Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

1639.] FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. 2*71
James second Earl of abercorne to Sir John Maxwell of Pollok,
27th November 1639.
270. Eight worshipfulle and loving coosing, I should be asshaimed nou to wryt, aftir
so long silenc and the reseat of so manie lettirs wnansuerid, if I war not con-
fident, and that I had sufficient proves, that your affectioun is such to me that
you will not mak anie misconstruction thairof, or think that it does prosid from
neglect or want of kyndnes, which I protest shall never be in me to you ; bot
that you will tak it treuke, as it is, for wnsertantie at the first what to wryt,
and hou my lettirs wold be delyverid ; and ever sine of the wncertantie of my
resolutions, sumtyms of cuming hom myself, and other tyms of sending horn ;
for besydes the resolutioun I one had in the spring of cuming hom, I was re-
solved to hav cum hom at this tym my self verie shortlie, if this parlament had
endid as we one hoped heir it should have done. Bot sine maters thair be
apearanc will not be sattelid so soun as was expectid, which kipes all particu-
lars hen in suspenc which conserns that contrie, I have resolved to wait till
such tym as I may get thos things done hen, as may help the satteling of my
affairs at hom, and without which you kno they will never be gottin weill
sattelid ; and therfor I hop my frindes will excus my not homcuming at this
taym, and I am confident that you will continou your accustomed cair and
love of me which you have given such evident testimonis of, both nou and at
other tyms, in my absenc, which I shall never be wnmyndfull of so long as I
have lyf ; and that by your assistanc and advys I may not sustine preiugis in
anie thing that may conserne me till I have the happines to si you, at what
tym I hop to giu you mor read thankes then I can expres be wryt. As for
your thri lettirs which you have wretin to me at the intreatie of frindes, for the
kirk of Kurmannok, I can give you no other ansuer bot what I most mak to
manie mor of the lyk kynd, both for that kirk and others, which is, that ever
sine the begining that thes kirks war vaking, the King hes commandid me not
to present to anie of thaim, which he hes severah tyms reneued, with assuranc
that may delaying thairof should be nouay preiudiciall to may patrounag. And
within thir feu days, when I did ask leive of his Maiestie to present to thaim,