25 October 1581

On the second day of parliament

Procedure: preamble

The parliament of the most excellent prince James VI, king of Scots, held in Edinburgh on 25 October in the year of the Lord 1581, through the lords commissioners named below, namely James [Hamilton], earl of Arran, lord Hamilton etc., John [Graham], earl of Montrose, lord Graham, Alexander Clerk [of Balbirnie], provost of Edinburgh, Master Patrick Whitelaw [of Newgrange], commissioner of Perth, Master James Haliburton, provost of Dundee and commissioner thereof, and Master Robert Crichton of Eliock, king's advocate, specially constituted by the commission of our said supreme lord the king, together with officers of parliament as on the day immediately preceding.

  1. NAS, PA2/12, f.54v. Back
  2. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, f.19v. Back
  3. NAS, PA2/12, f.54v. Back
  4. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, ff.19v-20r. Back
  5. NAS, PA2/12, ff.54v-55r. Back
  6. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, ff.20r-v. Back
Judicial proceedings: summons of treason

The which day Master Robert Crichton of Eliock, advocate to our sovereign lord, presented a summons of treason duly executed and endorsed, raised at the instance of our said sovereign lord, his highness's justice and advocate, against Archibald [Douglas], earl of Angus, lord Douglas, etc., Master Archibald Douglas, parson of Glasgow, John Carmichael of that Ilk, younger, Hugh Carmichael, his son and apparent heir, Malcolm Douglas of Mains, James Douglas, sometime prior of Pluscarden, Archibald Douglas of Pittendreich, Archibald Douglas, sometime constable of the castle of Edinburgh, Hector Douglas, called Red Eckie, George Douglas of Parkhead, James and George Douglas, his sons, John Carlisle of Bothach and George Home, younger, of Spott, whereby they were summoned to have compeared before our said sovereign lord and his highness's justice this instant day, with continuation of days, to answer to certain points of treason contained in the said summons, as at more length is contained in the same; and that the aforesaid persons contained therein particularly above-written were once, twice and thrice called at the tolbooth window by Lewis Thornton, messenger, to compear and answer to the said summons, and that the same summons, with the executions and endorsements thereof, were publicly read in presence of my lords commissioners above-written, and that none of them compeared; and likewise asked instruments that he produced our sovereign lord's letters, given under his highness's signet and subscription of 14 June 1581, whereby they were relaxed from the process of horning led against them, and every one of them, for whatsoever crime, cause or occasion preceding the date of the said summons upon the said 14 June 1581 by John Brown, messenger, at the market cross of Edinburgh, and also by William Forsyth, messenger, at the market cross of Lanark on 16 June 1581, as the said executions respectively shown and produced before the said lords commissioners purported; and likewise produced Alexander Stobo, messenger, who, being lawfully sworn, proved and verified his first and second endorsements of the said summons, likewise as also John Richardson and James Burgess, witnesses contained therein, proved and verified the said two endorsements to be true; and likewise produced John Brown, messenger, who proved his third and fourth executions, likewise also Archibald Cunningham and Alexander Snipe, his witnesses inserted therein, proved the same sufficiently; and likewise produced Steven Alexander, messenger, executor of the fifth, sixth and seventh endorsements of the said summons, likewise also Andrew Frank and James Kerry, his witnesses inserted therein, proved the same; whereupon the said advocate asked instruments and further offered him to prove the reasons and points of his said summons sufficiently or otherwise before the king's majesty and lords of articles, when they shall be elected and chosen to that effect, and thereupon also asked instruments.

  1. NAS, PA2/12, f.54v. Back
  2. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, f.19v. Back
  3. NAS, PA2/12, f.54v. Back
  4. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, ff.19v-20r. Back
  5. NAS, PA2/12, ff.54v-55r. Back
  6. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, ff.20r-v. Back

The which day the said advocate produced a summons of treason raised at the instance of our sovereign lord, his highness's justice and advocate against Andrew Gray of Dunninald and Andrew Gray, his son and apparent heir, duly executed and endorsed, whereby they were summoned to compear this instant day, with continuation of days, to answer for certain crimes of treason committed by them, as at more length is contained in the said summons; and that he instantly produced Lewis Thornton, messenger, executor of the said summons, with William Duncan and Andrew Thomson, his witnesses inserted therein, who made faith that the same endorsement is just and true in the self as it purports; and likewise produced our sovereign lord's letters, passed under his highness's subscription and signet, of the date 15 July 1581, whereby the said Andrew Gray of Dunninald and his said son were relaxed from whatsoever process of horning led against them for whatsoever cause or occasion preceding the date of the said summons, which letters were executed on 19 July 1581 by Lewis Thornton, messenger, and they relaxed therewith at the market cross of Edinburgh and the wand of peace delivered to them, as at more length is contained in the said letters and executions thereof, to the effect that they might compear and defend in the said summons duly as appropriate; whereupon the said advocate asked instruments.

  1. NAS, PA2/12, f.54v. Back
  2. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, f.19v. Back
  3. NAS, PA2/12, f.54v. Back
  4. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, ff.19v-20r. Back
  5. NAS, PA2/12, ff.54v-55r. Back
  6. Another version of the following text can be found at PA2/12, appendix, ff.20r-v. Back