Series 3 > Papers from the collection of Sir William Fraser

144
SIR WILLIAM FRASER S PAPERS
The Landis of Drumleithie . . . . ij li
The Landis of glensauch alias friers glen . . vs.
The Kirklandis of St. mairteinis Kirk . . vs.
The Landis of banchorie Devinick perteinand
to the Bischoprick of aberdeine . . . vs.
VII
PAPERS RELATING TO WILLIAM RAIT OF
HALLGREEN
William Rait of Hallgreen (ante, p. 87) had got himself into
financial difficulties. His creditors were pressing him, and he
was in danger of imprisonment, against which he unsuccessfully
sought what was technically known as a protection. What fol¬
lowed is thus noted by Lord Fountainhall (Decisions, vol. i. p. 734),
under date 18th November 1696: ‘The Lords gave a warrant to
apprehend William Rait of Halgreen and one Crokat for sending
a minatory letter to Lord Whitelaw1 upon an apprehension that
he had opposed a protection he was seeking. They sent one of
their Macers to put it into execution, with an order to the Sheriff
of Kincarden and his deputes to assist him, and further got a
warrant from the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces to the nearest
garrisons and regiments lying thereabout, to give their concur¬
rence in securing their persons and bringing them to the Edinburgh
Tolbooth, for the Lords thought the honour of the Judicatory
concerned that they be not threatened for their steady and equal
administration of justice in their office conform to their oaths :
and the assassination committed on Sir George Lockhart2 was an
instance to prevent such attempts in time coming.’
On 27th February 1697, he proceeds, ‘The Laird of Halgreen,
mentioned 18th November 1696, and Mr. Andrew Darling had
petitions craving to be set at liberty upon acknowledgment of
1 Sir William Hamilton of Whitelaw, an Ordinary Lord of Session 1693,
Lord Justice-Clerk 1704. ‘ Betwixt man and man wherein he had no particular
concern he was just, but extremely partial where his friend or his own politics
interfered. He has a sound solid judgment, but all his actions were accom¬
panied with so much pride, vanity, ill-nature and severity, that he was odious
to everybody ’ {Lockhart Papers, i. 107).
2 Sir George Lockhart of Carnwath, Lord President of the Court of Session,
was shot by Chiesley of Dairy on 31st March 1689.