Series 5 > Campbell Letters 1559-1583

CLAN CAMPBELL LETTERS
83
25 Gregor McGregor of Glenstrae to Glenorchy GDI 12/39/2/25
c. 25 November 15641
To ane worschipfull and my traist maister and eym Colin Campbell of
Glenwrquhay
Rycht wurshipfiill Sir maister and eyme eftir all herde commendatiounis
of my service. All thoyth ye thynk it nocht to all to your plesour
nochtwithstandyng gif your Maisterschip wald be so gratius as to lat me
and my kennissmen brwik2 and possiss our awin kynd natife rummiss for
dewite and service as we aucht in your service. I my kennissmen ffeyndis
and servandis sa mony as ma salbe obedient and serviabile to your
Maistership in tymes cummyng aganis all the Quenes Grace and my Lord
Erie of Ergile exceptit and sail eftir my powar recompenss of my service
and geir the skayth that is done my heredage and the lif of my kennissmen
beand exceptit.3 Ye sail onderstand that I half na mair to offer and gifyow
bot my service togidder with my kenn and frendis sa mony as ma lat and
till servef [sic] yow eftir powar in recompenss. Ye ar the maister that is
maist necessar for me and my freynds onder God. And I and my kennissmen
ar the maist necessar servandis for yow onder God.4 And all thoyth that I
and my frendis be at deferance with your Mastership instantly, I and tha
and gif God sendis me ofbrying5 will servief [sic] your Mastershipis ofbrying
in tym cumming. Ye sail wit I am cumin ewiss6 your boundis and I mycht
till half donn skayth quhilk I defarrit byding on your gud mynd. I left
Scotland at the command of my Lord Erie of Ergile beleifing of the
setting of your gud mynd toarthis me.7 And throyth your dredart8 and all
thoycht ye draw on your wtheris ye ar nocht abill to get mair fectuiss9
servandis to your plessour nor we ar. Pleiss yow to send me in wrett your
Written after the MacGregors’ return to Breadalbane from Ireland in Oct. 1564. It
probably refers to the attempt at reconcibation which Argyll mentioned to Grey
Cohn 25 Nov. 1564, GD112/39/3/11, and is linked to Gregor’s letter to Katherine
bef. 25 Nov. 1564 (24). In John MacGregor’s collection the above letter is placed after
27 Nov. 1564: GD50/187/1; MacGregor,‘MacGregors’, 339 at n. 183.
Have or enjoy the use of.
For a discussion of MacGregor’s offer of service and its conditions, MacGregor,
‘MacGregors’, 282,339.
This remarkable statement that Glenorchy was the master whom the MacGregors
most needed and the MacGregors the servants whom Glenorchy most needed summed
up the great irony of the feud: MacGregor/MacGregors’, 397.
Offspring or children.
Close to.
Referring to the MacGregors’ trip to Ireland to fight as redshanks for Sorley Boy
MacDonald: 6 June, 11 Sept. 1564 (20,22); MacGregor/MacGregors’, 33.
Fear or dread.
Courageous fighters as servants.