Surely this was not a case for the King’s leniency; yet because Francis Crichtone was a Roman Catholic, and favoured by the Duke of York, a warrant came from His Majesty for the suspension of the trial of Francis Crichtone.
‘Compeired Mr George Mackenzie advocate, and produced ane letter from His Majestie directed to the Justice General and Justice depute whereof the tenor follows, Superscribed Charles R. Whereas we are informed that Alexander Gregorie did not die of the wounds alleged to have been given him by Frances Crichtone now prisoner at Edinburgh, these are to require you to suspend that criminal process against Frances Crichtone until we shall hear further concerning that business from our Privy Council at their next meeting in June, for which this shall be your warrand. Given at our Court at Whitehall the 13th day of May 1664 and of our reign the 16th year by His Majestie’s command.
‘Sic subitur Lauderdaill.
‘To our right trustie and right well-beloved cousin and counselloure and to our trusty and well-beloved our Justice General or Justice Depute.’
James Crichtone of Kinairdy and Viscount Frendraught were acquitted at the trial, the assistants at the murder were ‘put to His Majestie’s horn, and all their goods forfeit.’ As for Francis Crichtone, the principal in this affair, having procured the postponement of his trial, he escaped from the Tolbooth Prison; and after another futile attempt on the part of the Gregories to secure a trial, he obtained a pardon under the Great Seal in 1682.
CHAPTER II
DAVID GREGORIE OF KINAIRDY, 1625–1720
‘Not skill alone of ear and eye
Was yours, but something more—a heart.’
—Echoes and After-thoughts.
David Gregorie, the second son of the Reverend John Gregorie, was destined by his father for a commercial career. Alexander, his elder brother, as we have seen, was heir to the estates of Kinairdy and Netherdale, and to a good deal of money: the young brother James was so remarkable a mathematician that he was allowed to follow his own bent and devote himself purely to mathematics. But David, poor David, most unwilling to go, was sent to Holland to learn to be a merchant, probably to Campvere, the happy haven to which so many Scots traders turned. Herrings and stockings—the great Aberdeen exports of the day—how we can imagine David Gregorie seeing to the unlading of such cargo as this, with his heart and very likely his head far away in Scotland! Anyhow he did not stay a day longer in Holland than was necessary, for after his father’s death he returned home and settled in Aberdeen in 1655. In the same year he married Jean, daughter of Patrick Walker of Orchiston, a great Episcopalian, and also a great Tory.