William Head and John Fergusson, who had ‘practised a lottery by
authority in the kingdom of England,’ were authorised by the Privy
Council to set up a similar adventure in any part of Scotland they
pleased, ‘without let or molestation, they behaving themselves as
becometh.’--_P. C. R._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: MAR. 2.]
During the early years of the reign of Charles II., a custom prevailed
to a great extent of obtaining from the Privy Council protections
against the diligence of creditors. Sometimes a Highland chief could
not come to Edinburgh on important affairs of his own, without this
safeguard; sometimes the Council could not otherwise be favoured
with the company of some man of local influence, whom it desired to
see upon important public business. Sir Mungo Murray was unable to
attend the funeral of his cousin and namesake, ‘late lieutenant of
one of his majesty’s troops of guards,’ unless he got ‘protection
against the rigidity of his creditors.’ At this date, the Council
received an application for a protection from James Arnot, postmaster
at Cockburnspath, an important station on the road from Edinburgh to
Berwick. James having involved himself in debt, not only was his person
‘in hazard to be taken with captions, but the horses and furniture
reserved for the public use of the lieges upon the post-road are
threatened to be poindit.’ As the government owed him as much as would
pay his debts, it seemed but reasonable that they should save him from
his creditors, which they accordingly did by granting him and his
horses protection for a year.--_P. C. R._
[Sidenote: 1671.