LOVAT, Simon Joseph Fraser, Lord (1667/8-1747). Jacobite conspirator, army officer and outlaw.
Autograph Letter Signed to Fraser, 2 pages 8vo with integral address-leaf, 29 September 1716. Addressing Fraser's grievance with both carrot and stick, denying any culpability, cautioning Fraser to do nothing which he will regret and promising to do all that he can for him.

'... But you are much in ye wrong to blame me for I do declare to you on honour that I always desired ... Brig Grant who is now my Brother in Law to do for you & ... he will do all in his power. So I entreat you Calm yeself ...'

Lovat was famous for his changes of allegience and his feuding. He expended much energy attempting to procure the title of Lord Lovat, even going so far as to abduct his brother's widow and force her to marry him. His reputation for mendacity is borne out here; though Grant was instrumental in finally obtaining the title for Fraser, he did not actually become his brother-in-law until the next year.
On April 9th 1747 Lovat became the last person to be beheaded in Britain. In a final ironic twist, one of the wooden grandstands set up for Londoners to watch Lovat's execution collapsed resulting in several deaths before he himself went to the gallows.
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