Oppressions of the Sixteenth Century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland / From Original Documents

by Unknown

32. In taking away suckin fra the auld vuthal mills of Orkney, whilk were observit of before inviolate.

33. Be pronounciation of wrangus and false judgement and sentences against the King’s Majesty’s lieges of the said country, and causing his deputes thereafter to reduce and retreat the same, as he did to Andrew Mowat, Mr. Robert Cheyene, and Andrew Hawick of Skatsta, and divers others, and be the receiving fra the said Andrew Mowat sewen score of angel nobles and ane chene of gold worth xl angels, and from Mr. Robert Cheyne and Andrew Hawick ane hundreth angels, and that by the way of brybrie for corrupting of justice.

As to the special points of oppression, reif, and spuilzie, eviction, and sic wrangus dealings committed be the said Lord, by order of law, against the Lieges and Inhabitants of the said countries, because the same concerns divers persons in particular, and not doubting but they will complain when as it shall please the Regent’s Grace to give them place and free passing out of Orkney and Zetland be sea and land. But the number of their complaints and        sall be very large, odious, and fearful to be read, that sic tyranny and oppression suld be used within any country. Reserving therefore the particulars thereof to be declared at length by the saids persons heavily oppressed, when it sall please the Regent’s Grace, be himself or his Commissioners, to tak trial and inquisition in their behalf.

Item, the said Lord Robert, continuand in usurpation of the King’s Majesty’s authority, and using baith of the charges of Admirality and Justiciary, caused ane Court to be holden at Skalloway Banks in Zetland, the        day of June 1574, and in the same gart call afore him Gilbert M^cReich, David Leslie, James Leslie, Normand Leslie, brether, and Robert Rotter, where they were accused and convict to the death in the said Court for the spoliation of ane ship of Endein, lying in the King’s waters within Zetland, in the parochine of Nesting, being driven in be storm of wedder for life and death, whilk ship the foresaids persons burdit under silence of night, and took furth of her 2000 Spanze ryallis or thereby, with ane dozen boltis of Holland clayth, and her haill tows, anchors, and sails, putten the same men and ship to the sea in a great storm of wedder, of whom never word was gotten thereafter; and thir persons above written being convicted of this cruel deed, the said Lord pardoned them after they were holden twa hours at the gallows foot, and ane tow about their neck, and received fra the said Gilbert M^cReich therefore I^m of the said ryallis, and seven boltis of the said Holland claith. Witnesses, Jn. Hamilton, Arthur Sinclair, Hugh Gordon, William Halcrow, Henry Sinclair.

Item, the said Lord has raised the meal of fleshe to x θ. where it was but iii ss. at his entries to Orkney, to the wrack of the haill country.

xvi December 1575.

(Signature effaced.)

THE COMPLAYNTIS
OF THE
COMMOWNIS AND INHABITANTIS OF ZETLAND
AND
PROBATIOUNIS LED THAIRUPOUN.
FEBRUARY M.D.LXXVI.

THE COMPLAYNTIS and Probatiounis led thairupoun of the Commownis and Inhabitantis of Zetland ressauit and tane up be Maister Williame Mudie of Brekness and Williame Hendersoun Dingwell pursevant, Commissionaris in that pairt specialie constitute coniunctlie, be our Souerane Lord and his Gracis Regentis commissioun direct to thame thairupoun the dayis respective vnderwritten, in the moneth of Februar, the zeir of God I^mv^clx saxtein zeiris, in Courtis the said dayis halden be thame respective at Tingwall in Zetland.

And First, The Generale Complayntis mentionat in thair commissioun, and contenit in the Bill producit and giffen in be Arthour Sinclair of Ayth befoir the Regentis Grace and Lordis of the Secreit Counsale contrair Laurence Bruce of Cultemalindie, Fowde of Zetland presentlie.