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have been expecting to have had the honour to hear from your lordship every day this month past; for I presume your lordship m[a]y know that the delay of one sheet puts a stoop to the whole work, because I do not know precisly how much less or more room the alterations your lordship intends wil take up," &c. He further adds, "I shal very faithfully reprint the sheets whatever th[e]y m[a]y amount to upon my own charge, for I shal aluays own your lordship has very handsomly rewarded me for any pains or trouble I have been at in framing the history of your lordship's noble family, which I shal aluays with great thankfulness own and accnoledge. But evry body knows your lordship is a common patroon of all kind of learning and good frind to learn'd men, tho' I am farr from thinking I deserve to be reckon'd one of that number." "In the Lives of the Lord High Chanclours of Scotland' which, God wiling, I'm immediatly after the finishing of the Peerage to publish, your lordship may depend on all justice from me there, where I'm not so much confyn'd as I'm in a peerage, and wil be much more ful upon your Lordship's life then I can be in that kind of writing your lordship knows I am now engaged in. Since I had the honour to see your lordship last I have had the perusal of the chartulary of the Nunry of Coldstreem, where mention is made of one or tuo, if not more, of your lordship's ancestors of the Polwarths of that ilk, which I tooke notes of, and when I reprint the sheets of the family I shal adde who of them ar proper for the further illustration of the honour and antiquity of the family. Mr. Anderson presents his most humble duty to your lordship as I presume likewise to do myself," &c. "Geo. Crawfurd."

The PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE bearing on subjects of HISTORICAL
INTEREST, 1676-1717.

269. Letter from Henry Lord Cardross to Sir Patrick Home,
Edinburgh Castle, 20th September 1676.
I doubt not but

you have or this heard of the Counsells denying me both ane absolute and temporary libertie, though the same day they offered undesired that to others which was refused to me, I assure you without much regrate on my part. I have been informing myselfe where the best accompt of the transactiones from the year 1630 to 1640 may be had, and I am told it is noe where better than in Mr. David Calderwood's History, the autograph whereof, it never haveing been printed, is in Mr. Robert Kerr, minister of Heddingtoun, his possession, of whom I doubt not but you may have it," &c.

270. Letter initialed "L. R.," and addressed to Mr. Robertson at Mrs. Burt's, near the Arch in Crutchet Friars, London. Edinburgh, 29th January 1689. "Sir, I have received two from you dated the one January 15th, the other 21st, for which I am your debtor. I presume not to give you my opinion of the conduct of affairs with you, but earnestly wish you the Lord's blessing and direction, and that you may be preserved from all inconveniences. I am heartyly sorry to hear that so many are acted with so bitter a spirit of falsehood and malignity. une God will defeat their wicked designs and discover their malice Kerres to their shame. There is no disorder nor outrage committed cause called Presbyterian in this country, but the mountain men and (a volunlesse then they are represented. True it is, they have desired it with hiuin the west to withdraw, and lately the ministers of Glasgow ormed at their instigation) did take one Mr. Mill out of the

church or stopt him when going into it, and as I heard did some
violence to his person, but he is now in perfect health as I am certainly
informed by one that came thence but two dayes agoe. They went
also to my Lord Traquair his house, but their carriage was such (though
yow know I never could justify them in most of their behaviour) that
I cannot but say it was civil, since my lady herself did commend them
for their civility, as a person who got account of her letter she wrote to
an acquaintance of hers here told me, that when they came to the house
they found my Lord's closet open and a bag of money with some gold
on the table, upon which he that commanded them lockt the door and
gave the key to my lady, and when she offered them wine he forbid any
of them should drink it, least it should intoxicate them, and they in
their drink should commit disorders; so that all they did was to take
the consecrate things and to carry them to Peebles crosse and burn
them; and what was of silver, as some little things were, they gave to
the poor.
This is my lady's own account. They came also to a
curate's house whose wife was lying in childe bed, and she fearing her
husband's danger got up. They desired her to go to bed again and
said they designed him no harme, only advised him to remove if he
consulted his own safety now they gave him warning. These are the
greatest if not all the disorders that I hear of, and I believe I hear of
most that is done in the countrey. Now, Sir, though I must say upon
my certain knowledge and acquaintance (and I presume to say I know
the west and south of Scotland as well as any) the generality of the
people wish the curates were off, as inen generally of debauched lives
who were intruded on the people against their conscience and continued
against their affection; yet I must further adde that considering the
violence hes been practised upon the poor people by their means when
they brought out bloody souldiers on them and occasioned the shedding of
their blood like water, it is a wonder that now when we have no master,
people are kept from outrages and from falling on such as have violently
shed the blood of many with lesse regard than if they had been beasts.
And I marvell how these gentlemen have the confidence to complain of
the turbulence of Presbyterians when many of their may remember
what their cruelty hes been. I have seen the grave of a poor honest
man who was shot like a dog at his own house end without doom or
law and without crime committed against their own law save non-
conformity, his poor wife looking on and beging his life with an infant
in each hand and her belly big with the third. I have been near the
place where women were tyed to a stake within the sea mark till the
sea overflowed them, when the stroke of every wave coming on them
was as so many repeated deaths. I have been on the place where a curate
going along with the souldiers and falling on a man who had the Bible
in his pocket said 'This must be a rogue, he carryeth the Bible about
with him.' I have been on the place where souldiers brought out by
the curate murthured the husband and left a widow with seven
fatherlesse children. When innumerable such instances of cruelty
committed without any sentence (beside what was done by forme of
law) are recent in poor peoples' memories, is it not a wonder that they
break not forth into rage and revenge against the instigators to and
actors of such crimes. But, Sir, I can assure you Presbyterians are
quiet, waiting till God appear to execute justice to whom vengeance
belongs. But malicious enemies upon pretence of fear from the
mountain men, which is altogether groundless, are making trouble here.
For the colledge of justice as they are called have been in arms these
days by past I can guess at no other end but to disturb the meeting
houses where a fast was keept last Lord's day, yea, some of them said

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MARCHMONT they should now pull down the meeting houses, and I believe they would have it thought that the people of this city are not dissatisfyed with the prelates, but, Sir, the contrair is known, though they will not break forth into tumults to thrust them out. I am probably, I may say certainly, informed that men are secretly levied here for his Majesties service; what service that can be I know not, but upon all I must make this reflexion, that our tryall seems to be [not] yet over. God prepare us for what is his good pleasure. We have lookt long for your coming and expected some party should have come hither, and that a Convention should have been called which might have installed his Highnesse into the Government, which I beleeve any Convention would do, and that then he would have taken the management of affairs into his own hand, for we fear that if we have a Convention chosen by our present tested magistrates we may expect little good from their hands. But the work is in God's hand and to him we desire to look. I can adde no more being weary with writing. Be pleased to give my humble service to my Lord Cardrosse, to Polwart, to Mrs. John and Charles Erskine, and other my dear commorads with you. The Lord bless you all. I purpose to see your lady as soon as I can, and shall deliver your commission. I am, dear Sir, your most affectionate and humble servitor, L.R. I beleeve our addresse may be at you befor this comes to your hand. I fear it be not altogether satisfying, but I hope the haste and the confusion of the time will excuse its defects. Again adieu."

271. Lady Grizel Hume, wife of George Baillie of Jerviswood, M.P., to her father, Patrick, first Earl of Marchmont. "Edinburgh, 17th July 1711. My Lord, It's talked here that the Queen is not to make a secretare in Queensberie's place, and that Duke Hamilton had gone imediatly upon the first news of his death and told the Queen of it and askt his place, but did it with so litle concern for him that she was offended at it, and when Mr. Boyl came to tell her of his death she said she had heard of it befor, but in such a manner as did not please her. It's talk'd she could not keep herself from crying when she was told it. Jerviswood writes nather less nor more about it nor a word of news. He came of from London on Wedensday the 11th, was a night and a day with Roxburgh at his country house, and came to Scarsburgh on Saterday's night last and will be home on Friday the 19th, but forbids me to say anything aither of his being in Scarsburgh or time of his home coming. What reasone he has for it I know not. I shall look if I have Hapburn's account; if I have it, its like it is at Mellerstaines. I have been mighty bussie this two days, for our bussiness is to be reported to-morrow, but I doe not expect ane end to it this session. I am, my Lord, your most obedient daughter,

Gris. Hume."

272. Letter to the Earl of Marchmont from George Baillie of Jerviswood. October 17th, 1717. Inter alia he writes, "There is no newse, but I shall tell you a story for your diversion. The Pope, it seems, when he gives audience to foreign ministers has a little table by him with a bell upon it which he rings for his servants when the audience is ended. Count Gallas, the Emperor's Embassador, having been admitted lately to ane audience, did press his Holiness so hard upon the affairs of Italy as put him in such a commotion as occasioned the shaking of the table and ringing of the bell, whither designedly or no is not known. However, the servants came in, but the Pope bid them retire for what had happened was accidental. Count Gallas not being

satisfied with this excuse, or perhaps willing to make a quarrel, told the Pope that he perceived his presence was not agreable to him, and notwithstanding of his entreaties withdrew, kicking with his foot his stool up and down the room."

273. Holograph receipt by Patrick, first Earl of Marchmont, to his daughter Lady Grizel Baillie, for 1507., dated 31st May 1720. This receipt bears out the fact that the ex-Chancellor Marchmont in the latter years of his life removed from his paternal mansion of Redbraes Castle, afterwards Polwarth House, and that he ended his days at Berwick-upon-Tweed at a new mansion which he called "Marchmont House, ," "and my now dwelling place," as he styled it in the receipt. The Earl's tender affection for his "dearly beloved and kind daughter" continued to the close of his long life in 1724 at the age of 84. Lady Grizel Baillie is well known for her heroic conduct in carrying food at midnight to her father when concealed in the family burial vault under Polwarth Church. Her daughter, Lady Murray of Stanhope, wrote a very interesting account of her life, which was published in Rose's Observations on Fox's Historical Work in 1809, and was re-published in 1822 by the late Mr. Thomas Thomson, then Deputy Clerk Register. A few ballads by Lady Grizel Baillie have been printed in several collections of Scottish songs. She was authoress of the song, "Were na my heart light I wad dee." Lady Murray had a book of songs by her mother when in Holland. Lady Grizel died in 1746, in the 81st year of her age.

Edinburgh, 32, Castle Street, 3rd February 1893.

WILLIAM FRASER.

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REPORT ON ANCIENT CHARTERS IN THE POSSESSION
OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CLAUD EARL OF
STRATHMORE AND KINGHORN, AT GLAMIS CASTLE,
IN THE COUNTY OF FORFAR, BY SIR WILLIAM
FRASER, K.C.B.

MSS. OF EARL OF STRATHMORE

SECTION FIRST.

The collection of charters here reported is limited in number, but it AND KINGHORN. is very select and of real historical interest, extending from the time of King Robert the Bruce on civil affairs, and from the earlier time of King William the Lion on ecclesiastical business.

The collection may be divided into two sections, the first containing charters relating to the family of Lyon of Glamis, ancestor of the present Earl of Strathmore, and the second containing charters relating to the Abbey of Jedburgh and the Priory of Restennet.

The earliest charter, No. 1, in the first section, is granted by Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick, and Lord of Annandale, in favour of Alexander de Keith, of the lands of Longforgan. The charter is undated, but was granted between the years 1295 and 1304. This charter is beautifully engrossed and apparently in the same hand as the charter by King Robert the Bruce to James Lord of Douglas of Jedburgh, dated 6th May 1320, which is lithographed in the Douglas Book, Vol. III., p. 355. In the year 1315, when Bruce was King, he granted another charter of part of the mill of Longforgan, in favour of Alexander Keith, who is therein named as "his beloved and faithful."

This charter, No. 3, is interesting as showing that at the date of it, 1315, the year after Bannockburn, the resignation of the subjects granted to Keith was made by John Glastreth, the former owner, at Tarbat near Louchfyne, before many magnates. The King was there on a visit to his Highland home, in his visits to which we are informed by Barbour that he followed the example of King Magnus Barefoot of Norway in being drawn across the isthmus of Tarbert in his galleys.

A third charter was granted by King Robert Bruce to the same Alexander Keith, again described as "his beloved and faithful," No. 4. From that charter it appears that Alexander Keith had no heirs (male) of his body as the lands were to pass to his daughter Agnes, and William Avenell, styled the King's cousin, and the heirs to be lawfully begotten between them, and failing such heirs, the lands to return to the King. The charter, No. 4, commemorates the presence of the King at Berwickon-Tweed, which seems to refer to the Parliament or Council held there in November 1324. The fact that Alexander Keith was thus in attendance upon the King on important occasions seems to suggest that he belonged to the royal household. But Keith has not been identified as a member of the "mighty men of lineage," as Wyntoun calls them, of that name who long held the hereditary office of Marischal of Scotland. In the time of Queen Mary, William, the fourth Earl Marischal, possessed landed property extending to 270,000 merks of yearly rent. These lay in so many counties that he could travel from Berwick to the northern extremity of Scotland eating every meal and sleeping every night upon his own estates.