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In the parliament of our most excellent prince and lord James III, by the grace of God most illustrious king of Scots, held and begun at the burgh of Edinburgh, on Tuesday 24 February 1483 [1484], by our said supreme lord the king, in his own person sitting in the judgement seat.
On which day, with our sovereign lord the king sitting in parliament, his three estates assembled and gathered, William Cumming, macer, sheriff in that part, presented a letter of summons under the white wax and the testimonial of the great seal, the tenor of which follows:
James, by the grace of God king of Scots, to our sheriffs of Inverness, Elgin, Forres, Nairn, Banff [and] Aberdeen and their deputes, also our macer William Cumming, our sheriff in this matter, and any of them jointly and severally, greeting. We commission you and order that you summon, lawfully and peremptorily, before witnesses, William [Crichton], lord Crichton - by apprehending him personally if you are able to come upon him, and if a safe approach to him may be made, otherwise by public proclamation at the market crosses of our burghs of Inverness, Elgin, Forres, Nairn, Banff and Aberdeen, so that in this manner the summons can likely come to his notice - to appear personally before us, or before our justiciar, in our next parliament at Edinburgh, to be held on Thursday 19 February next to come, with continuation of days, to answer to us, or our said justiciar, in our aforesaid parliament, for his treasonable art, part, counsel and assistance given and shown to Alexander [Stewart], formerly duke of Albany, in his treasonable sending and dispatch of James Liddale, formerly of Halkerston, knight, into England with treasonable writings, muniments and instructions towards a treasonable alliance of Englishmen in the treasonable opinion of the said Alexander against us and [our] kingdom; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given and shown to the said Alexander in the treasonable receiving, holding and delivering of a pursuivant of the king of England, called Bluemantle, with treasonable writings and instructions to our enemies in England; and for treasonable art, part and counsel given and shown to the same Alexander in his treasonable entry and passage into England without our licence, for the treasonable inbringing of our said enemies [who are] in England, to the treasonable destruction of our person and our realm; and for the treasonable sending of diverse letters to the said Alexander in England, sent by a certain Thomas Dixon, a chaplain, after the forfeiture of the said Alexander; and for the treasonable fortifying and garrisoning of the castle of Crichton; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given to the persons being in the said castle, treasonably withholding the same castle against our mandates directed to them, treasonably perpetrated by the said William, lord Crichton after our pardon was earlier graciously granted to him for his great many treasonable actions and rebellions against us and our realm; [and] to submit to the law. Intimating to the said William, lord Crichton, that whether or not he compear at the said day and place, with continuation of days, we, or our said justiciar, will nevertheless proceed with the administration of justice in the aforesaid matters. And that you exhibit the present letters duly executed by you, and endorsed with the day and place and names of the witnesses to your execution of the same, before us, or before our said justiciar, in our aforesaid parliament on the said day and place. For the doing whereof we entrust our power to you and any of yours, jointly and severally, by the tenor of the presents. Given under the testimony of our great seal, at Edinburgh, 19 November in the 24th year of our reign [1483].
Executed by the said macer's hand, writ and testimonial under his seal together with the endorsement of Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome, sheriff of Edinburgh, presented and read in judgement as follows below: the 11th day of the month of December the year of our Lord 1483, and 24th year of the reign of our sovereign lord King James III, I, William Cumming, macer and sheriff in that part, by our sovereign lord specially constituted by his letters directed to me, travelled with the same, and these witnesses - Simon Sperdour, messenger, Thomas Scott, John Cowie with various others - to the market cross of Aberdeen; and similarly [on] the 18th day of the same aforesaid month and year I travelled with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, Patrick Pratt, one of the bailies of Banff, Patrick Blythe and Patrick Duncanson, burgess of the same - to the market cross of Banff; and [on] the 20th day of the said month and year I travelled with the said letters and these witnesses - Simon Sperdour, Thomas Scott, John Fraser and John Cowie with various others - to the market cross of Elgin; the 22nd day of the said month and year I travelled with the said letters and other witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, Archibald Brown and John Terres with various others - to the market cross of Forres; the 23rd day of the aforesaid month and year I travelled with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, William Calder and Alan Thompson, burgess of Nairn, with various others - to the market cross of Nairn; and the same 23rd day I travelled with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, Alexander Fleming, Alexander Reid and John Paterson, burgess of Inverness - to the market cross of the same, and because I could not get certain verification or find out where to find or apprehend William, lord Crichton in person, I travelled to all the aforementioned burghs and at the market crosses of the same at the days and before the aforenoted witnesses I summoned peremptorily by open proclamation the same William, lord Crichton. And further, on the 30th day of the aforesaid month and year I travelled with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, William Johnson, one of the bailies of Tain, Thomas Reid, a bailie of Cromarty, Mawnis Vaus, burgess of Inverness, and Alexander Sutherland, brother and family servant of the said Lord Crichton - to the town of Tain in Ross within the sheriffdom of Inverness aforesaid, where the same Lord Crichton had his dwelling, as I was informed in the vicar of Tain's house, and at all the market crosses of the aforenamed burghs and vicar's house in Tain as aforesaid I lawfully and peremptorily summoned, in the name and authority of our sovereign lord the king, the said William, lord Crichton, to compear in person before our aforenamed sovereign lord in his next parliament to be held at Edinburgh on Thursday the 19th day of the next month of February, and there to answer to his highness in his said parliament for the treasonous art, part, counsel and assistance undertaken and given to Alexander, formerly duke of Albany, in the treasonous mission and sending of James of Liddale, formerly of Halkerston, knight, to England with treasonous writs, muniments and instructions for the treasonous confederation with Englishmen, in the said Alexander's treasonous opinion against our sovereign lord's highness and realm; and for the treasonous counsel and assistance undertaken and given to the said Alexander in the treasonous reception, holding and delivering of a pursuivant from the king of England, called Bluemantle, with treasonous writs and instructions for the enemies from England; and for the treasonous art, part and counsel given to the said Alexander in his treasonous departure and travelling away to England without licence from our said sovereign lord for the treasonous bringing in of the said enemies from England, for the treasonous destruction of our said sovereign lord's person and realm; and for the treasonous sending of diverse letters to England to the said Alexander by one Thomas Dickson, chaplain, since the forfeiture of the said Alexander; and for the treasonous fortification and supplying of Crichton castle, and for the treasonous counsel and assistance given to the persons inside the said castle, treasonably withholding the same castle against the command of our sovereign lord directed to them, treasonably undertaken by the said William, lord Crichton after our sovereign lord's grace [was] granted and given to the said William, lord Crichton, for the many and diverse treasonous actions and rebellions treasonably committed and undertaken by him against our sovereign lord and his realm, and to submit to the law for the said treasonous trespasses and crimes at day and place appointed. And in all the aforenoted executions I made known that whether the said Lord Crichton compeared or not at the day and place appointed for him, with continuation of days, our sovereign lord would proceed regardless to the passing of justice. And also from our sovereign lord's letters directed to me on this matter, I gave the copy to the aforesaid Alexander Sutherland, who required me for that on the behalf of the said Lord Crichton. At Tain on 30 December aforenoted. In witness of this my letter of execution and record written by my own hand, I have affixed my seal.
There follows a copy of the citation upon the same William, lord Crichton directed to the sheriff of Edinburgh and his deputes:
James, by the grace of God king of Scots, to our sheriff of Edinburgh and his bailies, greeting. We commission you and order that you summon, lawfully and peremptorily, before witnesses, William, lord Crichton - by apprehending him personally if you are able to come upon him, otherwise by public proclamation at the market cross of our burgh of Edinburgh - to appear personally before us, or before our justiciar, in our next parliament at Edinburgh, to be held on Thursday 19 February next to come, with continuation of days, to answer to us, or our said justiciar, in our aforesaid parliament, for his treasonable art, part, counsel and assistance given and shown to Alexander, formerly duke of Albany, in his treasonable sending and dispatch of James Liddale, formerly of Halkerston, knight, into England with treasonable writings, muniments and instructions towards a treasonable alliance of Englishmen in the treasonable opinion of the said Alexander against us and our kingdom; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given and shown to the said Alexander in the treasonable receiving, holding and delivering of a pursuivant of the king of England, called Bluemantle, with treasonable writings and instructions to our enemies in England; and for treasonable art, part and counsel given and shown to the same Alexander in his treasonable entry and passage into England without our licence, for the treasonable inbringing of our said enemies [who are] in England, to the treasonable destruction of our person and our realm; and for the treasonable sending of diverse letters to the said Alexander in England, sent by a certain Thomas Dixon, a chaplain, after the forfeiture of the said Alexander; and for the treasonable fortifying and garrisoning of the castle of Crichton; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given to the persons being in the said castle, treasonably withholding the same castle against our mandates directed to them, and against acts of parliament, treasonably perpetrated by the said William, lord Crichton after our pardon was earlier graciously granted to him for his great many treasonable transgressions and rebellions against us and our realm; [and] to submit to the law. Intimating to the said William, lord Crichton, that whether or not he compears at the said day and place, with continuation of days, we, or our said justiciar, will nevertheless proceed with the administration of justice in the aforesaid matters. And that you exhibit the present letters duly executed by you, and endorsed with the day and place and names of the witnesses to your execution of the same, [before] us, or before our said justiciar, in our aforesaid parliament on the said day and place. Given under the testimony of our great seal, at Edinburgh, 19 November in the 24th year of our reign [1483].
Executed by the said macer's hand, writ and testimonial under his seal, together with the endorsement of Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome, sheriff of Edinburgh, present and read in judgement as follows after: On 11 December 1483, in the 24th year of James III's reign, I, William Cumming, macer and sheriff in that part, specially constituted by our sovereign lord by his letters directed to me, passed with the same and these witnesses - Simon Sperdour, messenger, Thomas Scott, John Cowie, with various others - to the market cross of Aberdeen; and likewise on the 18th of the same month and year I passed with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, Patrick Pratt, one of the bailies of Banff, Patrick Blythe and Patrick Duncanson, burgess[es] of the same - to the market cross of Banff; and on the 20th of the same month and year I passed with the said letters and these witnesses - Simon Sperdour, Thomas Scott, John Fraser and John of Cowie, with various others - to the market cross of Elgin; on 22nd of the said month and year I passed with the said letters and other witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, Archibald Brown and John Terres, with various others - to the market cross of Forres; on the 23rd of the said month and year I passed with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, William Calder and Alan Thomson, burgess of Nairn, with various others - to the market cross of Nairn; and the same 23rd day I passed with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, Alexander Fleming, Alexander Reid and John Paterson, burgess of Inverness - to the market cross of the same place, and because I could not get certain verification nor knowledge where to find nor personally apprehend William, lord Crichton, I passed to all the aforenamed burghs and at the market cross of the same, at the days and before the witnessed aforenamed, I personally summoned peremptorily by open proclamation the same William, lord Crichton. And moreover on the 30th of the said month and year I passed with the said letters and these witnesses - Thomas Scott, John Fraser, John Cowie, William Johnson, one of the bailies of Tain, Thomas Reid, a bailie of Cromarty, Mawnis Vaus, burgess of Inverness, and Alexander Sutherland, brother and familiar servant to the said Lord Crichton - to the town of Tain in Ross, within the aforenamed sheriffdom of Inverness, where the same Lord Crichton had his dwelling, as I was informed at the vicar's house of Tain, and at the market cross of the burghs named before and the vicar's house in Tain, as foresaid, I summoned lawfully and peremptorily, in the name and authority of our sovereign lord the king, the said William, lord Crichton, to compear personally before our aforenamed sovereign lord in his next parliament held at Edinburgh on Thursday 19 February next to come, and there to answer his highness in the said parliament for the treasonable art, part, counsel and assistance done and given to Alexander, formerly duke of Albany, in the treasonable sending of James Liddale, formerly of Halkerston, knight, into England with treasonable writs, muniments and instructions to the treasonable confederation with Englishmen, in the said Alexander's treasonable opinion against our sovereign lord's highness and realm; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance done and given to the said Alexander in the treasonable receiving, holding and delivering of a pursuivant of the king of England, called Bluemantle, with treasonable writs and instructions to the enemies of England; and for the treasonable art, part and counsel given to the said Alexander in his treasonable going and passing away into England without licence from our said sovereign lord, to the treasonable inbringing of the said enemies of England, for the treasonable destruction of our said sovereign lord's person and realm; and for the treasonable sending of various letters into England to the said Alexander by one Thomas Dickson, chaplain, since the forfeiture of the said Alexander; and for the treasonable fortifying and supplying of Crichton castle, and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given to the persons in the said castle, treasonably withholding the same castle against the king's command directed to them, by the said William, lord Crichton treasonably done and committed by him after our sovereign lord's grace given and granted to the said William, lord Crichton, upon the many and various treasonable actions and rebellions against our sovereign lord and his realm, and to undergo the law for the said treasonable trespasses and crimes at the day and place delimited. And in all the abovewritten executions I made intimation that, whether the said Lord Crichton compeared or not at the day and place delimited to him, with continuation of days, our sovereign lord would nevertheless proceed to the passing of judgement. And also, concerning our sovereign lord's letters directed to me on this matter, I gave a copy to the aforesaid Alexander Sutherland, who asked me to do so on behalf of the said Lord Crichton. At Tain on 30 December written above. In witness hereof to this my letter of execution and record written with my own hand, I have affixed my seal.
There follows a copy of the citation of the same William, lord Crichton, directed to the sheriff of Edinburgh and his deputes: James, by the grace of God king of Scots, to our sheriff of Edinburgh and his bailies, greeting. We commission you and order that you summon, lawfully and peremptorily, before witnesses, William, lord Crichton - by apprehending him personally if you are able to come upon him, otherwise by public proclamation at Crichton castle, or the market cross of our burgh of Edinburgh - to appear personally before us, or before our justiciar, in our next parliament at Edinburgh, to be held on Thursday 19 February next to come, with continuation of days, to answer to us, or our said justiciar, in our aforesaid parliament, for his treasonable art, part, counsel and assistance given and shown to Alexander, formerly duke of Albany, in his treasonable sending and dispatch of James Liddale, formerly of Halkerston, knight, into England with treasonable writings, muniments and instructions towards a treasonable alliance of Englishmen in the treasonable opinion of the said Alexander against us and our kingdom; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given and shown to the said Alexander in the treasonable receiving, holding and delivering of a pursuivant of the king of England, called Bluemantle, with treasonable writings and instructions to our enemies in England; and for treasonable art, part and counsel given and shown to the same Alexander in his treasonable entry and passage into England without our licence, for the treasonable inbringing of our said enemies [who are] in England, to the treasonable destruction of our person and our realm; and for the treasonable sending of diverse letters to the said Alexander in England, sent by a certain Thomas Dickson, a chaplain, after the forfeiture of the said Alexander; and for the treasonable fortifying and garrisoning of the castle of Crichton; and for the treasonable counsel and assistance given to the persons being in the said castle, treasonably withholding the same castle against our mandates directed to them, and against acts of parliament, treasonably perpetrated by the said William, lord Crichton after our pardon was earlier graciously granted to him for his great many treasonable transgressions and rebellions against us and our realm; [and] to submit to the law. Intimating to the said William, lord Crichton, that whether or not he compears at the said day and place, with continuation of days, we, or our said justiciar, will nevertheless proceed with the administration of justice in the aforesaid matters. And that you exhibit the present letters duly executed by you, and endorsed with the day and place and names of the witnesses to your execution of the same, [before] us, or before our said justiciar, in our aforesaid parliament on the said day and place. Given under the testimony of our great seal, at Edinburgh, 19 November in the 24th year of our reign [1483].
On 11 December, I, Alexander Hepburn of Whitsome, sheriff of Edinburgh, at the bidding and command of these our sovereign lord's letters, because I could not apprehend William, lord Crichton in person, I travelled with the said letters and these undernoted witnesses to Crichton castle, and there I summoned the said William, lord Crichton to compear in person at our sovereign lord's next parliament to be held at Edinburgh on Thursday 19 February next, with continuation of days, and there to answer our sovereign lord in his said parliament for his treasonous art, part, counsel and assistance given to Alexander, formerly duke of Albany, in his treasonous sending of Sir James of Liddale, formerly of Halkerston, knight, to England with treasonous writings, muniments and instructions for the treasonous confederation of Englishmen in the said Alexander's treasonous opinion against our said sovereign lord and his realm; and for the treasonous counsel and assistance given to the said Alexander in the treasonous reception, holding and delivering of a pursuivant from the king of England, called Bluemantle, with treasonous writings and instructions to our said sovereign lord's enemies from England; and for the treasonous art, part and counsel given to the said Alexander in his treasonous travel to England without permission from our sovereign lord, to the treasonous bringing in of Englishmen of his treasonous opinion for the treasonous destruction of our sovereign lord's person and realm; and for the treasonous sending of various and many letters to the said Alexander, he being in England, by a chaplain called Sir Thomas Dickson after the forfeiture of the said Alexander; and for the treasonous supplying with men and victual to Crichton castle and for the treasonous counsel and assistance given to the persons inside the said Crichton castle in the treasonous holding of the said castle against our sovereign lord's writings and acts of parliament, after our sovereign lord's grace given and granted to the said Lord Crichton for the many and various crimes, rebellions and trespasses committed by him and undertaken in contradiction to our sovereign lord and his realm, and to submit there to the law for the same. Making it known to the said William that, whether he compears or not on the said day and place, with continuation of days, our sovereign lord will proceed according to the form of justice. And this I did before these witnesses, and for the greater witnessing thereof I have set to my seal - Gavin of Crichton, George of Crichton, James of Cockburn, George Sinclair, Andrew Archibald, John of Stermonth and William Johnston, serjeant, with various others. And further, on 7 December I travelled to the market cross of Edinburgh and there I summoned by open proclamation William, lord Crichton, because I could not apprehend him himself, to compear in person at our said sovereign lord's parliament on the aforenoted day and place to answer his highness on all aforementioned points and articles, and this I did before these witnesses - Alexander Thompson, Adam Archibald, John of Cairns, William Johnston, Patrick Walderston, serjeants, Peter of March and James Young, public notaries. And for the greater witnessing to this my execution, I have set my seal to [it]. Which citation of summons and execution being read and lawfully proven by various worthy and reputable witnesses, lawful time of day requested, the order of processes of continuation of the said summons seen, heard and understood at length, proceeded lawfully to this day, the said William, lord Crichton, often called but not compearing, in the name and on behalf of our sovereign lord the king, John the Ross of Montgreenan, as advocate to his highness, asked and required in his name and authority and by his special command from the lords, barons and burgh commissioners, their ward and judgement of parliament, if the said, William, lord Crichton had committed and undertaken treason against our sovereign lord and his realm in the aforenoted points and articles, which lords and estates being diligently and fully advised, awarded, found and decided that the said William, lord Crichton had committed and undertaken open and manifest treason against our sovereign lord and his realm in all aforesaid points and articles, and thereafter it was given for doom by the mouth of John Dempster, dempster of parliament, in manner and form as follows below:
This court of parliament shows for law and I give for doom that for as much as it is found by judgement of parliament that William [Crichton], lord Crichton has committed and undertaken treason against our sovereign lord and his realm in the aforesaid treasons and crimes contained in the summonses, for this he has forfeited to our sovereign lord his life, his lands, his goods, offices and all his other possessions that he had from our sovereign lord within the realm of Scotland, to remain forever with our sovereign lord, his heirs and successors as property for his treason and offence, and that I give for doom.