Papers of the Rattray family of Craighall, 1593–1699 X.c.61

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Below are semi-diplomatic transcriptions from the Papers of the Rattray family of Craighall, in Folger manuscript collection X.c.61. These transcriptions were originally created as part of the Practical Paleography Series, sponsored by EMMO. Each section represents a separate document in the collection. Click on the header of each section to view an image of the original.

119: Letter from John Ogilvy of Balfour to James Rattray of Craighall, … 1674 September 9

Blakstoune the xxth of September 1674
Loving brother I have verrie often disyred your uncle Milvehall
to ask your sister uhither she uould restore my bonds or not, if I can
obtaine no disyre from her, I intreat ye may doe me the favore to call
for ane sight of some bonds that are amongst the rest, granted to me
by James Arbuthnot of blakstoune, and take ane accompt of the
soumes of mone contained in them upon peaper uith the daite of eache
bond by it selfe, upon my uord I knou not uhat the soumes are, nor att
uhat time I did receive them, & he & I being this ueike to close our
accompts I am resolved except my bonds be retired or ane extract
of them by your selfe, never to demand ane groat of them since I have
nothing to instruct my debt but bear alegiance, it uas not my intentione
(uhen that Lady was pleasd to seperat her selfe from me; to have kept
such ane distance uith her, unlesse till I found my name to be odious yea
most ridiculous to her, which those ignominious calumnies nou publickly
knoune to all,) doeth uell testifie; but I uish the Lord almightie forgive her
and so doe I, and I appeal to her conscience hou many abused singular testimo=
nies of my respect uithin these ten years hath she received; and uith uhat
horrid crueltie and disdaine she still reuarded me, uhich att last
did bring me almost to nought, as for her present carriage (Authorize
her uho uill,) she hath given her reputatione ane indelable staine, & shou
her from me that it uere much more incumbent for her to x x be keiping home
cloathed in sackloth & ashes, bevailing the lamentable judgments that are
upon our miserable families, then Dinalyk to be gading abrod to
mercats contracting unnecessarie bourdings but uhat prejudice she
can doe me in my estate lett her doe it since it is come this lenth
I shall assist in the spending to the full; and ere it be long I
shall be where I shall x x not be much troubled uith the shame of it (as I am att present,
she uould not send me so many of my bed hingings as cover her poore infants
nakednesse, nor so many of ther bak clothes as cover them from the cold
but all doe I undervalou for god uill provide for them, if your affairs can
permitt I disyre ye uill doe me the favore to come the lenth of patt
crockats x x in Alyt on moonday that I may impart a littel affaire to you and you shall
be uaited on by Sir, your affecionatt brother
and faithfull servant John Ogilvy

120

137: Letter from John Ogilvy of Balfour to James Rattray of Craighall 1677 April

Dear brother
I am sorie that I could not uait on you this morning as I
intended in regaird I have taken ane ulcer on the innerside
of my thy; & it is impossible for me to ryd till it brake
houever I shall uish the Lord to direct ye aright in this time
of your aflictione; & goduilling if I should come on foot
I shall see you on thoursday; if you think it fitt; I think
you may remove the bed out of the bak chamber & appoy
nt it only uith tuo teables joyned in lenth, for the noblemen &
the best of the gentrie, for in the hall you cannot sett
any covered table; I have sent you somethings uith the
bearer, & the laird of Ruthens; can give you for pleats
& trinshers; & lett me knou if ye uill have any spouns
I shall send ane dizen & tuo silver coups, if you please
pray ye be of good comfort, & chirrish your selfe
& your good lady mother as much as ye can your sister is
treuly verrie ill evry night since shee come home
& I am Your faithfull servant
and brother John Ogilvy

138