[1661/1/38]¹

Act against Mr Patrick Waterstone

The estates of parliament presently convened by his majesty's special authority having heard a petition presented to them by William [Douglas], earl of Morton, holding furth that one Mr Patrick Waterstone, a deposed minister, was by his sheriff depute of Orkney in August last committed, and as yet continues prisoner in the town of Kirkwall for treasonable speeches against the king's majesty and many of his royal progenitors, therefore, desiring that a commission might be granted for examination of the witnesses to some qualified persons there, they being poor and not able to come this length, and that their depositions might be sealed up and sent to his majesty's advocate, and also to grant order that the said Mr Patrick may be sent for and brought hither from sheriff to sheriff until he come to Edinburgh to receive sentence as he deserves. Which petition, being taken into consideration by the said estates of parliament, with the report of the commissioners appointed for complaints also given in by them in the said matter, the said estates of parliament has given and hereby gives power and commission to Patrick Blair of Littleblair, sheriff-depute of Orkney, Patrick Monteith of Egilsay, Mr Patrick Graham of Rothiesholm and James Baikie of Tankerness, or any two of them, to examine such of the said witnesses as they shall find not able to travel to Edinburgh in the presence of the party, reserving his objections against the same witnesses, which depositions shall be sealed and returned to his majesty's advocate, and recommends to the said William, earl of Morton that he take course for bringing the said Mr Patrick and the other witnesses to Edinburgh to attend his trial there, and declares that the charges and expenses of bringing the said party and witnesses to this place shall be satisfied out of the first and readiest of the estate of the said Mr Patrick if after trial he be found guilty of the crimes laid to his charge.