Oppressions of the Sixteenth Century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland: From Original Documents
History
Oppressions of the Sixteenth Century in the Islands of Orkney and Zetland: From Original Documents
Orkney (Scotland) -- History; Shetland (Scotland) -- History
The Inhabitaris of Zell affirmis, that ilk zeir of thre zeiris the Laird
hes causit thame pay to him ane ox and twelff scheip; and Unst affirmis
thai payit in lykwyiss as Zell. And Fetlair testifiis, that the first
zeir of the Lairdis entres, thai payit to him ane ox and twelff scheip;
the second zeir, ane kow and twelff scheip; and the third zeir, becaus
the deid come amang the gudis of the Yle, he relevit thame of the ox,
and tuik bot twelff scheip: Quhilk extortioun and wrangus custome the
Laird layde doun this last zeir, feirand giff he continewit in it, that
he wald be complenit upon.
The Inhabitaris of Delting and Scatsta affirmis, that the Laird causit
thame, ilk zeir of thre zeiris, to pay him ane ox and twelff scheip
furth of their parochin, quhilk was never in use to be tane of thame of
befoir. Northmaven affirmis, thai payit conforme to Delting of oxin and
scheip. Wawis testifiis, thai payit in thre zeir thre oxin and thre
doissoun of scheip. Sandsting and Aythsting testifiis, that in twa
zeiris, the Laird causit thame to pay to him, ilk zeir thairoff, ane ox
and twelff scheip; the third zeir, becaus thai had not ane ox to giff
him, he tuik xxiiii scheip of thame; and the last zeir, he tuik certain
scheip of thame, to the number of sax, sevin, or aucht, and promisit
payment thairfoir, bot as zet is unpayit.
The Inhabitaris of Dunrosnes declaris, that the Laird tuik fra thame ilk
zeir of thre zeiris, ane ox and twelff scheip, bot the last zeir he tuik
nathing thairoff fra thame.
Fyftlie, It was complenit be the said auld Lawrichtmen, that the Laird
had compellit the haill countrie of Zetland to pay to him ane taxatioun
in the first zeir of his last entres, allegeand that it was to sustein
his suddartis upon. And thai that wuld not pay the samyn, he poyndit
thair gudis and geir thairfoir, and giff thai maid obstacle, thai war
dung be the officiaris, and thair geir tane fra thame thairfoir; amang
quhom ane honest man, callit Andro Michelsoun, dwelland in Hollibustar,
tennent to the Kingis Grace, was dung be the officiar, Harie Bruce,
becaus he wald have stayit his geir fra poynding for the said taxatioun.
The haill Inhabitaris of Zetland within mentionat, ressauit, sworne,
and admittit, zeir, place, and dayis respectivé before said, hes
testifiit upon this Article of the Taxatioun, as followis—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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