[Supplication of John Leith of Harthill, Jean Forbes and others]

Supplicatioune laird [of] Harthill

Wnto the kinges most excellent majesty, the humbill supplication of Johne Leithe of Hairthill and Jeane Forbes, his wyff, and Anna Leithe, his only daughter, and wthheres

Humbly schewethe,

That whairas it is not wnknowine to your majesty and the honorable hous of parliament how many greatt and greivous crosses I have susteinit thir many yeires bypast, notwitstanding it is of trewthe that William and Patrik Leithes, tuo wnnaturall and wicked breithering, hes againes all law, conscience and justice thrust furthe most violently ws, the saides Jeane Forbes and Anna Leithe and our servandes of the hous and landes of Hearthill, bruik wpe our haill lockes, middillit, intromittit with and tuik away our saides haill wreattes and evidentes of the saides landes of Hairthill, with our haill jewelles and aboulyement; and als that your majesty's advocat may compeir for your hienes entres anent the crewill murther of wmquhill Williame Leivingstoun, servitur to the said Johne Leithe, comittit att the kirk of Gairtlly wpoun the [...] day of [...], 16[...] yeires; and alse for the committing of the horribill and filthie cryme of adultry withe Majorie Lesly, spous to Patrik Leithe, in the mylne of Bonntoun; and siclyk for reasing of wilfull fyre in the maines and paroschine of Moneymoss and for taking in the hous of Auchinhowe and harrieing and plundering [...], Meseres Murray; and alse for reavesching about tuelff houres in the day Majorie Gordoune, spous to John Lesly, sumtyme of Durnay; and finally for manassing to kill me, thaire elder brother, to droune my wyff and to kill and pistoll me, the said Anna Leithe, all whiche criminall crymes are odious in the sicht of God, detestabill to his peopill and aucht by all law to be punesched by deathe to the terror of wthires. May it pleas your grace for the tender mercye of Jeasus Chryst to grant ws warrand and commissioun to tak and apprehend the saides personis and to put them in suire ward ay and quhill they put ws in our awine possessioun and to restore to ws our saids wreattes and jeuelles, att the lest to conveine them be your grace's hiche court of parliament for that effect, or justice generall and his deputties as your grace sall think expedient, befoir whom I sall prove my bill sub pena lex talionis, the doing quherof sall obleidge ws to pray for your majesty's long and happie reigne, a prospoures warr and happie peas.

Stirling, 26 Maii 1651

The king's majestie and estates of parliament ordanes ane messinger of airmes to pas, warne and charge the pairteis compleined upone to compeir before the parliament or ther comitty of estates to answer to the complent mentionat in the supplication, and that upon the fyfteint day of Julii, with continuation of days, under the pane of rebellione, with certificatione etc. And als to sumond witnesses under the pain of rebellion.

Burghly, I.P.D. parliamenti; M[r] David Hay

  1. NAS. PA3/2/12, f.211r-211v.