Bannatyne Club > Letters from Lady Margaret Burnet to John Duke of Lauderdale

TO JOHN, EARL OF LAUDERDALE. 55
if it be to defraud just creditors, I must be farre in the wrong in-
deed, for I have him bound to give just satisfaction to thetn, in the
sight of such as I will appoint, so ther is really no ground of feare ;
but the true cause is. Sir Henry Nisbit, Bathgates father in law,
hath a mind to make a purchase of it to his sonne, and made some
unhandsome propositions to him of it, w""* he rejecting, Nisbet
makes all this dust by Purvos, and some whom he gaines by drink-
ing and play, etc. ; so if the gift pass not, the poor gentleman will
be ruined, which I hope you will not suflfer. Adieu.
[Endorsed by the Duke,
" Lady Margaret Kennedy, 12 March, 1666."]
FOR THE EARLE OF LAWDERDALE, SOLE SECRETARY OF
STAT FOR SCOTLAND.
Hamilton, 2 of May.
M. D. L.
I shall adde to what I said formerly, only ray request to send
that letter from his Majesty to the Exchequer, to hinder from stop-
ing Bathgate's gift to Robin Kennedy, and that the dayes may be
from time of the gifts being passed in Exchequer. The Exchequer
sits on the second Friday of May ; and if it come not againe that
day or the next, another gift will pass to his ruine. So pray hast
it. Adieu.