Part 14

“My Lord Commissioner and Lordis of Articles of thir present parliament, Unto your Grace and Lordships humblie meines and shewis We zour Servitoris Lawrence Bruce of Cultmalindy, Henrie Sinclair of Towquoy, William Irving of Saba, Robert Sinclair of Camstane, Thomas Cheyne of Walay, William Bruce of Cimbister, John Sinclair of Tobe, and Magnus Cromartie of Caray, ffor our selff and in name of the remanent Our Sowerane Lordis gwid subjectis heritable possessoris of the Udack Lands in Orknay and Yetland, That quhair Patrick, Earle of Orknay, Vpon some sinister informatioun made be him that the haill Vdack Lands in Orknay and Yetland wer fallin in Nonentrie, hes therupon and upon some other unlawfull groundis purchasit ane Infeftment of our saidis landis, and is myndit to seek the approbatioun and confirmatioun theroff in thir present Parliament, That therby being claid in the warrand and authoritie of ane Act of Parliament, he may summarlie, but forme prosceiss of law, posses him selffe in our haill landis and intruse himselffe therintill. Albeit (we doubt not) give your Grace and Lordships vnderstood the nature of our Vdach landis, and the forme and maner of ther halding, no sick confirmatioun wald be grantit to the said Erle. For it is of truth, That quhan the landis of Orknay and Yetland wer under the Crowne of the Kingis of Norroway for the tyme, the Vdach landis were repute as ane pairt of the propertie of the Crown, and the possessoris of the earledome bruikit the samin; but charter or seasing, as heritable rentalleris of the propertie of the Crown, for payment of ther Scattis, callit in our language the fewduties, and at the deceiss of the possessor and rentaller, the entrie of the aires followed be ane breiff of divisioun, callit in Denmark and Norroway ane Shownd Bill, and is putt in executioun be the Sheriff and his deputis, Quhilk forme of halding hes been inviolablie keeped sensyne, alswell during the tyme of the Kingis of Denmark, as sen ther landis fell to the Crowne of Scotland, and we and our predecessoris of thir Vdach landis haiff been in continwall possession theroff according to the tenor of the halding abovewrettin ffirst esteablished in Norroway, allowit in Denmark and imbracit and ressauit be ane inviolable custome in this kingdome thir ffyve agis bygane and mair, and thair wes nevir any questioun moved against the forme of our haldingis, and the constant and inviolable custome of sa mony ages, without any interruptioun or process intendit against us or our predecessoris, will never suffer us to fall under the compas of nonentrie. And giff the Sowerane Princis of thir kingdome for the tyme had mislykit of the forme of our halding, as not agriable to the lawes or customes of this kingdome, ther is no question bot be the authoritie of ane lawe (all parteis being heared) thay wald have altered and changit the forme of our haldingis, and putt us in suretie be ane new established forme: bot so far hes the Princes of this Kingdome been from quarrelling of the nature of our haldingis, as by taking hold and making thair advantage upon everie failzie quhilk hapnit and fell out against the conditioun of our halding, thay have approven and allowit our said haldingis. For it is ane prouisioun and conditioun in our haldingis, that the non payment of owr dewties for thrie termis togidder forfaltis our right and possessioun, quherby it is fallen out that many of the Vdach landis hes fallen in his Majesteis handis upon this occation.—AND FARDER it is of veritie that quhan this pretendit Infeftment was first purchast be the said Earle, We finding our selffes thairin to be very heavilie grieved and prejudgit, we cam unto him and assured him that we wald complaine and seek reparatioun from his Majestie, and he fearing (be law) he could not maintaine that pretendit right of his to be gwid, he promeist to us to discharge the samin give we wald pay to him the soumes of money advancit be him in purchasing theirof, quhilk we did. AND FARDER it is of trewth that ther is some Lordis in Noroway and Denmark quha bruikis sundrie of the Vdach landis in Yetland eftir the same forme of halding, quhais halding the said Earle hes nawayes quarrelled and hes omitted ther landis out of his Infeftment, and hes only taine him to us whome he thinkis to owircrow at his pleasur, AND SWA we being his Majesteis proper rentalleris, we ought not to be in ane worse conditioun nor strangeirs are, and giff this confirmatioun sall passe throw, it will samickle the mair stur up the said Earle in most violent courses againis us, and prepaires our utter wndoeing and wrack. HEIRFOR we most humblie beseek your Grace and Lordschips that no seek confirmation passe to the said Earle in this present Parliament, and that we may have ane act past in our favoris, declairing the pretendit infeftment purchast be the said Earle of our said Vdach Landis, shall nowayes prejudge ws in our heritable possessionis, and that the samin sall be na farder extendit bot to our fewdewties, quhilk we are content to pay to him or to any othir his Majestie pleis appoint, And giff it sall pleis his Majestie and your Lordschipis to alter the forme of our haldingis and to make the samine agreable to the forme of this kingdome, We most humblie beseek your Lordschipis that it be declairit be Act of this present Parliament, that we sall be preferrit to our rowmes and possessionis, and that securities be made to ws of the samine, we doing therfor accordingly, and your answir humblie We beseek. Etc.”

The Supplication abovewrettin was given to the Lordis of the Articles of the Parliament, haldin at Edinbroughe be King James 6, Parl. 12, anno 1592, in the quhilk Parliament ane Ratificatioun was made to Patrick Erle of Orknay of the Erledome theroff in ane unprinted Act.

The forsaid Erledome was ratified of befor to Robert Earle of Orknay in the 7 Parl., haldin at Edinbrough be King James 6, anno 1581.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.—No. I.

CHARGES laid before KING ERIC (THE POMERANIAN) by the COMMONS OF ORKNEY against DAVID MEYNER (MENZIES) OF WEEM, PRÆSES OF THE ISLANDS. MCDXXV. Extracted and Corrected from the ORCADES _seu_ RERUM ORCADENSIUM HISTORIÆ, _Auctore_ THORMODO TORFÆO. _Havniæ_, 1697, p. 179.

I. Cum adversi frugibus anni affligerent terram, PUBLICO-que CONCILIO (ipsius quoque Davidis consensu) decretum esset, ne frumentum efferretur, sed indigenis tolerabili pretio venderetur, nihilominus ipsum Præsidem quatuor navibus frumentum in Scotiam avexisse, et antequam hæc constitutio facta esset, quinque aut sex naves frugibus onustas alio amandasse, maximo insularum damno.

II. Peregrinos præterea invexisse, qui plebi universæ, etiam iis qui judicia administrabant, admodum graves hospitiis se magnis civium damnis et molestiis violenter ingessissent.

III. PUBLICUM TERRÆ SIGILLUM, invito Supremo juris Præfecto abstulisse, contraque leges et consuetudines obsignandis quæ libuit adhibuisse; cumque vir quidam Nobilis nomine Christianus Ellingeflet (LINKLETT) expostularet, præposterè SIGNACULUM GENTIS in abusum trahi, magnam eum pecuniæ jacturam fecisse. Cum autem Comes accederet, postularetque idem ad obsignandum Testimonium, quo jus suum in Orcades a marjoribus per ordinem successionis ad se delatum, monstraret et afferreret, simulque ut quidam indigenarum Nobiliores secum ad Serenissimum Regem ejusque senatum transfretare permitterentur, ad statum publicum declarandum, verumque de jure suo testimonium ferendum, neque SIGNACULUM, neque comites ullos, præter Thomam Sinclerum et Archidiaconum Hialtlandiæ, duosque famulos indigenas impetrasse.

IV. Anno proximo ex quo Comes in Dania apud Serenissimum Regem moratus esset, cum prædictus David eo profecturus esset, universos eum insularum incolas convocatos, de testimonio vitæ apud eos transactæ solicitasse, idque scriptis ad Clementissimum Regem eique traditis literis obtinuisse, ea conditione ut Viri primæ Nobilitatis viginti quatuor eum ad Regem sequerentur, quos (cives nequaquam dubitarent) si eo pervenissent, tum de commodis Regis, tum etiam administratione Davidis Regem informaturos; verum itinere a Davide prohibitos, domi remansisse, solum profectum, Sigillum Gentis secum avexisse, nemine Nobilium comitante.

V. Regiæ monetæ valorem adeo minuisse, ut uni Scotico duos regios nummos æquari juberet, idque tantisper, donec tantum non omnem regionem monetâ exhausisset. Cum autem Thomas Sinclerus novissimè e Daniâ rediisset, in eundum valorem eam restituisse quem in Norvegia obtinuit, idque publicè promulgasse, quod et hodie teneat.

VI. Nec parum incolis nocuisse mulctarum Regi Comitique debitarum (præter legum privilegiorumque aut reformationum regulas), rigidas exactiones.

VII. SUPREMI INSULARUM JUDICIS, quem _Nomophylacem_ (LAWMAN) appellant, uxorem, ejusque propinquos accusasse, quod is bis comprehensus in Turrim (carcerem) conjectus fuerit, talibus ex causis. Quarum prima, quod Jon de Baddi Nomophylacis minister et propinquus, repetivisset equum suum a Michæle Magio (MENZIES?) Davidis propinquo, qui eo invito eum (aliò profecturus) abstulisset, ea de causa Nomophylacem in Plateâ Kyrkinvogensi (_The_ DOM PLATZ _of Kirkwall_, _now_ BROAD STREET) incedentom apprehensum Turri (BISHOP’S TOWER) inclusisse, sed postquam dimisisset peregrinos Catanesenses, in domum ejus immissos, templum offringi fecisse et quæcunque ibi continebantur evihi singula quæ in domo erant, magna parvaque corrumpi, nullo omnino excepto. Captum denuo Nomophylacem in Turrim conjecisse, tantùm quod ei SIGILLUM TERRÆ ad obsignanda quæcunque volebat tradere recusasset, ibique tam diu detenuisse, donec se ei addixisset, uxorque ejus SIGILLUM et CODICEM LEGUM altari Divi Magni imposuisset. Exinde prædictum Davidem SIGILLUM et CODICEM in suam custodiam assumpsisse, aliumque Nomophylacem constituisse, qui id officium ægrè assumpsisset.

VIII. Quo tempore Supremum Judicem Turri incluserat, alium quoque Nobilem indigenam simul in carcerem, contra Leges et sine causâ, intrusisse.

IX. Jonem Loggium (LOGY) accusasse, se quoque eidem carceri mancipatum, quod requisitum Sigillum negaret sibi, nisi ad custodiendum, commissum esse.

X. Thomam Sinclerum mandatarium Comitis expostulasse cum Davide, quod de canonibus annuis Comitis à morte patris ejus et anno qui præcessit, ad octo Libras Anglicas acceperit, præter alia, id quod Comes ad Clementissimum Regem accusare decreverit.

XI. Ipsum quoque Thomam Sinclerum suo propriæ nomine questum, quod postquam literis Regiis munitus esset, quibus eum Rex, ejus ministros, bona navem et quæcunque ejus essent, in suam regiam protectionem receperat, nihilominus famulum suum Davidem Smid (SMITH) comprehensum, ad sanguinem usque intra suam domum verberatum, inque infima Turris detrusum, ibique compedibus injectis, in reditum suum ê Scotia detentum fuisse. Se vero, cum primum in Orcades reverterit, interponentibus se bonis viris, statim domum suam cum suis rediisse, ibique ad finem diei permansisse, quo tunc Johannes Kroge (CRAIGIE) filiusque sororis ejus, cum pluribus aliis se accessisse suasisseque, ut in Templum (_Kirk of_ ST. MAGNUS) aut aliò profugeret, ni cum suis incendio perire mallet; quò cùm se recepisset, ad jura Templi literasque tutelæ regiæ quas simul exhibuerit, nequiequam provocasse; tandem clam elapsum, Clementissimi Regis suisque amicis collectis, postulasse, ut in gratiam Regis, se ab oppressione vindicarent, legum pro se suisque præsidia sæpius inclamasse. His comitatum, ubi ad Templum rediisset, suosque ministros inde exemisset, cæsum esse sororis suæ filium. Inde interponente se Nomophylace cum aliis Primariis Viris, litem istam ita compositam, ut datis ab utraque parte prædibus, causam omnem Regis aut Comitis judicio decidendam committerent; cavisse prædibus Thomam duodecim, Davidem nullo. Cumque ille in Scotiam rediisset, Comitem decessisse; quo côgnito, Davidem prædibus istis duodecim triginta sex libras Anglicas expressisse, omnemque dilationem, quoad simul judicio Regis senatusque sisterentur, abnuisse. His ita ordinatis, eos qui Thomæ Sinclero ad Ædem Sacram protectoriis literis Regis conservandis adhæserant, octuaginta Libris Anglicis et quinquaginta solidis multasse; fuisse autem qui Davidis Thomæque verba exceperant, cum Thomas ad Legis et judicis sententiam provocaret, nimirum Nicolaum Myrium (MUIR), Dominum Laurentium, Dominum Johannem Canonicum, Wilhelmum de Hedal (HEDDLE), Alexandrium de Suderlandia, Johannem de Krage (CRAIGIE), Wilhelmum Yrving (IRVING), Wilhelmum Flet (FLETT), Adamum de Nestegaard, Christiamum de Ellingeklat (LINKLETT) multosque alios terræ istius Bonos viros, et presbyteros et laicos.

XII. Wilhelmum quoque Bressium (BRASS), sine ullo juridico processu, nedum criminis alicujus convictum, compedibus constrinxisse, tantùm quòd ad colloquium cum Comite in Scotiam profectus esset.

XIII. Cùm plebs de Rognvaldzö (South Ronaldsey) Præsidi provinciæ suæ quereretur, de Scotorum quos Feros (WILD HIGHLANDERS) appellant, nimiâ, sibique commissationibus aliisque molestiis, gravi frequentatione; professa se mori malle, quàm tantis identidem injuriis vexari, respondisse Davidem, ‘Non omnes eos uno eodemque die morituros, singulis tamen ‘diebus quoad is iis præesset, aliquos.’’

XIV. Davidem Meynerum Henricho Garoch (GARRIOCH) duas selibras Anglicas abstulisse, quod prædicto Thomæ in Regii diplomatis autoritate vindicanda adhæreret.

XV. Joni Simonis filio undecim solidos Anglicos, eodem die abstulisse.

XVI. Malcun Jonis (MALCOLM JOHNSON) etiam questum, nave se bonisque aliis, pretio ducentorum nobliorum, sine actione juris spoliasse.

XVII. Prædictum Davidem Jonem Jonis filium, comprehendi curasse, adque livorem et sanguinem contusum in Turrim conjecisse, eique unam naviculam sex scalmorum, pretio duarum Librarum Anglicarum, emuuxisse, cum pluribus aliis bonis sine causâ.

XVIII. Nauclerum Thomam Brun questum, conjectum se à Davide in Turrim, quòd ad primum nuncium eum non accessisset.

XIX. Et cum David novissime ex Dania rediisset, onustam mercibus prædicti Thomæ navem arripuisse, inque Scotiam se invito misisse, ibique similagine pretio viginti quatuor nobliorum eum spoliasse, detenuisseque, maximam partem hiemis, cujus exitu cum domum navigasset navis, mercium nautarumque aliquot jacturam fecerit.

XX. Jonem Loggium quiritatum, exutum se a Davide ex prædictæ navis vectura decem cadis (tounas vocat) hordeo, octo similagine refertis, octo cupis pice uno ferro distentis, undecim mensuris ceræ quas LAPIDES appellant, viginti sex lebetibus magnis parvisque, duabus stateris, duobus molegis malluviis, centum et octo libris cannabis, sex cantharis stanneis, undecim albarum et rubrarum patinarum decadibus, quæ simul in summam viginti sex librarum Anglicarum ascenderint.

XXI. Prædictum Davidem Andreæ Jonis ex eadem nave sex lebetes, pretio sex nobliorum, eripuisse.

XXII. Præfatum Davidem Nicolaum Jonis (NICOL JOHNSON) spoliari fecisse quadraginta solidis Anglicanis, in auro et argento, eo quod se Thomæ Sinclero conjunxisset, Clementissimique Regis diplomati satisfecisset; ad leges se sed frustra provocasse.

XXIII. Patricio Thyrgelsonio duas vaccas, bovemque castratum, eadem de causa ademptum.

XXIV. Jonem Fif in Turrim conjectum, compedibus ferreis duriter constrinxisse, vigintique nobliis mulctasse, sine juris processu, tantum quod dixisset Comitem esse ad comitatum Orcadensem illo jure potiorem, essetque Comiti sanguine junctus.

XXV. Joni Blatto (FLETT?) quinquaginta marcas Anglicas de nocte eripuisse, quod in mandatis regiis vindicandis, cum Thoma Sinclero unum fecisset; eum quoque leges judiciumque implorasse, sed nullo successu.

XXVI. Wilhelmun Graa (GRAY) conquestum, se ab eo coactum ad transmittendam navem suam ad insulam in mari longè dissitam, Solsker (SOULIS SKERRY) dictam, sub minis exilii, cumquenavi duos fratres suos minorennes et octo alios indigenas imposuisset; omnes cum ea periisse; navem cum armentis mercibusque quindecim marcis Anglicis æstimatam.

XXVII. Samsonem Vilhelmi filium (WILLIAMSON) deplorasse, se Templo violenter ereptum, damnatorum in morem vinctum, protinus capitis supplicio à Davide destinatum, ni Canonici cum uxore ejus intercessissent. Expressos tamen sibi unum et quinquaginta solidos Anglicos, sine juris processu, sine judicio, tantum quod imputaret sibi, quod ministrum suum vulnerasset; se legibus crimen diluere volentem, non admissum.

XXVIII. Paridem Lutzit (LOUTTIT) professum esse, se quoque inclusum Turri, coercitum ferreis compedibus, tribus integris diebus ac noctibus; liberationem deinde impendio decem marcarum signatarum constitisse, inobservato se nullius criminis convictum, tantum quod a Thoma Sinclero dependens, Regis mandatis velificari studuerit.

XXIX. Prædictum mandatum Paridi inter recitandum, a Davide ereptum, referente, ‘se tales Literas in alium sermonem translatus, octodecim denariis Anglicis in Dania ‘emere posse;’ retenuisse deinde, et in eum diem quo hæc querela instituta est, retinere.’

XXX. Thomæ Bimsoni (BEENSON) unam et viginti marcas Anglicas, inauditâ causâ, eripuisse.

XXXI. Inaudita quoque causâ, sine judicio, contra leges Magno de Jennelandia (MAINLAND?) duodecim cados hordeo plenos, viginti quatuor solidorum Anglicorum pretio erepuisse.

XXXII. Wilhelmum Geredsonium (GARSON) ejusque equos in Turrim conjecisse, sine legitimo processu, tantum quod Thomæ Regiique mandati partes susceperit, tredecim marcis Anglicis liberationem emercari coactum.

XXXIII. Eadem de causa Sanderum Brunum (SAUNDERS BROWN) de nocte viginti septem marcis Anglicis spoliasse.

XXXIV. Et prædicti Sanderi ministrum undecim marcis Anglicis, ejusdem intentati criminis prætextu.

XXXV. Dominum Nicolaum Myrium (MUIR) et Dominum Laurentium, Canonicos, questos esse, quod sigillum capituli arcâ quæ in penetrali Templi stetit, eximisset, præterque semestre detenuisset; quid scribi illoque obsignari fecerit non sibi constitisse.

Multo plura esse quæ ad Clementissimum Dominum suum Regem de gestis Davidis Meyneri, illatisque ab eo populo Orcadensi damnis, scribi possent, necessariaque essent; sed molem ejus criminum, longamque seriem, in præsens se exponere nequisse; tantum in horum capitum firmius testimonium, majoremque securitatem, Terræ suæ Populique Sigillo has literas obsignatas, etiam sigillis Reverendi probique viri Wilhelmi Thurgilssonii Regionis nomophylacis, Kolbeini Flæt (FLETT) Jonis Magni filii (MANSON) et Wilhelmi Urving (IRVING) confirmatas.

APPENDIX.—No. II.

THE TAXATION, RENTALS, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, OF ORKNEY AND ZETLAND.

The earliest Survey and Valuation of Orkney (1263) was the counterpart—perhaps the pattern—of the AULD EXTENT of Scotland made by Alexander III. somewhat later and subsequently to his intimate relations with Norway. It was to the Islanders an event of such importance, that history and tradition have combined to commemorate its date, place, and circumstances with picturesque minuteness. It was on St. Martin’s day 1263 that Hacon IV., in an upper chamber of Bishop Henry’s palace in Kirkwall, lay down to die of a broken heart and mortified ambition. But the cares of royalty followed him even to his deathbed; his troops and seamen, the relics of the storm and battle at Largs, were starving and houseless; and in the absence of Magnus Jarl III., he issued orders to divide the whole occupied lands of Orkney and Zetland into MARKLANDS containing 8 EYRISLANDS or URISLANDS, each of which should find quarters and supplies for a Hofding and a fixed number of men, probably in proportion to the Skatts formerly paid.

In the comparatively fertile and populous Orkneys, more minute subdivision soon became necessary; and some Scottish Jarl divided each Norse Urisland into the Scottish denominations of 18 Pennylands, and each pennyland into 4 Farthings or Merks, or (in some districts) into 6 Uriscops or Mæliscops, and finally into 10 Yowsworths, to suit the excessive partition of Odal heritage. Though the Mark is still the vague denomination of land measure in Zetland, as being sufficiently minute for its large tracts of comparatively valueless waste, even there it has been found convenient to estimate the unequal value of the Markland by Pennies, and to apportion its Skathald, Skatt, and Landskylld to the number of Pennies ascribed to each Mark, an alteration traditionally attributed to English valuators under a commercial Treaty between England and Norway—perhaps that of 1431. From the confusion of terms of value, weight, and size,—of Mark and Merk—of Peningr and Penny—of Urisland and Uriscop—of Marklands in Zetland of 4, 8, and 12 pennies per mark—and of Pennylands in Orkney of 3, 4, 5⅛, and 8 merks to the penny—so many difficulties beset this subject, that I rejoice that I am not required to attempt their solution; for the denominations of land-value still exist as fixed by Hacon’s Survey, practically undisputed by subjects or rulers—neither the ground of oppression nor the cause of complaint.