assiste him and cause him be furnished with all thinges necessarie, as well for taking of the said hinde as for his oune interteynment; and nothing doubting of your best endeuour for accomplishing of this our pleasour, wee bid you farewell. Giuen at our mannour of Theobaldes, the 13th day of Januarie 1622.
FROM SIR PATRICK MURRAY.
TO MY HONORABILL CHEIFF THE LAIRD OF GLENVRQUEY THEIS.
NOBLE CHEIFF, – I haue reseaued from the Earll of Mar a packet of letters concerninge the takinge of this trublesum whyt hynd of yours, and hes delyuered and red them to his Maieste, he beinge not weill of a payne in his legs, I dar not seye the gutt. His Maiestie is weill plesed with you for the caire you hawe hed to forder his Maiesties desyr in all things concerninge this bissines of takinge theis deir; and seing his Maiestie fynds be Scandoners owine letters and all yours that it is a hard mater ather to tak hir or carey hir to the sea, by resone of the difficultie and hardnes of the place and hard tyme of the yeir; and fyndinge also be his Maiesties owine experience that iff sche cane not be takine befoir May or June, beinge so laitte in the yeir, that iff sche prowe with calf mey indenger his owine lyff and his calf also, his Maiesties plesour is that sche schall not be sturde this yeir, and that his Maiestie will think of sum wther courss befoir the nixt yeir for the better effectinge of his desyrs; and his Maiestie hes commanded me to wrytte wnto the Earll of Mar to send wnto all thois that bordors or marcheis with Corrachaba that none presume to sture hir wnder his Maiesties highest displesor. And becaus his Maiestie will trye what Scandoner can do be his arte, he hes wryttine his letters to the Earll of Pearthe, that he mey mak tryell in Glenartnay for takinge of sum deir and rois now presently, that he mey, be his tryell their, judge what he cane do heirafter in Corrachaba. I hawe downe you the best officeis that lyis in my power to his Maiestie, bothe in this and in all wther things that schall ather tuiche or concerne you, as I am bound in dewtie of bloud to do. Thus, with the rememberence of my trewe loue to yourself and all yours, I rest your werie assured freind and kinsman to serue you,
P. MURRAY.
THEABOLLS PARK, the 9 of Marche 1622.
His Majestie dothe not a lytill wounder that he that has liued chast from wemen except his owin quein all his dayis, schuld be trubled with the gutt, and you that hes so largly bestowed your talentt amongst them schuld skaipe bothe gutt and wther diseissis, bot his Maiestie is werie glaide that you hawe your helthe so weill.
WALE.
FROM KING JAMES VI.
TO OUR TRUSTIE AND WELBELOUED SIR DUNCAN CAMPBELL
OF GLENURQUHAY, KNIGHTE.
JAMES R. – Trustie and welbeloued, wee greete yow well. Wee have understood as well by your letter to our seruant Sir Patrik Murray as by the reporte of our seruant Scandoner, your careful and earnest endeuouris for the performance of whatsoeuer yee can imagine to tende to our seruice, and likewise your speciall care and good enterteynment of Scandoner himselfe, which, as it hath giuen him occasioun to speake of that our kingdome in generall and of yow in particulare as of people deutifullie deuoted to their prince and well affected to strangers, so wee give yow moste heartie thankes for the same. Wee haue also, by your letter to Sir Patrik Murray, understood your honest offer for bringing of deere into Glen Aumonde, which, as it hath proceeded of your speciall desire to procure our contentment, so wee verie well esteeme thereof, and therefore desire you to go on, assuring you that thereby yee shall do us verie acceptable seruice, whereof, when occasion shalbe offered, we will not be unmindefull. Farewell. Giuen at our Mannour of Theobaldes, the 24th day of Julie 1622.
FROM KING CHARLES I.
TO OUR TRUSTIE AND WELBELOUED THE LAIRD OF GLEANWRQUHYE.
CHARLES R. – Trustie and welbeloued, wee greet yow well. Whereas we haue giuen warrant unto Alexander McNaughtan gentleman of our priuie chamber in ordinarie for levying two hundreth bow-men in that our kingdome, for our seruice in the war wherein we are engaged with France; and being informed that the persones in those high countries are ordinarlie good bow-men, we are hereby well pleased to desire yow to use your best meanes to cause levy such a nomber of them for our said seruant as possiblie yow can, he performing such conditiones with them as are usuall in the like cases, which we will tak as a speciall pleasure unto us, whereof wee will not be unmindfull when any occasion shall offer whereby we may expressse our respect unto yow. So we bid yow farewell. From our court at Windsore, the 12 of August 1627.
FROM THE LORDS OF SECRET COUNCIL.
TO OUR RICHT TRAIST FREIND THE LAIRD OF GLENURQUHE.
After our very hartlie commendatiouns. Whereas the kings Maiestie is most solicite and desyrous that the tyme of his being at Perth there may be a show and mustour mad of hielandmen, in thair countrie habite and best order, for the better performance quherof these ar to intreate and desyre yow to single out and conveene a nomber of your freinds followers and dependers, men personable for stature, and in thair best array and equippage, with trews, bowes, dorloches and others thair ordinarie weapouns and furniture, and to send thame to the said burgh of Perth vpon Mononday the eight day of Julii nixt, quhereby his Maiestie may receave contentment, the countrie credite, and yourselffe thanks; and so looking for your precise keeping of this dyet in maner foresaid we committ yow to God. Frome Halyrudhous the xxix day of Junij 1633. Your verie good freinds,
G. KINNOUL, Cancellarius.
MORTON.
WIGTOUN, TULLIBARDIN, LAUDERDALE, MELUILL.
FROM THE EARL OF LAUDERDALE.
TO MY VERIE HONORABILL AND LOUING COUSIN SIR COLIN CAMPBELL
OF GLENURQUHAYE, KNIGHT.
SIR, – I haue beine thir manie yeris verie desyrous to hawe firr tries to grow with me, and doe find by proofe that the soorest waye to make them prosper is to saw them in the seid; and hearing that yow maye command greatt stoire thereof, if I shall make bold to be your beggar and heirby entratt therof that I maye caus my awin gardiners win itt, I houp yow will not take itt in ill pairt from your varie affectionatt cousin to serve yow,
LAUDERDAILL.
HALIEROODHOUS, 8 of Februar 1637.
FROM THE SAME.
TO MY VERIE HONORABLE AND WELBELOUED COUSIN SIR COLIN CAMPBELL
OF GLENURQUHAY, KNIGHT.
SIR, – I hawe resaued from this bearer the firr seid which I maid bold to wrytt for, and must heirby not onlie return yow many humble thankes but lykewayes entreatt that if anie thing which is in my power in thir pairtes can be usefull to yow, yow wald be pleased with als greatt friedome to command, your verie affectionatt cousin to serve yow,
LAUDERDAILL.
LETHINGTOUNE, the penult of Februar 1637.
FROM THE MARCHIONESS OF HAMILTON.
HONOURED COUSING, – I resauid your lettir and your feir seid, and geiuis you harttily thankis for your cair in sending them to me. Beliue me, I think moir of them nor ye can imagin, for I loue them moir nor I dou al the frout tris in the wordil. I haue alrady ane four or fayf houndir of my auin planting, that is pratti treis, and deid dereckly weith them as ye set doune in your lettir; bot my soune louis them no les nor I dou, and hes wilit me to plant a greit manay meie, quhich meid me trobbil you for this year; and as ye haue takin painis for me, I must requist you to gar prouayd soum of the seid for me.
Lord Linsay, my good sonne, he is ane warie grit plantter of his eig as euir I kneue anay, and I am glaid to cherich him to it; He will send ane hors and man for ane leid of them within ten or tual dayis, and I must requist you to gar haue them rady. He hes takin in ane greit baunis for them. He can win the seid himselue, as he hes sein me dou, so ye wil only neid to send him the noutis. In quhat he can, I sal be bond to you ye sall find him caynd. So, wiching you al happines, I rest, your appectioned cousing to poure,
ANNA CUNYNGHAME.
FROM JAMESONE THE PAINTER.
TO THE RICHT HONORABLE THE LAIRD OF GLENVRQUHIE THES.
RICHT HONORABLE, – I receawed the hundreth merkis fra this berar, for the quhilk I shall indewor to do yowr worship better service heirefter; and as for the picturis quhilk I am yeit to maik I shall do all diligens to get theam with the first occasione, bot it will be in Janvarij befoir I can begin theam, except that I hawe occasione to meit with the pairties in the North, quhair I mynd to stay for tuo monethes; and if ether ther or heir I can be able to do yowr worship service, I shall be moist willing, and ewer to remane your worships servand,
GEORGE JAMESONE.
EDINBURGH, 13 October [1634.]
FROM THE SAME.
RICHT HONORABLE, – I receawed yowr worships letter with ane measure concerning the maiking of soume picturis, quhairof sextine of theam ar set doune in not. I will werie willinglie serwe yowr worship, and my pryce shall be bot the ordinarie, since the measure is just the ordinarie. The pryce quhilk ewerie one payes to me, abowe the west, is twentie merkis, I furnishing claith and coulleris; bot iff I furniss ane souble gilt muller, then it is twentie poundis. Thes I deall with all alyk; bot I am moir bound to hawe ane gryte cair of your worships service, becaus of my gouid payment for my laist imployment. Onlie thus your worship wold resolwe at quhois charges I mist go throwe the countrey to maik thir picturis, for all that are heir in town neidis onlie yowr worships letter to theam to causs theam sitt, and for theam quhois picturis I hawe allreadie, I shall double theam, or then giwe yowr worship the principall. So, leawing this to yowr worships consideration and ansuer, I shall ewer remaine, your woirships willing servand,
GEORGE JAMESONE.
EDINBURGH, 23 Junii [1635.]
Iff I begin the picturs in Julii, I will hawe the sixtine redie about the laist of September.
FROM MR. W. BOWIE, TUTOR TO THE SONS OF GLENFALLOCH.
TO THE RICHT HONORABLE AND HIS ASSURED GUDE FREIND
ROBERT CAMBELL OF GLENFALLOCH THESE.
RYCHT HONORABLE SIR,… I receavit from the berar heirof ane hundreth merkis without anie lettir, for he said that he tint the lettir ye gaiff him. He brocht also with him thre kye, ane quharof wes brandit, ane vther blak, the thrid wes dyn. I wald haiff writin the compt of thingis furnest to Jhone since this tyme twelfmonth, and Duncanis since his cuming, bot my wyffe quho knew sundry particularis therof wes in Edinburgh; bot it salbe sent with the nixt berar, God willing. The bairnis, blissed be God, ar weill. The freiss that wes sent to be thame clothes, thair wes maid ane cott and brekis to Duncan thairof, and ane cott to Jhone. Ye wald send alsmekle cloth as wald be ane gown to Jhone, and his old gown wald serue for ane gown to Duncane. The berar spak sumthing to me of freiss to be Jhone ane garment of clothes, bot I will luke for your lettir mair particularlie. Jhone wilbe ane schollar, God willing, if he be nocht interrupted. Duncane beginins weill, God saiff him. So nocht having forfer for the present bot remembering my commendationis of service to the lady your bedfallow, committis yow both with the rest of your children to God his eternall protectioun. I pray yow haiff ane speciall cair of your dochteris, for I trust in the mercy of God that your ladis salbe gude men. Assure the lady your wiffe, that I sall haiff ane speciall cair vnder God, of hir sonnes that ar heir, and requeist hir nocht to think long eftir thame. The dowblet ye caust mak to Duncane is now vp at the slot of his breist. Ye wald say that he wearis his belt as men sayis Mr. George Buchanan did weare his, the dowblet is growen so schort. I wott nocht how your ministeris of Ergyle and Bredalban wilbe handit with your Bischopis, bot all the honest men of the ministrie heir luikis for nothing bot the werst, for the Bischopis and they will nocht agree with ws heir; for everie honest minister in all our eist partis will rather leave thair ministrie or they yield in one jot to the Bischopis. God mak your ministeris thair honest and constant men, for we heir thair is mony slim amongis thame, that or they quyte the bannok they will quyte a gude conscience. God of his mercy be with yow, and restis your awin, efter the old maner,
MR. WILLIAM BOWIE.
Duncane mon haiff ane vther dowblet.
HADINGTOUN, the 16 of November 1619.
Thair wes tuo of the xx mark peceis rounged and far les then the thrid wes. If they will pass, I sall put thame soone frome me.
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