I was favoured with a Visit, at my
House in the Paunch-Market in
Leith, of ✝John Goodwillie, with
whom I had some Conversation about
Prince Charles’s Bond granted to
Hepburn of Kingstoun. Mr Good-
willie told me, he himself had
the Original of the said Bond in
his Hands, &and that, if I pleased, I
might have a Sight of it. I
heartily accepted the kind offer,
&and for that End invited Mr Good-
willie to dine with me on Tues-
day next^(April 25) when he accordingly
kept the Appointment, &and brought
the Original Paper along with
him. He told me, that the Way,
by which this Bond had become so
public, was this. Hepburn of Kings-
toun being dead, his Heirs had
found the said Bond among his
Papers, upon which they raised
a Process before the Lords of
Council Session, in order to fix
it as a Debt upon the Laird of MacLauchlan 1244 (1244)
MacLauchlan his Estate, because
he (MacLauchlan) had been the
Receiver &and the Deliverer of the
Cash. After the Dinner I begged
the Favour of Mr Goodwillie im-
mediately to make out a Transcript
of the Bond^for my Use, at the Foot of qchwhich
Transcript two Gentlemen then pre-
sent would (I said) subscribe Wit-
nesses; all which was instantly done.
Mr Goodwillie assured the Company,
that he himself delivered the Pen
out of his own Hand to the Prince
to subscribe the Bond, &and that he (Good-
willie) accordingly saw the Prince
subscribe the Bond; an exact