1st Duke of Gordon

23
the number, I 'back the liberty to salutt yr. Gr.
by this, vishing you a happie new yeaer.
A busines in which I am interessed is the Earl
of Marre being bound for Glenlkiudy's compear-
ance beefor the Justic Court hatbh forfitted by
his not compearing =£40,000 Scots. The gentleman,
being my vassal, and deu to me in somes off con-
sequence on that acount amount, I therfor in tret
yr. Gr. that a [payment?] of the forfitted some
bee granted to nan vithout regard to my just
claim. >S'ine such a ■considerable some may ex-
haust Glenkindy's wholl estat to my prejudice, I
entret yr, Gr. to belive that in conferring yr,
favors on me you conferr them on a person who
is in all sincerely, may it iples yr. Gr., your Grace's
most mumble servant,
HUNTLYE.
A little later Mar, asholder of the Earldom of
Mar and Lordship of Garioch, brought an action
against Huntly himself and other lairds to get
possession of certain lands on the ground that
they 'formed "parts and pertinents of the said
Earldom and Lordship." The Court (February
13, 1680) allowed a proof to the Earl of Mar to
give him the opportunity of proving whether the
lands in question were really parts and pertinents
of his estate or not. (Morison, 6648.)
While Huntly was apparently lying low, he was
keeping an eye on the politics of the day, as is
shown by the letter he wrote on December 22,
1677, to the Laird of Grant from "Bogue" ("Chiefs
of Grant, ii., 23): —
Most honoured Sir, — Haying receaved orders
from the Councell tuo days ago to be in readines
with my freinds and vassalls in the nixt adver-
tisement to march to Sitirlin, in order to His
Majestie's service, which probably may be shortly
and peremptor; wherfor I desyre you do me the
favor to be in readiness on tuenty-four hours'
advertisement, aooompany'd with your freinds
and servants, to go the lenth of Stirlin, or wherela
His Majestie's service and the Councell's order
shall call. The place of meeting or rendezvous
shall be made known to yow by the next.
Huntly was on friendly terms with the Duke
of York (James VII.), -who, like him, had fought
under Turenne. The Dulke wrote to the Marquis
on May 21, 1679, from Brussels ("Spalding Club
Miscellany," iii., 218: —
You had saner had an ansuer to yours of the 7
of last month, which I recieved hy the bearer
some tyrne since, if I had knowne what to have
sayd to you, for I was still in expectation how
things would go in England, hoping His Majestie's
affairs would have mended, and then myne wuld