[1661/1/333]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of parliament, having taken into their consideration a supplication presented to them by the commissioners of the shire of Caithness mentioning that these ten years bygone they have been under several heavy and intolerable burdens by the English usurpation, and more specially regretting their sufferings since the year 1656, at which time Mr James Innes of Sandside, Walter Innes of Orton, James Sinclair of Assery and the deceased John Sinclair of Lybster being, by the usurpers, appointed regulators of their assessment and justices of peace (with their collector William Baillie) have, by the foresaid authority, oppressed and added an additional load to the petitioners' most weighty burdens by raising rigorously from persons called moneyed men, under the name of personal cess, considerable sums of money for which they never accounted nor diminished ought of the total of the shire, and whereas £10 sterling by measure of abatement have been granted to the shire for wasted lands, yet there is no account made thereof but lies still in the commissioners' and collectors' hands, monopolized (for ought the petitioners know) to their own uses, and in addition this £50 sterling has been imposed upon their assessment yearly more than the public burden amounted to, without any warrant for the same, and considerable sums have been by them intromitted with under the name of fines as being justices of the peace, never yet accounted for nor employed to any public use. Humbly therefore, desiring a warrant to any persons the parliament should please nominate to convene the commissioners and collectors above-named before them and the heirs and executors of the said deceased John Sinclair of Lybster, to take probation in the matter, and to determine or to provide some other effectual way for the shires speedy reparation, as the supplication bears. The lord commissioner and estates of parliament do hereby give warrant and commission to the justices of peace to be nominated by this present parliament for the shire of Caithness, or any five of them, to call and convene before them the persons complained upon above, with power to them to try and examine the whole matter above-written, and accordingly to report their diligence thereupon to the lords of his majesty's privy council that they may determine therein, as they shall find just and reasonable.
[1661/1/334]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of parliament, taking into their consideration a supplication presented to them in name of the commissioners of the shire of Caithness mentioning that, in the year 1656, the justices of peace and commissioners of assessment in the shire of Caithness did procure from the usurpers an order for revaluing the said shire, which, accordingly, they most unjustly did prosecute, valuing some not to the half of their rent and others above their rent according to their pleasure; humbly therefore, desiring a warrant to the entrant justices of peace for revaluing the said shire, as the supplication bears. The lord commissioner and estates of parliament do hereby give warrant and commission to [John MacKay], lord Reay, William Sinclair of Dunbeath, John Sinclair of Brims, Mr James Innes of Sandside, James Sinclair of Assery, David Sinclair of South Doune and Walter Innes of Orton, or any four of them, to meet at any time and place they shall appoint, and of new again to value the said shire and equally proportion the burdens thereof so as everyone within the same may bear their true and just share according to their respective rents.
[1661/1/335]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Commission to John [Fleming], earl of Wigtown, John [Fleming], lord Fleming, James Fleming of Oxgang, John Gartshore of that ilk and Mr James Fleming of Balloch, or any three of them, for judging of Patrick Clark apprehended and incarcerated for the abominable crime of bestiality.
Commission to Sir Robert Hepburn of Keith, marischal, Patrick Brown, younger of Colstoun, Alexander Cockburn in Letham, Mr Alexander Hay of Baro, Thomas Haliburton of Eaglescarnie, Mr John Butler of Kirkland and Doctor [---] Hepburn of Monkrigg, or any four of them, for trying and judging of Anna Kemp in Belton, Isobel Smith there, Margaret Kerr there and Isobel Smyth in Pilmuir, accused of being guilty of the abominable crime of witchcraft etc.
Commission to George Livingston of Saltcoats, William Ferguson, bailie of Dirleton, [---] Couper of Fenton Barns and Adam Maxwell of Highfield for trying and judging of Bessie Knox in West Fenton and Isobel Johnston in Gullane, accused of being guilty of the abominable crime of witchcraft, the commission bearing any three of the forenamed commissioners to be the quorum.
Commission to Mr John Dougall of Nunland, Mr John Butler of Kirkland, Mr Richard Cairnes of Pilmuir, Patrick Hepburn, late bailie of Haddington, Francis Hepburn of Beanston, Thomas Haliburton of Eaglescarnie and Alexander Borthwick of [---], for judging of Janet West in Samuelston, Isobel Cathie there, Isobel Thomson there, Christine Black there, Janet Kemp there, Susanna Bannatyne there, Robert Scott there, James Welsh there and Barbara Scott in Rottenrow, accused of being guilty of witchcraft etc., any three of the commissioners a quorum.
[Clerk's note]
Nota there is a decreet at [William Douglas], duke of Hamilton's instance against [James Campbell of] Ardkinglas of this day's date registered the day following.†