Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1624.] JOHN GUTHRIE, BISHOP OF MORAY. 49
87. Mr. Andrew Cant, Minister at Alford, and others, to the Laird of Grant,
thanking him for punishing certain criminals.
Aufurd, December last, 1623.
Eight honorabill Sir, our hartie affection in the Lord remembred : Hearing of your
worships exemplarie punishment of that notable villanie committed in our bounds aganis
the bearer, Thomas Layng, and that vpon yowr owne, we could not but wrytt these lynes,
quherby your worship might know, how that not onlie we, the ministers of Jesus Christ,
but also all our honest folks, accompt ourselues greatlie obliged vnto your worship ; for
certanlie, such a crime we haue not hard off in our tyme, that, vnder silence of night, honest
persons in ther owne house taking ther rest, sould be so mercileslie oppressed, bound hand
and foot, casten and inclosed into kists, and sa furth, as the honest man himselff can relate
at greater lenght, vpon his sad and sorrowfull experience. And trulie as the fact was in a
hiest degree infamous, so we recompt your condigne punishing theroff in the like degree
famous; quherfor requests your worship thus to proceed and perseuere in ministring of
equitie and iustice impartiallie, and to cause the complainer, sa farr as it is possible, to attaine
to his owne : and trulie, if your worship shall continue and hold hand to iustice, that insolent
persons may be restrained and suppressed, doubt not but God, who iudgeth righteouslie,
shall daylie more and more establish yow. To whose gracious direction and fatherlie pro-
tection recommending for now and euer your worship, we humblie tak our leawe, and rests,
Your worships readie to all good dutie,
M E Androw Cant, Minister at Aufurd.
M E Robert Dunbar, Minister at Touche.
M K A. Youngson, Minister att Forbes.
To the richt worshipfull the Laird of Grant — these.
88. John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray [no address] — Giving directions for absolving
a young woman.
Elgine, 2 February 1624.
Madame, — It may pleis your ladyship, I haue, according to the desyre of your letter, giffin
directioune for absolving that young woman mentioned be your ladyship, in whome I wish
thair may be found the continuans of that grace which sho professes. Mr. Patrick Tulloche
will show your ladyship what I have written to him thairanent, and will do what is meet
to be done. Your ladyship hes pouer ouer me in all things wherin I may serue yow; and
so for the present till it may pleis God I sie your ladyship, I tak leaue, commendis yow
most hartlie to the grace who is al sufficient. — I continow,
Your ladyships in the Lord,
Jo. B. of Moray.
vol. II. G