Bannatyne Club > Criminal trials in Scotland, from A.D. M.CCCC.LXXXVIII to A.D. M.DC.XXIV, embracing the entire reigns of James IV. and V., Mary Queen of Scots and James VI > Volume 3

42&7.rAC. VI. CRIMINAL TRIALS. 15
Mil. Lettf.r, Sir James Maliconeill to the B[(liop of the Ijles.
My vEniE GOOD Lord,
Pleis your Lo. war not I Imrd your lo. was in Ireland, and could find no nieanes to wreit to yow,
I was not four nightes out of Ed% qulian I would liave writtin to your lo. as to one qulioni I Ijaue euer
found my frien<l. And now, my Lord, I proteft, albeet I was xij 5eires in waird, and all my l<yn<llie
landis diljjonud to Ilrangcres, my lyif left in his Maiellies handis, jett tlie fame maid me not lo mvclie
to braik ward as it did quhan I was offered be the Laird of Calderes awin freendis, quha can not deny
it, that his Maiellie, be his lecreit Warrand, had gevine ower my lyff in tlie Laird of Calderes liandis.
And now, my lord, I proteft to God my delyre is not to rebell or trublc the Elleat of the cuntrie, hot
feme his Maieltie with all humilitie, and male my kin and freindis paceable men, iff I may haue his
Ma'"'* pace, with the alluirancc of my lyff and tlie lyfe of my puir freendis, and fome nieanes to fid-
teane ws rather nor to fors ws, for want, to opres otheres. Heirfoir I beleek your lo., feing my Race
lias bene tenne hundreth yeeiis kyndlie Scottis men, vnder the Kinges of Scotland ; and war 1 willing
to leive vpoun ane puir pairt of that quhilkis our foirheiraris had, and I to find gud fuiitie for all that
becomes loyall fubiectis to do, both for myfelf and my quhoU kin that followes me, that jOur lo. will,
as 36 euer did, interfeed for me at his Ma''"^* liandis to fie quhat grace or fauour 30ur lo. may obtein
to rae ; and in fpeeiall, to fie give, without diminifthing his Ma''"'' comnioditie, I may have the Hand
to my felf and my kin to fufteine ws ; wtherwayis that 30ur lo. will get that fauour that no herte curfe
falbe tainc againes me, be geveing imployment to my oufreendis, till your lo. may have tynie firll to
fpeek with nie ; att quhiche tyme, albeit I gett not the Hand, jctt, provyding his Maiellie will hauld it
in his awin hand, I will (haw your lo. how his ]Ma"™ commoditie heir may be increfled, and I to be
iatisfisd, and this cuntrie to be frie of ony truble of me or my freendis.
As for this Houfe of Dunovege, I proteft to God, give aither his Maiefteis Gaird or your lo' men
war keepares of it, I wald neuer enter within it, albeit it war without keeping — bot finding in it fiiche
as ferued them quha foglit my lyf and landis, and quho crewally oppreft this puir Hand in fuch fort,
that I proteft to God thair defing was rather to waift it, nor mak it able to pay his Ma""^" rentes. The
fame maid me preferwe the hous ; and albeit that Hous coft his Ma"'' muche money in putting it in
Calderis handis, it pleafed God that, in one day (I took it), with the lofe bot of one man. And now
if your lo. may get me ony fauourable conditiones be his Ma'"', ^e may afliiir ^our felf I will give yow
the Hous, provyding it be in your handis, and nane of the CamhelUs to gett it. As your lo. does in
this, or is lyk to do, adverteis me. And fo, repofeing in your lo" conftand freendfchip, I committ
your lo. to God, and reftis Your lo^ ever alTuired to command,
S" J. Makdonall.
In hope, with Goddis grace, I will geve :;our lo. ^itt ane better propyiie, I pray your lo. fend me
ane Inventare' with this bearer, for I am far from the clock. S" J. Makdonall.
To THE BiSCIIEOP OF THE IlLIS.
IX. Letter, Sir James Muhconeill lo the Privy Counfull of ScotlamV-
My VERIE HONOURABLE GUD LoRDS,
Pleis 30ur lo% my offence in braiking ward fuld mak me to he loth to prefume to vrytt vnto 30ur
Io% jett, feiring the mofionn quhilk maid me to efchep I'uld he vtherwayis thocht be ;our lo- nor the
trewth of my intencion, I am this' bauld to deleaitt wnto jOur lo- the only cans quhilk maid me to
braik ward ; and this is itt. The Laird of Calder faid to twa fewerall honeft geiitillmen, [latt how
' This is from a copy. Tlie word should be ' mounter,' Fr. immtre, a watch. ' In a Letter from Lord Binning
to Lord Tullibardiii, Jun. 13, 10 15, he states that the Council would not forward such Letters to the Kinj;; and that
' so long as he reinaynes within his Ma'^s dominions, and hes societie and dealing with rebellis and broken men, I
cannot exspect that his Petitions can be received be his Jla''^, vnles he wold do such notable service agaiiis some priiu
cipali Bebcllis, us rnitjhl perswade his il/a'"' to think him wourthie ofvtercie!' ' Thus.