[1661/1/145]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our soverane lord, with advice and consent of the estates of parliament, takeing into consideration that Patrick Craig in Kirkwall, George Spence, David Corner, Johne Edmistoun, Patrick Halcro, Thomas Wilsone, Patrick Spence and Johne Pottinger, inhabitants in the said toun, being summoned to appeare befor the parliament be ane order of the late committie of estates for alledged usurpeing the office of magistracie within the said toun, be vertew of ane warrand from the usurpers and, for their not compeirance, wer declaired fugitives and denunced rebells, and haveing complained that the same wes done by the meanes of William, earle of Mortoun most injustly, they did obtaine suspension of the said decreit of parliament and warrand to summon the said William, earle of Mortoun befor the parliament and commissioners for bills for heareing the reasons of the said suspension discust and decreit of parliament, and all that had followed therupon simpliciter suspendit, the said suspenders and the said William, earle of Mortoun compeiring befor the saids commissioners appointed for heareing of bills and trade who, after heareing of the said suspender's procurators, and the procurator of the said William, earle of Mortoun debate upon the reasons of the said suspension, did conceave it fitting to remit the same and grounds thairof to the judge ordinar, and in the meanetyme to discharge the toun of Kirkwall to exerce any other power or jurisdiction then they did befor the tyme of the usurpers within the said toun, declareing it still leisome to them to exerce any power they wer in use of befor the tyme of the said usurpers; thairfor, his majestie, with advice and consent of the saids estates of parliament, have approven and approve the opinion of the saids commissioners for bills and trade in the said mater and, accordingly, have remitted and remits the discussing of the said suspension and grounds thairof to the judge ordinar, and in the meanetyme doe heirby discharge the said toun of Kirkwall, or any in thair name, to exerce any other power or jurisdiction then they did within the said toun of Kirkwall befor the tyme of the usurpers, but prejudice to them in the meane tyme to exerce any power they wer in use of then befor the tyme of the usurpers.