Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

1692]
FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD
85
My Lord Syforth is escaped out of Edr and gone for
the north, at which escape thir is ane great vproar heir,
and makes the mercat for wictuel worse nor it wold be.
Att closing heirof I receaved ane lyne of the fourth of
this moneth dated from yow, wherin ye desyre me to
wreat to yow, and accordinglie since I cam heir I have
written four letters to yow, and marvels that they are
not come to your hands by reason I sent them with sure
bearers, that they might not be miscaryed.
The Earl of Seaforth as a ‘ protest papist ’ was on 18th May 1689
superseded as Sheriff-principal of Ross-shire.1 His uncle Mr. Colin
M Kenzie was on 14th July 1690 forfaulted as having been in the
rebellion with Dundee.2 In 1693 Seaforth himself was charged
with high treason.3
For SIR JAMES OGILWYE OFF CHURCH HILL
at CULLEN these
Leith, 12th May 1692.
Honobed Sib,—Haveing the occasione of this bearer,
James Mackye in Newmilne of Keith, since I wrot to yow
last, I have been treying for merchants to buy the super¬
plus of your beir. I expect to gett fyve pounds for every
boll of it till ane day, and seven merks in hand moey, if it
were heir vpon the place ; and it is ane great hinderance to
me to stay vpon that weshel, seeing I have noething to doe
heir more. I desyre your Honor most earnestlie to let me
know what I shall doe. They are mightilie affrighted heir
with the drought. That is that makes the beir give more
nor it hes bein formerlie. As for newes, wee hear them
daily, but can not give trust to them. And ther is ane plot
latlie discovered at London, that soe maney Earles Lords
Squaires etc. were vpon ane conspiracie to tak the Queens
lyff and to burn the Citie, and ane considerable number
of them apprehended and are in the Tower, as this dayes
newes letter mentions. As also the newes letter gives ane
accompt that King James forces in France comeing for
1 The Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, vol. ix. Appendix, p. 33.
2 Ibid., p. 61. 3 Ibid., p. 74.