Chapter I: Front Matter

OPPRESSIONS

OF THE

SIXTEENTH CENTURY

IN THE ISLANDS OF

ORKNEY AND ZETLAND:

FROM

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS.

PRINTED AT EDINBURGH:

MDCCCLIX.

THE MAITLAND CLUB.

JULY M.DCCC.LX.

THE MOST HONOURABLE

THE MARQUESS OF BREADALBANE, K.T.

=President.=

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF ARGYLL.

DAVID BALFOUR, ESQ.

BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ., M.P.

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY, K.G.

ANDREW BUCHANAN, ESQ.

THOMAS BUCHANAN, ESQ.

WALTER BUCHANAN, ESQ., M.P.

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, ESQ.

10 HUMPHRY WALTER CAMPBELL, ESQ.

JAMES T. GIBSON CRAIG, ESQ.

DAVID DREGHORN, ESQ.

WILLIAM JAMES DUNCAN, ESQ.

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

WILLIAM EUING, ESQ.

ALEXANDER S. FINLAY, ESQ., M.P.

THE REVEREND WILLIAM FLEMING, D.D.

JOHN GORDON, ESQ.

JAMES WYLLIE GUILD, ESQ.

20 HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF HAMILTON AND BRANDON.

WILLIAM HILL, ESQ.

HONOURABLE JAMES IVORY, LORD IVORY.

JOHN CLARK KENNEDY, ESQ.

GEORGE RITCHIE KINLOCH, ESQ.

JOHN GARDINER KINNEAR, ESQ. [_SECRETARY._]

THE REVEREND MATTHEW LEISHMAN, D.D.

THE REVEREND LAURENCE LOCKHART, D.D.

JAMES LUCAS, ESQ.

ALEXANDER BENNETT M’GRIGOR, ESQ.

30 JOHN WHITEFOORD MACKENZIE, ESQ.

SIR JOHN MAXWELL, BART.

JAMES PATRICK MUIRHEAD, ESQ.

SIR ANDREW ORR.

ALEXANDER OSWALD, ESQ.

JOHN MICMICHAN PAGAN, ESQ., M.D.

WILLIAM PATRICK, ESQ.

THE QUÆSTOR OF THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

JOHN RICHARDSON, ESQ., LL.B.

40 JOSEPH ROBERTSON, ESQ.

WILLIAM ROBERTSON, ESQ.

ROBERT SAWERS, ESQ.

THE REVEREND HEW SCOTT.

JAMES Y. SIMPSON, ESQ., M.D.

WILLIAM SMITH, ESQ.

WILLIAM SMYTHE, ESQ.

MOSES STEVEN, ESQ.

WILLIAM STIRLING, ESQ., M.P.

50 JOHN STRANG, ESQ., LL.D.

ALEXANDER STRATHERN, ESQ.

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL SWINTON, ESQ.

ADAM URQUHART, ESQ.

PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERS
OF THE
MAITLAND AND ABBOTSFORD CLUBS,

BY
DAVID BALFOUR
OF
BALFOUR AND TRENABIE.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Page

PREFACE v

INTRODUCTION ix

ARTICLES AND INFORMATIONS BY THE INHABITANTS OF ORKNEY AND
ZETLAND, OF THE OPPRESSIONS COMMITTED BY LORD ROBERT STUART.
DECEMBER M.D.LXXV. 1

THE COMPLAYNTIS OF THE COMMOWNIS AND INHABITANTIS OF ZETLAND, AND
PROBATIOUNIS LED THAIRUPON. FEBRUARY M.D.LXXVI. 13

THE COMMISSION BY KING JAMES THE SIXTH TO THE CHANCELLOR AND
OTHERS, TO TRY LORD ROBERT STUART FOR OPPRESSION. M.D.LXXXVII. 93

A SUPPLICATION TO PARLIAMENT BY LAWRENCE BRUCE AND OTHERS, AGAINST
PATRICK EARL OF ORKNEY. M.D.XCII. 99

APPENDIX and GLOSSARY OF UNUSUAL WORDS 105