In the first, Thair is ane dewitie, callit Leanger, quhilk the Comownis of Zetland payis zeirlie, followand thair wadmell, quhilk extendis to four Dence quhytis, or ane calff skin, with everie xxiiij cutteill of wadmell. Bot the Laird, sen his entress, hes compellit thame to pay to him, throw the haill cuntrie, for everie Dence quhyt, quhilk is thre halfpennies Scottis, ane babie, or ellis ane calff skin, quhilk is four tymes alsmikle as they war in use to pay befoir his entress: Quhilk thing, be ressoun of the uniuersalitie and pretendit perpetuitie, is ane intollerable oppressioun.
The quhilk new impost and oppressioun, the haill number of the Inhabitaris of Zetland within specifiit, ressauit and sworne the dayis respectivé befoir rehersit, hes testifiit, deponit, and verifiit to be of treuth, and ar all in ane voce thairupon conforme.
Secundlie, The haill Comownis within specifiit, ressauit, sworne, and admittit upon the complaynt of the wrangus ressait of the ule, proponit be the auld Lawrichtmen of the cuntrie, deponis, That according to the use and consuetude of the cuntrie, ane just Bramer barrell, quhairin thair ulie is ressavit, suld contain na less nor xlviii cannis of ulie: Quhilk can suld be largear of quantitie nor the content of liquor that is put thairin, and suld be markit with ane plowk on ilk syde, within the superior part, under the mouth thairoff: Quhilk plowkis is the just messor of the can that the ulie suld be fild to, and not transcend the samyn; and quhen thai fill it to be put in the barrell, it suld stand upon ane just ewin erd, and fild quhill the plowkis swome equalie, and na hiear. Bot now, sen the Lairdis entress, he hes maid his can sa grit with the quhilk he ressavis the ulie, swa that xxxiv cannis, or xxxvi at the maist, fillis the barrell, and that be ressoun his can wantand plowkis, quhen it is fild is not set ewin upon the erd, as it suld be, bot in ane tummell standand in the bung of the barrell; and swa they fill the can at ilk tyme, quhill it rin our neir ane copfull or thairby, quhilk passis in the barrell with the canfull; and swa be the wrang messor and wrangus hand ressavand, thai ar opprest and spulzeit attour the ferd part of thair righteous ulie dett, or thairby.
Thridlie, The auld Lawrichtmen of the cuntrie compleinit, quhair the Fowdis of the cuntrie furnist, in tymes bygane, the barrales that ressavit the butter and ulie quhilk the Comownis payit, or ellis, quhen thai causit the Comownis furniss any barrales of thair awin to that effect, the Fowdis gaiff thame allowance and payit thame thairfoir. Bot now the Laird of Cultemalindie, sen his cumming to the office of Fowdrie, hes compellit thame zeirlie to furniss barrales upon thair awin expenss, without ony maner of allowance, or payment of the haill butter and ulie that thai pay in dewitie to the King zeirlie; quhairintill the Comownis ar gritlie hurt and opprest as affoir. The haill Comownis of Zetland within contenit, ressauit and sworne the dayis respectivé befoir rehersit, hes testifiit, verifiit, and deponit this Complaynt and Article to be of trewth, all in ane voce.
Ferdlie, It was hevelie lamentit and complenit be the said auld Lawrichtmen of the cuntrie of Zetland, that quhair the Laird of Cultemalindie, sen his entres, hes rasit ane new exactioun upon the cuntrie, quhilk was never tane of befoir be na Fowde, of certane oxin and scheip zeirlie furth of ilk parochin at the tyme of the haldin of the lawting. The Inhabitaris of the cuntrie within contenit, ressauit and sworne the dayis respectivé before rehersit, examinit upon this Article, deponis as followis—
And first, The Parochinaris of Quhytnes and Weisdale testifiis, that the Laird compellit the men of this parochin to pay ilk zeir of twa zeiris to him, quhen he com to Tingwall or Scalloway, ane ox and twelff scheip, and the uther twa last zeiris thai payit bot sax scheip; quhilk wrang custome is broucht up be him upon thame of new, and was never upon thame of befoir.
The Parochinaris of Brassay, concerning this Article, testifiis, that the Laird causit thame to pay to him ilk zeir, sen hes entres, ane ox and twelff scheip, by geiss, hennis, fische, buttir, and eggis, but ony payment or allowance thairfoir, except this last zeir, quhairintill he requyrit na sic thing of thame for nocht; quhilk was never ane dewitie of befoir, but rasit be him, and gart poyind thair gudis for payment of the samyn.
The Parochinaris foirsaid of Nesting, Lunasting, Quhailsay, and Skerreis, declaris, that the Laird compellit thame to pay ilk zeir, sen his entres (except this last zeir), ane ox and xxiiii scheip, quhilk is ane wrang custome and ane grit oppressioun, for thai gat na payment thairfoir; and that it was never in use in ony tyme preceding to be payit, nowthir to Fowdis nor vtheris, that had charge and care our the cuntrie of Zetland.
The Parochinaris of Burray, Quharff, Trondra, and Godberwyk, affirmis, that the Laird tuik of thame, ilk zeir of twa zeir, ane ox and twelff scheip, quhilk was ane wrang custome, and was never in use to be tane affoir in ony mannis tyme.
The Inhabitaris of Zell affirmis, that ilk zeir of thre zeiris the Laird hes causit thame pay to him ane ox and twelff scheip; and Unst affirmis thai payit in lykwyiss as Zell. And Fetlair testifiis, that the first zeir of the Lairdis entres, thai payit to him ane ox and twelff scheip; the second zeir, ane kow and twelff scheip; and the third zeir, becaus the deid come amang the gudis of the Yle, he relevit thame of the ox, and tuik bot twelff scheip: Quhilk extortioun and wrangus custome the Laird layde doun this last zeir, feirand giff he continewit in it, that he wald be complenit upon.