Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

104 CORRESPONDENCE OF JAMES [june
impossible, encouraged French naval efforts in fitting out priva¬
teers. These preyed on the commerce of England and Scotland,
and the remote waters of the Moray Firth even were not immune
from their attacks, as the following letter from three Bailies of Banff,
another, dated 25th June, from Patrick Ogilvie, and several other
letters show. These privateers were popularly known as capers
or keapers, kaper being the Dutch term for privateer.
ffor SIR JAMES OGILWIE OFF CHURCHHILL there
Mattys Solicitor
these
Right Honoli:,—Wee have presumed to trouble your
Ho. in giving yow this following accompt, that ther ten
or twelve dayes bygone ther hes been priviteirs on this
coast under French cullors, who took last week ane ship
off off the back off ffindhome belonging to one Turnebull in
Borrowstonness loaded with goods to Muirtone, who wes
forced to ransome her; and one Saturday last in Gamry
Bay in wiew off this place took one Wm. Hay in Abdn
goeing to Spey ffor wictuell, and caryed the ship with
them, the men having run ashoaer ; and what is become
of the pryze wee knowe not, butt the ffriggett wes seen of
this place yeasterday about four acloak in the afternoon.
This ffirth is soe pested with priviteirs, that noe ship can
goe alongs the coast. Wee judged it therfor fitt to acquant
your Ho. heirwith, being that you are not onlie connected
with the countrey, but also that ye have your owen
victuell goeing south, which may alse soon incurr the
hazard of taking as vthers, that yow may be pleased, if
ye think it fitt, to procure som frigott or vyr to cruize
one this coast and the Buchan heads, vyrwise it will be
impossible to ships to travaile. But this wee leave to
your owen consideratione, and subscryves, Right HonoU,
Your wery humble srvants, Jo. Gordonn.
Alex. Wallace. R. Sanders.
Banff, 12 Junij 1693.
On 19th June the Earl of Findlater qualified himself to govern¬
ment, in accordance with the act of Parliament of ipth May
1693. That same day, writing to his son Sir James, he says, ‘ I
am glead to hear of the well-being of your Lady and daughter.’