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.