John, earl of Atholl, prays the king to supersede his order to deliver the castle of Aboyne to Sir Alexander Comyn till he is better advised, for the land around it is savage and full of evil-doers, and the king has no other fortress where the country or his servants may be in safety to keep the peace; and Sir Alexander has two of the strongest castles in the country already, that is, those of Urquhart and Tarradale, and may commit his prisoners to the castle of Aberdeen at his pleasure. Besides, the earl of Ross and the bishop of Ross have informed the earl that Lachlan and his friends have ordered that each davoch of land shall furnish a galley of 20 oars. Therefore it appears to the earl and others that it will not be good to deliver Aboyne Castle to any till they see what Lachlan and his friends will do, the other castles named above being enough for Sir Alexander.