Genealogical Collections : Baird Letters 1595 - 1720

From ANDREW BAIRD, Professor of Philosophy at Lyons, to GIBERT BAIRD, of Auchmedden.
Lyons, July 22d, 1595

To the richt honourable and weil beloved brither GILBERT BAIRD, of Auchmedden in Scotland. MONSIEUR ET FRERE,-Thair is twa years bypast I have never ressavit any word of you, nather of my father or other frindis, quhairfore I was very wraith¹ that ye and all uthers has na mynd of me, mair than if I war deid, or gif I war not your brother, or friend, the quhilk, ye cannot deny unless ye offense God and the veritie; and not withstanding that ye haif misknawin your duty, hitherto, yet God of his guidness has preserved me unto this day that I am not deid for hunger, quhairfore I pray you, be so guid as to call to remembrance the instinct that nature has gein to all creatures, and luik gif that I heif any credit to do you any servis in France, seeing that ye heif forgottin me in Scotland, and I shall be as ready as any uther that ye may employ;- or, gif ye thocht that I may do you stead in Scotland, command me, and I shall be reday to obey ye with goodwill, as far as I may.
Mr. James Browne has wrote an letter to me, by which he has schawin me, that my father is deid, and Walter Baird's wyf, your mother-in-law; quhairof I am very wraith, yet I am very glad, and thankis God greatly, that they departed guid Catholiques, and prays you, and all yours, for God's sake, to continue and leif into the trew religion. I haif thocht guid to say mass for my father in sundry pairts, and I will bair the duleweid for one year.

I am presently in the town of Lyons, and teaching philosophy, and has fyve hundred merks of wage, but I am myndit to leave my conditon. I would very gladly see you and all uther guid frindis, to the quhilks, I pray you maik my farther commendation with Walter Baird, and your wyf my blessing, and to your bairns,- I understand ye haif ten or else eleven. The Lord save them and keip you in long life and guid health. Your brother for evir to serve you; Aw.Baird

I pray you excuse me if I speak not good Scottis, for I haif forgottin all my mother tongue. Their is aught years that I haif not writtin sa meikil, nor yet spoke.

ANDREW to his brother GILBERT BAIRD.
Lyons, last of Octr. 1596.

RICHT HONOURABLE AND LOVING BROTHER, After my hearttie commendations of service, quhowbeit, it be long time since ressavit your letter datit the 19th day of July 1595, yet, not the less, I haif never had sic opportunity to write unto you as I haif now. To be schort, I am as glaid of your and all frindis helth, as I am sorrowful of my fathers deceiss. As to me, I am presently well in health, and reputation likeways of a scholar, being prefered to an Professor of Philosophy by the citoyens of Lyons, and not without honest recompense. And seeing that my deliberation is always set down to leif by letters, I mynd within a zeir to pass to some famous University, and thair apply my time, either to medicine, or lawes, to the effect, that I may be profitable to myself and uthers. As, also, being resolved, (for anything I can see presently) to leif into my country, quhairout, I am neither banished, nor expeld. I beseih you, with a most brotherly affection, to consider the moyen by the quhilk I may leif peacable at haim, in an honest vocation in letters, and to advertise me, particularly and diligently of all things, not obmitting your brotherly and tender counsil, by the qulk I will be rulit and governit. And, if so be that my father at his deceiss has had any fatherly memory of me- as I doubt not but he has had- l desyr you maist earnestly to advertis me of the samin, and to haif sic care of me, as your brotherly luif and guid inclination promised me, qulk will be the cause, that I will be the mair diligent in my studys, and direct all my cogitations to honour you, and to merit your luif, being resolvit to leif and to die in my country. Having no further at present, I beseach you to recommend me to Walter Baird, your good-father, and to my sister, your bairns, and our brethren and all friends, but chiefly to yourself.

ANDREW BAIRD to his brother GILBERT BAIRD
Lyons, 8th March 1597.

MONSIEUR ET FRERE, After my maist hearty and humble commendations, with serviss, having the commodity of this berir, a gentleman dwelling with my Lord Abbot, of Inchaffray, vohm I did meit with, beand in the Town of Lyons, after their coming back from Italy, and schew me that he was to gang hastily to Scotland, I thocht guid to write unto you thir few lines in haist, albeit I did write unto you not lang before with Mr. Alex. Boid, secretary to my Lord Cassils, quha is presently into Rouen in France, to quhom I am meikle addebted, and did unto him all the servis that I could quhile he remained in this town, to wit, Lyons, the space of four months, and was willing to carry me haim with him, the quhilk occasion I did neglect and many uthers like unto that, looking ever for your letters and answers to them that I have written to you of before, the quhilk, tendis not to any other, and, but to know the guidwill ye beir unto me, and what ye will wishe me to do.
For, seeing that it has pleisit to God to call our father before his days, that is to say, over soon for me, who is sa far frae all frindis and kinsmen, and has no great moyen to pay myself except I travel mair nor I may, I am constrained to rin to your wisdom and brotherly affection; quhairfore, to be schort, I pray you maist ernestfully to give me sum resolution and schew me, gif ye think that my coming in Scotland may do unto you, or frindis, any servis or pleasure, and I shall always be ready; gif not, I pray you, also, to advertise me, to the end, I may lippin na mair to you; the quhilk will be to me very hard; yet, not withstanding, there is na uther remedy but patience. I haif written often to you and to our chief Walter Baird and to Walter Curriour,² quhair ye shall understand that there is here in this town, one Mr. Andrew Curriour, the Laird of Logy Dugluis' son whew I louff very weil for Walter Curriour's sake- and has done unto him all the pleasure that I can- I am also by compayine with one Mr. Edward Scot, a countryman, quhom with I haif remaind thir two yeirs bypast, and he teachis in Logic this yeir, and I in Metaphysics, and we are baith myndit the next yeir, if we get na better method, to pass unto Italy, God willing; As to the news in this country, thair is nane uther but that all things are very deir, and especially the quhyt; and that the King of France is to make weirs against the Duke of Savoye, wha is our neighbour, in the one side. The quhilk cannot be without our great hurt and travel. The bruit is here, that the Kingis majesty of Scotland has had some dispute against his ministers, quhair throw, many men has taken an diverse opinion of him thro' Ingland, France, Italy, and Espaigne. I pray the Lord assist him and give him grace to do well, to the honour of God, profit of his soul, and consolation of his puir people. As to uther news, thair is na other, for the present. This prays you to make my humble commendations to all our brethren, and to your wyfe and bairns; as to our chief Walter Baird, I think he is not in lyf, for gif he was, I doubt not but he would have had sum remembrance of me, yet I shall not fail to have remembrance in my prayers every day before God of him and uther frindis. I remember not of any mair, yet as the occasion occurs it shall pleise you to be attending to my good weil, and swa committing you to God.
Be your assured and weil beloved brother to be commandit, gif ye pleise to write to me, I pray you write before Whitsunday, utherways ye may be na knaw whair that I may be, if that all reight haldis.

ANDREW BAIRD to his brother GILBERT BAIRD.
VI. of August 1599

MONSIEUR ET FRERE, Seeing that I haif written to you sa many times, and that ye taik no thocht nether of me nor my writing, ye will constraine me at lengthe to forgeit nocht only you but all Scottismen; or, at the least, all Kinsmen. I knaw not quharin I have offendit, nather you nor uther frindis, that, altogether, ye have conspyrd against me; I marvell greatly that ye consider not, quhow that I can leif in this country without any help of you nor any Scottisman these three yeir bypast, amang the men of weir and uther trubles that has be in, and is, yet in France- quhairfor, I pray you to be sa guid as to think some- times of me, your second brother, gif I be not bastard, that, I belief not. I have writtin to the Earl of Cassils, but I knaw not if he has ressavit my letter, nor yet, Mr. Alex. Boid.
Gif ye think that I may do you pleasure or servis in France; or to any uther into your name, beleif, assuredly, that I sall do all that lies in my power, and sall be evir mair as reddy to be commandit by you, as any brither that ye haif.
Gif I could reat or speak, any further in Scottis, or, gif ye understood the Frenshe, or Latin, I could write unto you mair at lengthe, or gif I was assurit that ye wold tack my letters in guid part. Quhairfor, I pray you, excuse me quhil I be farder informed be you. Offre my hearty commendations of servis to your wyf, bairns, and all uther good frindis. I pray God to keip you in long lyfe.
From Dijon in Bourgoyne Province in France, this VI. of August 1599. Gif ye pleis to write unto me, address your writing from Paris to Lyons, with this endorissement, " A Monsieur, Monsieur Baird Aux Carmes a Lyons."

ANDREW BAIRD to his brother GILBERT BAIRD
23rd day of January 1603.

Rycht Honorable Sr., and weil beloved brother, after sindrie letters and writings without any answer of you, or any other frind in Scotland, thair is neir aucht years by-past, I haif thoct guid to hazard this, gif, perchance, it sall fall into your hands, to the end ye may be informit of my estait and weilfare, as I desyre to be of yours and of all guid frindis- quhairfor, it sall pleis you to understand, that (between hope and despair evir to see you in this lyf or our mast deirly beloved father, Walter Baird, and mother, Katharine Grant³ spying out the wickedness of this world and the chaingement of men,) thair is four yeirs ago that I haif begun to change my life, quha, as before, being a wardly man, after the condition and mainer to laif as I did behold in uthers,-now, praissit be God, I am an religieux man, mair content than evir I was befoir, albeit, our manner to leif be very strict and poor:- cur nihil habentes, omnia possidemus, for the present at Lyons quhair if ye pleis to wreat, ye may inclose your letter in the Frenshe tongue, this way, without any uther titre-"A mon frere-frere Andrew Baird, Religeux minime lecteur de Theologie en convent des minimes a Lyons. "The quhilk condition of lyf I haif not choised raschly, without gryt consideration and almaist necessary arguments of salut, as many of them do say that are not weil instructed in the truth, but be altogether fleshly men,- animalis autem homo non percepit ea quo spiritus Dei sunt,- for siclyke men thinks that all religion and Godliness consists to wallow in pleasure, and mak guid chier in this lyf as an Epicurean saying,- manducemus et bibamus, post mortem nulla voluptas ; sed ah! miseri, ducunt in bonis dies suos et in puncto ad inferna descendunt:-⁴ bot, leifing this dispute, that I seem nocht to persuade ony other man, but be guid reason when it shall pleis God to gif the, occasion.
My helthe, thanks be to God, was nevir bettir than it has bein thir four yeirs bypast, albeit I heif not remained evir still into one place, but has changit sindrie times, as our profession and order requires. Since I am in France, I haif seen many Scottismen in this country, sum poor, and sum rich, of all conditions, Eastland, Southland, Westland, and some Northland, and Highlanders, but I heird nevir speak of any man that appertains to us, except of The Master of Forbes, who is a religieux man, a capuchin, quhom to I haif written within thir few days, and of one called Baird, lately at Rouen, as I am informed by Monsieur Drummond, Judge of Vesay , but of what country or house he was, he could not tell me.
As to the Abbot, Mr. John Quhyt, John Quhyt, of Ardlyhill's son, thair is half a yeir since I hard he is in guid helth, but Mr. Alexander Cheyne, my god- father's son, is deceist thair is neir twa yeirs, and lykeways, Mr. Alexander Chalmers, the guidman's son, of the Miln of Sauquchin, gif I haif any remembrance. As to uther news that may be written for the present ye sall not luik for of me, but byding an bettir occasion, and give ye pleise, your luiffing answer, with the estait of yourself, wyf, bairns, brethrin and all uther guid frindis, but chiefly our father, Walter Baird, and his guid wyf our guid mother,-I pray you to luik upon their godliness and halie lyf, think upon your salvation, bring up your bairns and instruct them in to virtue, the feir of God and guid letters; and as to me, albeit, I be outwith at the haly mass and all sorts of prayer, as my duty commands me, I saIl pray the Almighty God to keip you in guid health and lang lyf, and multiply his benedictions and blessings upon you. Your brother evir to be commandit in Jesus Christ. Aw .BAIRD, Minime,

George Baird's Son, of Auchmedden.
It will pleis you to excuse me if I write in haist, because sodainly I go to Avignon, and prays you taik my Scottis in guid part, for I haif almaist forgottin baith the writing and speaking of Scottis.

ANDREW BAIRD to his brother GILBERT BAIRD.

Rycht honourable Sir and maist weel-beloved brother, the paix and luif of God, I haif ressavit your maist heartie and luiffing writing be the hands of our guid friend William Kircaldy, and thankis you maist ernestfully of the brotherly affection ye beir unto me, praying God to gif me the grace that I may be worthy, at any tyme, to answer to your friendly guid will. As touching the death of our father and your guid-father and guid-mother, I am very wraith, gif it had pleisit to God to do. utherways, but I knaw weil aneuch, omnibus hominibus statutum est semel mori, quhairfore I think it meikle better to prais and magnify the Lord Almighty, in cujus potestate est vita et mors, than to despyt his Majesty in greitting and tires,- sicut illi qui non habent spem,-I saIl pray God for thair guid saulls nichtt and day; and as to the small thing my father left to me of his heritage, Dominus pars hoereditatis meoe, et calicis mei est, qui restituat hoereditatem meam mihi,quhairfore my deirest brother, I love God of your guid faith and uprightfulness, qua in mensura mensurabis eadem tibi mensurabitur; quitting the warld, I haif quitted all worldly goods and geir, and lukis after no uther untill the tym that it shall pleis God to call me,-ubi, oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit quoe proeparavit Deus diligentibus se.
Gif ye had written unto me thair is now five or six years ago, , I might haif done uther to you or yours mair guid, than I may do at this present, except, that I shall evir pray God for you and your household; lykas, I craif nothing that may in any ways pertain to our father do with it as ye think best, after my sister's guidwill, your wyf. I have not yet forgottin her father and mother's kyndness to me; all your bairns and childrin are all alyke unto me, and wald do them all servis. This gentleman will speik to you mair at length upon this point. I am very wraith of the disscord that ye heif had with your neighbours and frindis, and that our brother has lossit an air. Gif that I had knawn his being at Bourdeaux he sould haif hard within few days of my newes, and saw gif he comes again, he may write unto Lyons, quhair he sall ever get word of me in ony part that I sall be, and lykwais yourself, unto our convent, for I am of the order of the minnims-an religieux man. We haif also an house into Dieppe they call it the bons hommes; ye may address your letters to Lyons by Mr. Alexr. Pearson of Edinbourg, gif it saIl pleis him to gif them to that house, or ours, or be Alexr. Ramsay or any uther, quhatsomevir it be, ye may not fail, if ye pleis, by any ways to address your letters to Lyons the convent of the minnims is to this manner, "A mon frere, frere Andro Baird religieux minnime en convent des minnimes a Lyons," for gif ye wreat not the superscription into Frenshe, your letter saIl be tint, and swa unto meeting when it shall pleis God, ye may wreat unto me quhan ye pleis, and swa, committing you to God, your wyf and bairns, brethrin and all guid frindis, I sall remain in France, Lyons, in our convent, this aucht of June 1604.
Your maist humble and weil beloved Brother.

ANDREW BAIRD to his brother GILBERT BAIRD.

Right honourable, Sir, and maist deirly beloved brother, guid health and weelfare in our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ.
Their is now near fifteen days that I have ressavit an writing of your by ane Kircaldy, dated the 9th of June 1603, to the quhilk I haif made sum answer by the same bearer, according to my leisure and business, as he may be witnes himself,-how soon it sall pleis God that he may meet with you, quhairfor, seeing that he has takin an langer staying than I belieffit, and finding the opportunity of this gentleman, an auld acquaintance, I thocht guid to write unto you thir few lines of mair freshe dait; to the end it may please you to wit, that I am presently into Lyons, an religieux man of the order of the minnims, in guid health, thanks be to God, desyring the lyk of you and yours and all guid frindis.
I was truly very glad, and rejoiced meikle to read your letter, and heir of your weil being and prosperity, and how that ye are cum to end of all your fears and concerns, and how that ye haif always the fear of God before your eyes, following as neir as ye may the footsteps of our haly forbeirs, in the quhilk I pray you to remain to the end, looking for sic recompense as they have already ressavit in hevin in their souls, abyding only the glorification of their bodys, when it sall please God to call everyone in his last Judgement; thereupon this head I will write, you na farther, nor yet, touching that point ye wreat unto me, concerning as ye say an bairns part of geir, after the deceass of our godly father, for I am nocht in power to possess any wardly guid, quhairfore of that nor na uther, sic lyke, I craif nothing, but wald only pray you after your good weil to dispose of that as it sall pleis my good sister, your guid wyf, in remembrance of so many tymes that I haif offendit her, and provokit her unto anger, albeit, she wisht ever my weilfare.
As to that, that ye wald speik unto me in secret, gif it be sickin matter that may be writtin or communicated to ony friend, feir not to commit it, either be word or write to this gentilman, whom to I have given charge to ressave it, gif it sall pleis you. I am assurit give it be an matter of conseil, that he will gif you contentment, or else, will cause me to understand the matter.
As to me to cum into Scotland, as be, I haif assurance of the King's Majestie and of the estates, baith of England and Scotland, it schymis to be an thing impossible, gif that I will not put myself in danger, for the preists, monks, and friars are not very welcome amang you, but gif thair war ony helth I could wreat to my acquaintance, wha micht do sumthing for me in case of necessity, quhairfore, luiking for sum lettir, I am altogider resolvit, as yit, to remain in thir parts, as it shall pleis my superiors, or els, into Italy or Spaine, for, thanks be to God, we haif many fair houses and boothings in thir pairts; God, in so far, has provyded for his children, only I pray you, maist well beloved brother, to pray God for me, and recommend me to the prayers of your innocent bairns.

After the answer that I sall ressave to this gentleman, berir of this, I sall wreat unto you mair at length, as the occasion sall requyre, and, in the meintime, I saIl not fail to write whensoever any occasion sall be present unto me; quhairfore, be not in noways astonisht if I wreat unto you in divers styles, following the divers occurrences and dispositions of the tymes, and swa committing you to God, your wyf, my sister, and bairns, and brethrin, and all guid frindis. I sall remain to the end.
Lyons, this 20th of June 1604.

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Footnotes:

(1) I.e., grieved. -Ed
(2) Written elsewhere Curisour. -Ed.
(3) They were his brother's father and mother in law. See the signature to this letter. Walter was the last of Ordinhnivas. It is noteworthy that in these letters he is called our chief."-Ed.
(4) Compare Vulgate, I Corinth.xv. 32 and Job xxi 13, from which the worthy Friar appears to be quoting. -Ed