[A1641/7/21]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Supplication of Master James Mowat for Shetland†
To the king's most excellent majesty and most honourable estates of parliament,
The humble petition of Master James Mowat of Ollaberry, for himself and in name and on behalf of the remote inhabitants of Shetland, according to commission.
Shows that whereas in the year 1634 his majesty was graciously well pleased upon remonstrance of the grievance of the said island at that time by the petitioner to give order to the most honourable privy council for remedying thereof and authorising a commissioner for going thither for trying and rectifying all abuses there, which order the said council did approve; but in respect of vacation then instant and winter approaching, the going of the said commissioner was delayed; and thereafter being delayed took no effect, through which the said inhabitants have been and are much grieved and have taken occasion in this happy time of reformation to renew their said remonstrance by the said petitioner.
Therefore, it is humbly argued that a committee may be appointed for examining the said grievances and concluding upon fit remedies to be applied thereto by sending a commissioner or otherwise as shall be found expedient.
[A1641/7/22]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Supplication of Mowat and Niven†
To the nobility and other members of the honourable and supreme court of parliament, humbly shows your honours' supplicants Master James Mowat of Ollaberry and Ninian Niven of Windhouse in Shetland that where I, the said Master James, being elected and nominated lay elder for the presbytery and isle of Shetland for this present general assembly, according to my commission for that effect herewith produced, I am come here to attend the said assembly and to represent both to the parliament and assembly the disorders, grievances and abuses committed by certain factious persons disaffected and evilly disposed, as well of the clergy as lays, for the which some of them are suspended by lawfully sentence of the presbytery and others are under their legal trial and censure. Of which number John Edmonston, late minister at Yell, and Master John Mitchell, late minister at Tingwall and archdean of Shetland, are two who are lawfully suspended for their gross miscarriages. And they, fearing their just deserved punishment, have combined and bound themselves with James Sinclair of Scalloway, Arthur Sinclair of Houss, Master Patrick Cheyne of Halry, Laurence Gishart, fiar of Wethersta, and Master William Hay, archdean of Shetland, likewise a deprived minister, who politically and subtilely to prevent the just complaints and grievances against them have forged a scandalous libel fomented with calumnies and untruths, and thereupon have purchased a warrant from the committee of estates for summoning a number in Shetland who have lawfully proceeded against them according to the discipline of the kirk, and have purchased another warrant for summoning of them before the general assembly, both which are executed to a certain diet now approaching. And they, finding that I, the said Master James Mowat, am come here as commissioner for the assembly and am to remonstrate the said grievances and to answer to their unjust pursuits, as well before the parliament as assembly, and that, I, the said Ninian Niven, am likewise come here to answer for myself in the said pursuits, we are informed that the said James Sinclair has denounced or intends to denounce me, the said Master James, to the horn and to debar me from appearing either in parliament or assembly and to apprehend my person for a very unjust cause, namely, as cautioner in a suspension raised by certain udallers and heritors in Shetland against whom the said James Sinclair obtained a wrongful decreet for the mails and duties of their own udal lands possessed by them past memory, and whereof he purchased a pretended infeftment under the great seal over the heads of all kindly heritors and udallers thereof. Likewise Master Gilbert Mowat, son to James Mowat of Ure, and the said John Edmonston has denounced me, the said Ninian Niven, to the horn, of set purpose to debar me from defending in the said cause. And seeing we are come here for clearing ourselves and to represent the grievances of the country in manner foresaid, in equity and justice our persons ought to be protected during our attendance here at the least for the space of some few days until our suspension and relaxation be past by the ordinary lords of session. For doing whereof we have caused form our bill upon most relevant reasons, but seeing in the meantime before our bills can be had and considered our parties who are our professed enemies may strive to trouble our persons, in respect thereof we ought to have a person of standing in judgement to pursue and defend in the said matters, otherwise both the public and we in our own particular interest shall suffer prejudice, therefore we humbly beseech your lordships to take the premises to your consideration, and to grant protection to our persons that we may safely appear before the parliament and assembly respectively during the dependence of the said matter, at least for some few days until our suspension pass to grant us liberty to stand in judgement for our own defence, and for discharging of the commission entrusted to me, the said Master James, notwithstanding of the said unlawful hornings used against us which we shall make appear to be most unjust and unwarrantable in the own time, and with all to discharge all magistrates, messengers of arms and other judges from any troubling, arresting or apprehending our persons in the meantime. And your lordships' answer humbly we attend.
3 August 1641
This supplication, with another in the contrast hereof by James Sinclair, being publicly read by the parliament, they appoint the parties having interest to appear before the committee for the bills tomorrow to be heard in this business. And in the meantime, grant protection to the supplicants until tomorrow at night.
12 August 1641
Taken up by me, Master James Cheyne.†
[A1641/7/23]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Letter from Colonel Robert Munro
To the right honourable the lords and others of the committee of estate at Edinburgh, these
Right honourable,
The necessity of our regiment being so great makes officers and soldiers incessantly with their importunity run upon me through the want of their pay in seven months that I am constrained to be troublesome to your lordship in their behalf, more than for my own wants; beseeching your lordship most humbly to take some present course for their satisfaction, for we have run so long on trust that those we are due to are almost in despair of their payment, having so long been put off upon hopes, notwithstanding of the rumour of the great sums paid to our army, whereof we can receive no portion, as if we were not of your army or under the capitulation of the estates of this kingdom, who being now together your lordships will be pleased favourably to foresee and provide for our necessary maintenance. And knowing your lordships will allege that count does go before payment to clear what is due to the regiment of the six months past, I have directed with the bearer, my lieutenant colonel, the subscribed account, according to your lordships' last order in reforming the regiment with the deduction of two inferior officers of each company, in obedience to your lordships' commands, although contrary to my capitulation made with the estate. So expecting your lordships' pleasure in giving precept and warrant for our payment, according to the account, and that as a speedy remedy to our necessities, answerable to the trust and confidence of,
Your lordships' humble and obedient servants, Robert Munro, Mordington, July 29 1641.
3 August 1641
Produced and read in parliament.