Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

1661.] FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. 297
hope yow will hold me excused if I take such ane course to make vow come, as
will neither tend to your credit nor advantage, and (if possiblie it can be
shunde) is in nowayes intendit by, Sir,
Your affectionat freind and servant,
For the Laird of Pollock-Maxwell.
Haist, haist.
Sir Archibald Stewart of Blakhall to James Viscount Drtjmlanerig,
28th February 1661.
299. My Lord, I have seen a letter of youris direct to my sone in law, the Land of
Pollok, proposeing his comeing to Edinburgh betwext and Saturday at night,
being March 2d, for treating in that injurie my Lord your father receaved in
the burning of the gates of his house and otheris, in the year 1650. My Lord,
I certainly know that, examin the bussiness well, yeale find that neither then,
nor many dayes before, he was either in those parites or with that pairtie. So,
his owne innocence pleading his defence, your Lordship is much freed from my
sollicitations, then which (if need were) I could not use one more perswasive
then the zeal he caiyed to the service of your deceased noble grandfather, my
Lord Traquair, and the esteem yourself e perchaiuce knowes in parte he conferred
vpon him. All I now supplicat is that, if it cannot be proven that he was
either with that pairtie or in that place the time quhen the injurie was done to
your fatheris house (as I know it cannot be proven, for he was then at home),
I hope your Lordship will not put him to the needless painis of comeing to
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