Instructions to a Son, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of Tenants and other concerns of Estate.
YOu will be at a loss in this particular, by reason of the difficulties I shall leave upon my Estate, and the several claims made by pretended titles, besides that which will be escheated to the Crown; it will therefore require your utmost diligence and circumspection, having so many enemies about you.
I look upon your old demeans of the Family, as the most likely to continue in your possession, and therefore you must retain and caress with all manifest demonstrations of kindness, the present and ancient possessors and enjoyers of those lands, who by their long dependance on your family, are so addicted to it, that they will not desire upon any ordinary conditions to be alienated from you, if you seem not to slight them or your own interest.
It is utterly impossible you should be totally deprived of your inheritance among them, so long as you bear my name; nor do I know my self every part of my estate there, so far is it out of the reach of confiscation: many were the Homages and Services done me, which were without book.
For my novel acquists and purchases, they have so much envy of the state already upon them, that I would not advise you by stirring on them to draw more upon you: your old rents will be estate enough for you, if you can secure them. I never look'd upon any thing I had from the Estates of Scotland, other then as a present satisfaction for what I had expended; what it wants or exceeds therein was never intended to be put to your account.
'Tis no time now, nor is it your interest to stand at that distance formerly maintained; many have been the forfeitures of the Scotch Nobility, yet I never knew any so dangerous as yours is like to prove; for I will not dissemble that odium and envy against me, how justly I have said elsewhere. So there lies upon you a necessity of counterwalking all ways to your ruine: you must move pity, (and that I think no hard matter in your case) and you will soon find affection which will easily be improved into trust and condence, the ready way to secure your Estate.
If by such means, or any other (as I do not, as I said before; despair of your total restitution, if not to your Dignities and Honour, yet to your Lands and Revenues,) you shall be possest, remember you deal gratefully with such, as have dealt honestly and faithfully with you; and consider you may not strain thiugs to that heigth, which usually great men do in Scotland, for that the wings of your greatness are clipped, and cannot grow out again suddenly; and that your safety now instead of mightiness, consists altogether in the love, and not in the fear of your Tenants.
Redeem that hard censure laid upon me, of being a cruel rigid Landlord, and strive to vanquish those difficulties by a complacent carriage, which to my best disposed temper (as times were) proved insuperable.
Avoid as much as in you lyeth all suits and controversies, such collisions will give light to discoveries; set down by any losses or injuries, which you cannot remedy without publick trial, and give place to such violence as will overbear you.
Recollect first your scattered fortunes, and let a sedentary quiet life have confirmed you in the possession of what you have, so shall you not be endangered (if then you be put to vindicate your right to what you enjoy) by that which you have not.
Contract your Estate into as few mens hands as possible, change not those to whom you have let your lands formerly, or used or dealt with other ways; especially displace not such servants, who are acquainted in the managing of it, for besides the ease, you will find security in so doing.
As I would not have you suffer under that great depression of worth, a base poverty, so neither would I have you to be abused by the chargeable report of being very rich, to avoid both, you must live in a free and open way, neither like Diogenes nor Dives: but yet the more men are inquisitive after the secrets of your Estate, the greater will your wisedome be, the closer to conceal it, and that you may do without danger, for it is in your own defence.
Your Estate will be safer however, in the reputation of things past, (men looking on my disposal and ordering of it to be providential and munite enough) then by your own wisedome or any new present, foundation or conveyance, which takes off a great deal of envy from you,
Keep within the compass of what fortune soever God shall bless you with; if you can be content you shall frustrate the ruinous designs of your enemies against you; who can tell but all this may be for the better: greater shocks have been given to Estates, which have but riveted and rooted them the faster, instead of overturning them.
Whomsoever you intrust with the stewardship of your Estate, be sure to trust your self most, and keep a strict account of your disbursements and receipts, besides, that it is a good divertisement, yon will find it very profitable, and will contain and preserve your servants in their duty, and consequently in your favour.
Make not any necessity by your imprudence or prodigality, whereby yon must be compelled to borrow money by security or mortgage, or anticipate your revenues, the first will engage you to do the like courtesies for your friend, and that's never without danger; and the other two are basely dishonorable, and will soon bring contempt upon your person, and be a moth in your Estate.
Nullum numen abest, si sit Prudentia Tecum.