Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

1737.] TO LUDOVICK GRANT, YOUNGER OF GRANT. 361
a number of the tennents about the house, and the chamberlain in the house alone.
On their entry he lookt at them very grimly, and ask'd James if he had his rent.
James answer'd that he had, and pulling out his money, minded the chamberlain of
the ease he promis'd him for the spoil'd grass. The chamberlain said that he would
not allow him a farthing on that score. The other answer'd that it was hard to refuse it,
since he could make oath it was promis'd him before witnesses, or that he would referr
the point to the chamberlain's oath, who said he would do neither, but that James Baillie
must pay all the rent, which accordingly he did. He then ask'd Dochfour, in a very
imperious way, if he had his rent. He answer'd that he had the greater part of it, that is,
12 of £ 1 5 sterline, and offer'd what he had, and promis'd the rest in two or three days
thereafter. The chamberlain said, No ; he must pay all immediatly, and that he would take
no parcells. The other said he was very easy about that. The chamberlain says then to
Dochfour, Sir, how came you some time ago to say to Angus M c Donald, Glengerry's cousin,
that the M c Donalds were cowards, and to bleam in not resenting the luging of Archibald
M c Donald in Urqhuart 1 Dochfour answer'd he never said any such thing, and ask'd the
chamberlain whither Mr. M c Donald told him so or. not, and if he or any other person reported
such a saying of him to the chamberlain, it was false, because he never said it ; and as James
Grant in Muirton, and Peter Grant, Serjeant in Captain Grant's company, were with
Dochfour and Mr. M°Donald at Dochfour's house at the time they met, and while they stay'd
together, they saw them part, and heard every word that pass'd betwixt them ; and
Dochfour said that he would appeall to their testimonies as to all that was said. The cham-
berlain said to Dochfour that he had certainly said so, and that he was a villan and a rascall.
Dochfour said these were very hard names, and no doubt was provock'd, as any man would
be, but kept his temper, as there was none in the house but he and his brother and the
chamberlain. The chamberlain says to him for the second time that he was a rascall and a
villan ; on which Dochfour answer'd that he was a lyar, a scoundrel, and a great rascall to
treat him so in his own house without any cause. Upon this they went out of the house,
and the chamberlain said to Dochfour he must give him satisfaction ; that he had affronted
him. Dochfour answer'd that he thought he was not blate in his request ; that he was cer-
tainly the person injur'd ; and that [he] had reason to demand satisfaction. The chamberlain
said that Dochfour must meet him by two aclock in the afternoon at the burn of Drimchin
and fight him. Dochfour answer'd that he believ'd it was past two aclock then ; that he
had no other weapon about him at that time but a staff : and if the chamberlain was for a
threshing bout, that he would use his as best he could. The chamberlain said he would get
two swords immediatly ; the other said he would very readily take hold of one of them.
The chamberlain runs into the house, brings out two swords, and throws them down on the
green. Dochfour takes up one of them and draws it, the chamberlain takes the other ; but
the crowd of tennents about got hold of both, and so diverted their using the weapons.
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