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 PREFACE. THE following documents illustrative of the Oppressions of Orkney and Zetland in the Sixteenth century, are now for the first time presented to the public, and have been carefully transcribed from the original MSS., or from contemporary and authentic copies. I. _The First Articlis given in against Lord Robert Stuart of Orkney, 16th December 1575_, are printed from an official copy of the same period, preserved among the very curious collection of Scottish State Papers in the possession of the Right Honourable the Earl of Hopetown, whose ancestor was Lord Advocate in the next reign, and I owe the knowledge of its existence to the information and courtesy of Mr. Joseph Robertson of the Register House. II. _The Complaintis and Probatiounis of the Inhabitantis of Zetland, against Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindy (February 1576)_, are printed from the original MS., authenticated by the signature of the Royal Commissioners, Mudy and Henderson. This curious State Paper was shown to me about twenty years ago by a late Sheriff of Orkney, and I then made two transcripts, one of which, with the original, I gave to him, retaining the other, which, at one time, I feared might be the only existing copy of so interesting a document. On his death the MS. disappeared till 1856, when it was offered for sale to Mr. David Laing, to whom the Antiquaries of Scotland owe so large a debt of gratitude, and to whose kindness I also am indebted for the opportunity of collating my transcript with the Original.