Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

1568.] ABSTRACT OF FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. XIX
Page
Lordship to cause all the tenants of the Mernis, together with his father's tenants, to place all
their armour and weapons in his house of Pollok ; and that the escheat of Sir John, his father,,
had been offered by the Regent to his Lordship. Kilmaronock, 26th May [1568], 130
122. John Maxwell, Lord Hemes, to Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, mentioning that he had received a
communication from the tenants of the Mernis, to the effect that they had been commanded
by Lord Maxwell to pay their mails and duties to John Maxwell, in his Lordship's name, and to
no other ; stating that as he himself (Lord Herries) had obtained a title to these duties from
the Lady Maxwell, his Lordship's mother, he would not " want ane penny" thereof, neither for
his Lordship's pleasure nor his displeasure ; desiring Sir John not to burden the tenants too
heavily with service ; and concluding with complaints of his nephew's " wilfulness," and
expressing a wish that Sir John would give the young man a good advice. Terregles,
6th June [1568], 131
123. Alexander third Earl of Gleneairn to Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, informing him that (by
desire of the son of the latter) he had used his influence with the Eegent in his favour;
that he had caused his name to be taken out of the summons of forfeiture ; that he had
his su mm ons to underly the law still in his hands unexecuted ; and that he had obtained a
gift of his escheat when it should fall ; and complaining that Sir John had not written to
inform his Lordship whether he intended to submit to or to resist the Regent's authority.
Kilmaronock, 23d June 1568, 132
124. The Same to the Same, acknowledging the receipt of a letter in which Sir John had requested
him to arrange either with himself or with the Treasurer regarding his escheat ; stating that
he had hitherto used his influence with the Regent in his favour, on the understanding that
he would be an obedient subject to his Prince, but declining to make any further exer-
tion on his behalf unless he received from him an assurance to that effect. Kilmaronock,
1st August 1568, 132
125. The Lords of Privy Council, then in Dumbarton Castle, [to Alexander third Earl of Gleneairn],
intimating that the Laird of Pollok had shown to them that the Master of Gleneairn had taken
possession of his house, and intromitted with his goods ; praying that the Earl would restore
to Pollok his house, goods, etc., in regard that a general order had been taken by the Queen
of England with the Queen of Scotland, and a day of meeting appointed in England, all
oppression of the Queen's party being to cease in the meantime ; and stating that Lord
Flemyng would become caution that none of the property should be disponed or removed by
the Laird, nor by any of the Queen's party, until order should be taken thereanent. Dum-
barton Castle, 8th September 1568, 133
126. Alexander third Earl of Gleneairn to the Archbishop of St. Andrews, and the Lords Ross and
Fleming, stating that his son, the Master of Gleneairn, in what he had done to the Laird
of Pollok, had been acting under his directions, the land's escheat having been in his
Lordship's hands for a long time, in consequence of the former's non-compearance to answer
for having fought against the King at the battle of Langsyde ; admitting that he had been
obliged to the laird in times past, and declaring that he would have continued to befriend him
if he had shown himself an obedient subject to the King; and intimating to their Lordships