[1649/1/354]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of parliament, having taken into their consideration a supplication given in to them by Robert, viscount of Arbuthnott, making mention that for the supplicant's affection to the cause and covenant and adherence to the reformation that the kirk and present estates of this kingdom does maintain, the said supplicant has been most maliciously oppressed and almost ruined. For in the month of March 1645 his lands within the sheriffdom of Kincardine were burnt and wasted by James Graham, [earl of Montrose] and his adherents, enemies to this kirk and kingdom, and his losses at that time did exceed all those of his quality where he lived, which is proven and registered in Mr David Hay's register and does amount to the sum of £80,000 or thereby, for his lands were not only destroyed and wasted by burning the whole houses and corns thereon, but his tenants and servants were most cruelly murdered. And at that same time his lands in Angus were likewise spuilzied by him and thereafter were quartered upon by the regiment of horse of [William Hamilton], earl of Lanark for the space of 40 days, as was instructed by the billets given in to [Sir Adam Hepburn of] Humbie, for which the said Robert, viscount of Arbuthnott has neither received allowance nor satisfaction. At which time the said regiment exhausted more than four years' rent of these lands, so that the said Robert, viscount of Arbuthnott has been necessitated to borrow great sums of money for replenishing his lands and his own maintenance and bearing of public burdens. Yet notwithstanding of all his losses and sufferings, the said Robert, viscount of Arbuthnott never has received so much as any favour or forbearance until now or signified any resentment thereof, although he knows that there is none north of the River Tay that has suffered as he has done but has received some satisfaction, less or more. And because the said Robert, viscount of Arbuthnott knows the kingdom is in such a condition for the present that losses and sufferings can neither be eased nor relieved, his supplication humbly is that the said estates of parliament would be pleased to liberate him from this present levy in regard of his constant affection and former sufferings until such time they may be more able to take his hard condition into further consideration, as the said supplication at more length bears. Which being heard and taken into consideration by the said estates of parliament, they have liberated and liberate the said Robert, viscount of Arbuthnott from this present levy, both of horse and foot which ought to have been put out of any of his lands, and that in respect of his constant affection and of his former extraordinary sufferings.