The Chancellor Dunfermline, who took the lead in this severe
administration of the law, tells the king in a letter written on the
day of the execution: ‘This company of pirates did enterteen one whom
they did call their Person [parson] for saying of prayers to them
twice a day, who belike either wearied of his cure, or foreseeing the
destruction of his flock, had forsaken them in Orkney, and, privily
convoying himself over land, was at length deprehendit in the burgh of
Dundee.’ As he confessed and gave evidence against the rest, besides
bringing some of them to confession, he was reserved for the king’s
pleasure, and probably let off.--_Pit._ _C. K. Sc._
There was at this time ‘a great visitation of the young children [of
Aberdeen] with the plague of the pocks.’ There were also ‘continual
weets,’ which threatened to destroy the crops and cause a famine. The
cause being ‘the sins of the land,’ a public fast and humiliation
was ordered in Aberdeen, ‘that God may be met with tears and
repentance.’--_A. K. S. R._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: OCT. 21.]
‘The Archbishop of St Andrews [Gladstanes], reposing in his bed in time
of the afternoon sermon, the Sabbath after his diocesan synod in St
Andrews, was wakened, and all the kirk and town with him, with a cry of
blood and murder. For his sister son [Walter Anderson], master of his
household, with a throw of his dagger, killed his cook [Robert Green],
while as he was busy in dressing the lord-bishop’s supper. The dagger
light[ed] just under the left pap of the cook, who fell down dead
immediately.’--_Cal._
The young man was committed to prison; but, ‘the poor man’s friends
being satisfied with a piece of money, none being to pursue the murder,
he was by moyen [influence] cleansed by a white assize (as they call
it) and let go free.’--_Row._ This trial took place before the regality
court of St Andrews. On the ensuing 17th January, letters were raised
by the king’s advocate against the assize, but with what result does
not appear.--_P. C. R._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: NOV. 1.]
‘... before the going to of the sun, there were seen by twelve or
thretteen husbandmen, great companies of men in three battles, joining
together and fighting the space of an hour, on certain lands perteening
to my Lord Livingston and the Laird of Carse. The honest men were
examined in the presence of divers noblemen, barons, and gentlemen, and
affirmed constantly that they saw such appearance.’--_Cal._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: DEC. 23.]
[Sidenote: 1610.