Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD
1690]
61
his eldest son, Lord Montgomerie, with remainders, but under
the reservation of an annuity to himself of 6000 merks.
For MY LORD MONTGOMERIE these
Edr., July 14, 1690.
My Lord,—I find your father hes consulted in order
to bring in ane proces against you befor the Parlament.
I know in lau he can get nothing from you; yet in this
Parlament wee find ourselfs not strictly limited by lau,
and therfor the event of this process might be dubius.
Its the opinion of all your freinds hier that you advance
my Lord ane thousund merks, and give your consent to
the filling of ane clerks place, which is vacant in one of
your jurisdictions. This will cost you no money, and its
what you cannot refuse to grant, seing my Lord during
his life hes the administration of the jurisdictions. Its
verie fit in my opinion that your Lo. shun hearing with
your father, seeing you can have your peace att so easie
ane rait. I aknouledge this to much prasumtion in me
to priescrive ruels to your Lo., bot its the respect I have
for you and your familie hes made me wreat so freely, and
I hope youl pardon me for it, seing I am, My Lord, Your
Lo. most affectionatt cousing and most humble servant,
Ja. Ogilvie.
Since wreating my letter, I find the clerkships of both
your jurisdictions are vacant, and the Commissioner,
Advocat, and all your relations thinks it proper your Lo.
subscrive consenter to both commissions. If this be
refused, I know your father will immediatly goe onn in
his process; and you can have no honor to be heard with
him since you may agree so easilie.
The nominations to the vacant clerkships were of value, because
these and many other judicial appointments were in those days
bought and sold.
The story of Montgomery’s plot is detailed in all Scots his¬
tories. The abbreviations in the following letter may be thus
filled up: An. the Earl of Annandale; R. the Lord Ross; Sk.