History of the earldoms of Strathern, Monteith, and Airth

Ixxx
APPENDIX.
No. XIIT.
Letters from
or. respecting
William
Earl of
t monteith.
1630 to 1639.
wntill it wes ten a clock. This day after dinner I
desyred him to remember of the letter, q'^'^ he present-
lie vrett, and you will receave heirwith inclosed. I
took ocatione presentlie to speak to his Ma'"^ of the
wther busines concerning the lord Chancelar, and shall
follow it so far as I can, q*^*^ with ane wther busines,
q'^'^ I will imparte to you at meitting, will draw me to
go on the progres to Beawliew. You and I hes both
reasone to thank God that we have so good, so juste,
and so kynd a master, q'^'^ beleive me, is beyond
expressione, as I will, at more lenth show you quhen
we shall meitt. This nicht, quhen I was going home,
his Ma"^ gave me ane paper, given him, as I suppose,
by Mr. George Nicoll. It is almost a booke, but I
shall copie it and send it to yow with Anthonie Alex"",
q' goes poste to morrow ; hot I intreate yo'' lo., accord-
ing to our resolutione, to lett none know any thing of
this untill I sie yow, ther is much into it concerning
his Ma*"^^ revenews, especiallie in Orknay and Zetland ;
bot if any shall exceede yow and me in ane faithfuU
desyre to do our master faithfull service we are not
worthy to live.
" I will end this letter with that assurance, that no
man shall have ane more faithfull frend than zow of
" Oatlands,
1 Auffust 1632."
" Yo'^ lo. oblished servant
Stratherne."
" His Ma''® gave me the letter yow vrett to him, q*^'^
I burned immediatly."