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

TO JOHN, EARL OF LAUDERDALE. C3
but I thinke life for life is all can be sought, since it is knowne
they hated him not in time past. So, adieu.
(Endorsed by the Duke,
" Lady Margaret Kennedy, 13 Jun. 1667.")
past, in inaner mentionit in the Criminall Letters raisit at the instance of John Home
of Eccles, for himself, and in name and behalf of the remenant kin and friends of his
said deceast father, and Sir Jolin Nisbit of Dirleton, Knight, his Maties Advocat for
his Hienes interest, against the said Archibald Douglas y''anent, as he who was law-
fullie lieard to have found caution for his compeirance before his Maties Justices upon
the fourth day of May ; at which tyme the samyn dyett was continewit to the fourth
day of July last ; at which tyme also the said dyet was continewit to the nynth day
of July last bypast, by ane act of his Maties privie counsall to this day. Lawfull
tyme of day bidden, and the said Archibald Douglas of Spott not enterand to the
effect above written ; my Lord Justice Clerk, therfor, be the mouth of John Schort
officer of Court, deceniit and adjudged the said Archibald Douglas of Spott, to be
denunced our soveraigne Lords rebell, and put to the home, and all his moveable
goods and gear to be escheit, and in brought to his Majesties use, as outlaw and
fugitive, &c." — No more has been discovered respecting the Laird, whose estate came
afterwards into the possession of a gambler, named Murray, who sold it to Lord
Alexander Hay, fifth son of the first Marquis of Tweedale. Miuray's wife, a
daughter of James Lord Forrester (formerly pronounced Foster) who w.ns murdered
with his own sword, in his garden at Corstorphine, by his first lady's niece, address-
ed the following tempestuous letter to Lord Alexander during her husband's bargain.
It is said that after all her pride and indignation, she was reduced to solicit pecuniary
aid from Lord Alexander, who, with a benevolence characteristic of his descendants,
never withheld it ; and that to receive this, she frequently appeared at the door of
Spott house, in the meanest dress of a common mendicant.
THES TO LORD ALEXANDER HAY.
Spott, 19 May.
This way of proceeding, ray Lord, will seem verey abrupte and inconsiderat to you ;
but 1 laye my count with the severest censer you, or may malicious enemies, can or
will saye of me. So not to be tedious, all I have too speak is this, I think you most
absurd to bought the lands of Spott from Mr Murray without my consent^ w hicb you