[1368/6/8]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Parliament at Scone, in the year ‘68, month of June
In the parliament held at Scone, on 12 June 1368 with continuation, etc., the prelates, nobles and burgesses having been summoned who then were willing and able to be present, some compearing by commissioners, however others being absent contumaciously.
[1368/6/9]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Since it was expressly announced by the report of the ambassadors recently sent to the court and presence of the king of England [Edward III] to our lord king and the whole community that it was not profitable to enter into, nor to attempt, negotiation with the king and council of England upon having peace, unless, by the consideration and commission of general council, king and kingdom, [a mission] should be sent to negotiate in good faith principally upon one [of] the four points formerly demanded to be granted by those adversaries, along with diverse other articles added to those points, [therefore] on the part of everyone assembled in the present parliament, having had mature deliberation and assiduous counsel for four days and more upon the foregoing, it was finally delivered that, since the truce or armistice last taken and agreed between the king[s] and kingdom[s] is still effective, namely until the feast of the Purification next to come [2 February 1369] and then continuing for another year, and from then until the king shall be forewarned by the king of England under his great seal by the space of half a year before the beginning of a war, it is still not proper or expedient to enter nor attempt negotiation concerning the granting of any of the said points, which formerly in full parliament, at which more numerous and more important people were present than now are here present, were unanimously rejected by the three communities, [and] which were considered to be unsuitable, intolerable, and incapable of being observed, and expressly leading to servitude. But they do not conclude that, at some other time, when other circumstances are still wanting, negotiations may [?not]† be attempted in good faith, according as then seems opportune and expedient, on any of the points, together with the points, articles and modifications, which finally remove our enslavement by the grace of God, if it is convenient for that negotiation to be concluded.
[1368/6/10]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, they deliver that, because it is necessary to make preparations and arrangements concerning the defence of the kingdom, all disagreements moved between magnates and nobles other than by the course of common law ought to be settled and laid to rest quickly by the king, so that nobody should disturb another other than by the process of common justice, which same thing our lord king ought always to administer equally without favour or special regard to any persons.
[1368/6/11]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, they deliver that the Islesmen and those from the northern parts should be constrained by the king and [Robert the] Steward of Scotland not to bring harm to others, but that in the event of war the communities should be able to have safe refuge among them. And thus the lord our king in the same place by his own voice expressly warned and commanded the Steward of Scotland, [Thomas,] the earl of Mar, John Stewart, lord of Kyle, and Robert Stewart, lord of Menteith, that, according to the fealty and allegiance which they owe him, and under the penalty which will be incumbent, they shall preserve the communities of the realm unharmed from all those living within the bounds of their lordships; and that they will not let any malefactors wishing to harm others to cross those bounds or be received within them knowingly, willingly, or in as much as they are able to resist, under the penalty as above.
[1368/6/12]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, that our lord king immediately, without delay, should make John of the Isles come to his presence according to the manner touched upon between him and [Robert] the Steward of Scotland in the same place, and similarly John de Lorne and Gillespic Campbell; and he should take sufficient surety from them by which the whole community of the kingdom, and each of them by the other, shall be unharmed in future by them and their men and adherents; and also that he shall act [in such a way] that they and their men undergo labours and charges with their peers and neighbours.
[1368/6/13]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Moreover, it seems to the said assembled lords, for greater caution and security, that our lord king ought to write immediately and with urgency to the king [Edward III] and council of England concerning the days of repair and putting to rights sought to be appointed concerning the harm and injuries done and carried out upon the march, in accordance with the discussion carried out between them in the present parliament.
[1368/6/14]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
And they deliver concerning the keeperships of the marches that our lord king should immediately have counsel with the Earls of March [Patrick de Dunbar] and Douglas [Sir William Douglas], formerly appointed keepers of the march in the east, although they may not be now well disposed to the work, and he should appoint keepers swiftly and prudently according to their advice and counsel, but in the western regions Sir Archibald de Douglas should remain as before.
[1368/6/15]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
And as regards the castles they deliver, that our lord king should send, with the chamberlain of Scotland [Walter de Biggar], these knights written below, namely Sir Walter de Leslie, Sir Walter de Haliburton, Sir Hugh de Eglinton and Sir Walter Moigne, along with the keepers of the castles whom our lord king shall wish to have, to visit the king’s four castles, namely Lochleven, Edinburgh, Stirling and Dumbarton, and that accordingly if the said castles should be found wanting through their inspection, either in men in time of war, or in the defences of the walls in supplies, equipment and the other necessities duly and decently to be held against enemies by these castles, without any delay they shall be provided. And that the king should order the other castles to be visited without delay, either by the said knights or by other prudent and circumspect persons, and if they shall find them capable of defence and impregnable, it should be arranged swiftly between him and the lords in whose lordships or keeperships these castles should be situated concerning their defence, either in men, supplies or other necessities as above; but if [it is found otherwise] he should order them to be cast down without delay, under penalty as above.
[1368/6/16]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
It was also ordained that, because it was not hitherto seen expedient to the community to levy any contributions or collections, they ought to raise 26 shillings and 8 pence from the sack of wool for the king’s custom, and proportionally to him of the hides and pells to be assessed for custom, until the payment of the ransom shall be finished or it is ordained otherwise for the expenses of the king’s household. And because in certain parts there are no sheep, but other animals are abundant there, it is ordained that in those parts a total of marts should be levied for the expenses of the said household which (as it seems to the wise men of the council) should be equivalent to the charge that will be incumbent upon wool from sheep in the custom.
[1368/6/17]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
It was ordained, discussed and publicly proclaimed in the present parliament that all processes having been made upon falsed judgements, the discussion and determination of which pertain to parliament, shall be presented to the chancellor [Patrick de Leuchars, bishop of Brechin] before holding the next parliament, and that all parties compear at the next parliament to hear and receive determination of these. And it is understood that this forewarning or proclamation is equivalent to a summons, as if it were sent by a brieve of the king’s chancery.