Barons Reid-Robertson of Straloch

THE FAMILY OF STRALOCH. 19
sides other papers granted to him by other
superiors.
This Alexander III. was a discreet, sober,
peaceable gentleman, the most frugal and wisest
that were in the family before him. Prudent
and careful of his affairs ; diligent in attending
to his husbandry ; took great delight in cattle,
of which he had considerable herds, not only in
his own possession, but laid out by way of bows
(as they call them) in the hands of such of his
tenants as lived in Roums* proper for it. By
these means, under God, he recovered the family
when almost sunk under a great burden of
debts that his father had laid it under. I have
been often told by old men that when he
entered on the estate, it was so far burdened
that all was in the hands of creditors and life-
renters, except Minocli, wherein he dwelt.
Being one day straitened for want of money,
he spoke to one Fleming, who had a wadset on
his Mains of Inverchrosky, to lend him some
money. But the carle answered him reproach-
fully, saying — " Who will give you money ?
Where is your foundation of credit ? " This
insolent answer so far vexed him that he went
and sold his cattle, made money off them, and
paid Fleming, and freed his Mains, and came
; " Roum," a piece of land, or small farm.