Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

74 HI. FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. [1645.
127. Answer to the foregoing Letter — State of Strathspey. No date.
Rycht Honorabill, — I receiwed youris, and according to your first ordouris I am doing my
indewour to draw my people together ; and lies such of tham at ane head as are any wayes
able to manteene them selues. Bot many, in respect of their indigence and the prejudice
they sustayned by the enemies, will not be in heast provydit. And trewly I will hawe
great difficulty to draw them from ther owne countrey till they heir of the enemies motion
towards ane wther art. Iff we heir that their cours be towardis yow (wpon your advertis-
ment), I sail doe my best with all expedition to repair to yow. And withall, as I did shaw
yow in my last, our bordering nightbouris of Badzenoch, Bremare, Glenlivat and Strathowne,
are presentlie drawing to ane head, of intention, as we are informed, to cros my bowndis, be
reason quhairof I can not conveniently empty the countrey of men ; bot, God willing, sail
stop the passage that they cros not Spey in thir fieldis ; and sail strywe by all possible
meanis to know of their randevouz ; for my owne man left the enemy on Saturday last in
Loquheber. Quhat further intelligence we sail heir of their motioune ye sail be acquented
thairwith by, Right honorabill.
128. Alexander Brodie of Lethin to The Same — Disclaiming being accessory to the
murder of John Donaldsone.
Lethin, the 7 of Aprill 1G45.
Richt Honorabill Sir, — Pleas I receavit your letter, and wes forceit therefter to goe to
Invernes, and stayit thair for the space of aught dayes, for caussis quhilkis the Laird of
Moynes can shew yow, and from that did direct ane letter to yow, quhairin I, as your old
freind, wes bold to give my best advyse to yow, bot I know not iff it hes come to your
handis. Truelie, sir, I lookit not for such ane answer of my letter from yow, quha never
deservit at your handis bot to be comptit as your faithfull freind and reall servant, nor
intendis not, with my will, to doe anie thing to disobleis yow quhill ye declair your selfe my
open enemie, quhilk I never look for quhill ye have moir reason nor ye yet hawe, nor ever I
intend to give yow. As for your thoghtis of me in being accessorie to that filthie murther
of your servant John Donaldsone, I protest to him that made me, I am als frie of anie wrong
thoght, let be word or deid, against him, as ye, sir, ar, or the mother that bair him ; and
will defie all the world, tho' they wer all my accuseris, to prowe be anie circumstance or anie
presumptioun to prowe anie guilt on my pairt, let be be word or actioun, against that man.
And this I will say, that he is no that breathes that ather can or daire say I wes accessorie
to that filthie fact, bot I will hazard my dames sone wpon him, and except, sir, ye let me
hawe ane debtour quha hes reportit so off me to yow, I will think ye do me manifest wrong ;
and iff, sir, I had the lyik power that ye hawe, I wald say no less to yowr selfe, and if,