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Iwerddals

Henry Home

J. Rüsciman & Hardwicke

Perhote

Low.

As: Oksto. H Fox.

W. Murray

Pat Murdochy

John Armstrong

James Thomson.

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PETITION of Duncan Forbes, in the name of the Inhabitants of the Town of Inverness.

[Early in 1626. This seems to have been the first sketch of a more formal document, which, with the King's Answer annexed, will be found in p. 4.]

To the King's most Excellent Majestie,

The humble Petition of Duncan Forbes, Provost of Innernes, in name of the whole Inhabitants of that your Majestie's auncient Brugh.

Humbly shewing,

THAT, notwithstanding the insurrection of the Clanchattan is fullie repressed, and they reduced to obedience of your Majestie's lawes, which was the first ground of the Comission granted to the Earle of Murray; yet his Lordship, under color of the same, and directlie beyond the power granted thereby unto him, doth seek utterlie to subvert that auncient Brugh (whose foundation was long before the Birth of Christ, and whose Inhabitantes have ever been faithful and loyall subjects to your Majestie's Royal Predecessors), by exactinge the escheate of some of them, and fines from others in value far above their Estates, pretending that they sold some small Commodities to some persones of that Clan. Thus doth he begin to exceede to such height of rigour against your Subjects of that Towne as heretofore hath not been practised in ane civill kingdome or State; being himself both Judge and party, and the Members of his Courts his own Creatures. And withall forcing your said Subjects, to their great charges, to repair from their Dwellings to places far distant; where when being come, they are delayed of that due course of Justice pretended against them with unjust extremitie; whereof if not in time prevented, they as are Members of the body of that Estate shall thereby be brought to such povertie, that from henceforth they cannot consist as a Town able to pay anie their lawful Dues to your Majestie.

And in regard there can be no greater Evidence of their innocence then their earnest desire to submit themselves to the censure of anie your Majestie's Judicatories:

It may please your Majestie to referr the Consideration of the premises to anie such of them as your Highnes in your most princely judgment shall think expedient; and in the mean time to wreitt unto the said Earle that he desist from further insisting in pursuit of your said Subjects, until that by that Judicatorie all differences between them be fullie cleared.

And they, their Wifes, and Children, (as bound by dutie) shall still pray for your Majestie's long life and prosperous raigne.

B

No. II.

Pa B. of Ross to the Council of Inverness, dated London, 17th March 1626.

Honorable and loveing freinds,

IT may please you, your Proveft, Duncan Forbes, being heere about your Bussinesse, and I considering his great forwardness, and earnest care, to procure the good and weal of your Towne, and your peaceable setling with the Earl of Morray, I could not but take speciall notice thereoff, and acquent you with the same; And to declare to you, that by his wise and discreet cariage, with the assistance of some good freinds to him and yourselves, obtained greater favors and courtesye at my Lord the Earle of Morray's hands nor could be expected by any other kynd of dealing whatsoever : whereof My Lord of Lorne, My Lord Ockletree, My Lord Kinclewin, S' Francis Stewart, and S' William Alexander and I my selff, as hearing and being Witnesses, can bear testimonie, and as your Provest himself will more particularlie impart to you. Iff you and the Inhabitants of your Towne, behaveth yourselffs dutifully, and respectively, you will find that his Lordship will use you courteously, in this businesse, and all other affairs betweene him and you, wherein I shall be contented gladlie to tak the paines to see you all settled peaceablie, and finallie in peace with his Lordship. You have reason to be thankfull to your Provest for his fidelitie, diligence, and care in these your affairs. In anie thing wherein I can be serviceable, or able to pleasure you, either heere or at home, I shall be willing to give proofe of my readines therein. Thus recommending you to God, I rest

Your Loveing and affectionat freind readie to be commanded
PB. of Ross.

No. III.

Sir William Alexander, to the Bailiffs, Council, and Committee, of the Burgh of , Inverness, dated Whitehall, the 28th of March 1626.

Worthie freinds,

I HAVE wreitten this Lre unto you, testifieing the good carrage of yo' provest in his Commission. At his coming here, he obteaned the favour of the best sort about Court; he drew up his Petition, and was assured of frends to gett him presence of the King, and to second him in so farre as might stand with reason. Notwithstanding, he, verie wiselie considdering what might be the event of his petitioning, in respect of the great favour of the Earl of Murray with the Prince, and of his great frends about Court, but cheefelie for that you have no just cause to complaine of him as yet, and untill the time you suffer a reall wrong; so that his Mae might have instantly disliked these rash kind of proceedings, and might have irritated the Nobleman the more against you; In consideration whereof (working the same effects that you desired, in a more faire and plausible maner), he hath concluded with the said Earle after this maner: he conveened divers of my Lord's own frends and other Noblemen, such as My Lord of Lorn, My Lord Kincleuin, My Lord Ochiltree, The Bishop of Rosse, and some others, amongst whom I was one; and in our presence the Earle of Murray did tak the provest by the hand in name of your Town, and protested that he was not of intention to deale in rigor against you; but your own misbehaviour towards his Lo did in some measure offend him; and now hath promised (you doing your dutie in reason as becometh you) that

he

he shall not wrong you, in anie maner of way; but rather to maintaine you with his best assistance. And as for the putting of his Commission in execution he shall do the same in such sort as you shall have no just cause to complaine upon that subject; for doing whereof the Bishop of Rosse (besides that he was an eye witness) will assist; so that if the said Earle wold prove otherwayes nor he hath promised (being confident that he will not) you have all that you could crave by yo' Peticion; which is, that you have an indifferent Judge for your greevances. Wherfor you have all good reason not only to think that yo' provest hath done better for your weal then you could have expected otherwise, but likewise to give him heartie thankes. He hath intended with me a Bargaine in favour of your Town, as he himself will show you at meeting, which, God willing, will both prove beneficiall and honorable unto you, as ainie one thing that ever you took in hand. He hath made me to be your loveing freind in all your good and lawful affaires, whenever you shall desire me to that effect. Thus with my love remembered to you, I rest

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PB. of Ross to the Honble Duncan Forbes, dated London, 22d of April 1626.

HONORABLE and loving friend, I have wrytten to the Earle of Murray to discontinue any proceedings against the inhabitants of y towne untill my returning; which I hope his Lordp will doe gladly, according to his promise made to me before his departing; and after my returning I hope, God willing, to satle that business, to his Lordp's honor, and both your contentments. Since your departing hence, within three dayes thereafter immediatelie, I had two conferences with His Majestie; and since that tyme I have been visited with ane grievous ague; and now, praised be God, am convalesced, and am resolved, how soon I shall recover strenth, to take journay homeward before the downsitting of the sessione; befor the quhilk tyme, I most intreatt you to try out, and have in readiness, some ten or twelve thousand pound scots, that I may have the same, upone sufficient securitie; for I purpose, God willing, to satisfie some of my most urgent creditors, whoe have adoe with ther monyes at this tearme. Sr I pray you try out the money in the hands of sik as ye know will be most kyndlie and discreitt. In doing quhairof, you shall oblige me to serve and pleasur you in ane greater imployment, and I houpe the partie with whom ye shall deall in my favour shall have occasione to give you thanks. I doubte not bot ye will keip promise in visiting my wyf and childring when yo' leasur may permitt you, and will be careful that shee neglakt nothing quhilk you shall desyre to be furnished till my returning. Thus recommending you to God, I rest

Your loving friend readie to power.

Pa B. of Ross.

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