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Order: in favour of Thomas Nicolson and others

Ordinance in favour of Thomas Nicolson and others

Anent the supplication given in to the estates of parliament by Thomas Nicolson, burgess of Aberdeen, David Kempt, messenger, William Johnston, William Scott, serjeant in Aberdeen, Thomas Lothian there, William Steel there, John Brown there, John Meanie there, Andrew Cruickshank there, Alexander Cruickshank there, John Henderson there, William Scrogie there, Peter Skeddomay there, John Aiknet there, John MacKie there and James Rannie there, desiring the parliament to delegate so many of their own number, or any other as they please, to be judges by commission to take precognition of the criminal pursuit intended by the instigation of Sir Alexander Gordon of Clunie at the instance of the widow, bairns and friends of the late William Brown and at the instance of the said laird of Clunie before the justice against the supplicants above-named for the pretended slaughter of the said the late William Brown, and to appoint such diets as the estates should think fit for this effect; and, in the meantime, to give warrant to the justice to continue the diets against the supplicants to such time as the judges delegate shall report the precognition to be taken by them to the parliament, as the said supplication at more length bears. Which supplication being read in audience of the parliament and the same, with the desire thereof above-mentioned, taken into consideration by the estates of parliament, the said estates ordain the justice and justice deputes aforesaid to take the trial and probation of the whole circumstances of the business above-specified, and thereafter, before putting the same to the knowledge of an assize, ordain the justice and his deputes to make report of their procedure to the whole parliament and estates thereof, and ordain this to be done with all expedition; and, in the meantime, discharge the justice and his said deputes of any further proceeding except as is before ordained until the said report.