Auchtlie, It is lamentit and complenit be the auld Lawrichtmen of the cuntrie, that quhair the Inhabitaris of the cuntrie are hevelie and exorbitantlie opprest sen the Lairdis entres to the office of Fowdrie, in wrangus taking up of unlawis of the absentis fra courtis, not beand summound nor dempt thairto, bot onlie callit upon the stembirth, thair lawfull sonzeis oft tymes repellit; for of the law and practik of the cuntrie, the absent fra the Lawting, aucht and suld be unlawit in xl s., quhilk was payit in Olaw Sinclair’s tyme with twa dolouris. This Lawting is the principall court haldin in the cuntrie in the haill zeir, to the quhilk all men aucht to cum, bayth Mayneland and Yles, that hes land and heritage or grit takkis of the King. Bot the Laird in his tyme hes tane up, without respect of persounis, of all absentis fra the Lawting, for the said xl s. thre dolouris and ane gudling. And quhair currant courtis was haldin be the Fowde in ony parochin or yle, the absentis therefra war unlawit in four merk Zetland payment, quhilk was payit with saxteen shillings Scottis in Olaw Sinclair’s tyme. Bot now the Laird compellis thame to pay twa dolouris thairfoir. The haill Inhabitantis aboue specifiit, ressauit, sworne, and examinit upon this Article, deponis the same to be of veritie. Nyntlie, It is hevelie lamentit be the said auld Lawrichtmen, that quhair the Laird of Cultemalindie, sen his cuming in the cuntrie, hes grevouslie opprest thame be flitting and furing his servandis and gudis, bayth be see and land, throu his our frequent travelling, and pairtlie throw transporting of him, his servandis and gudis be see, in langar distance and space nor use and wount was befoir, with the perill of thair lyveis, and without meit and drink, or payment thairfoir. The haill Inhabitaris above specifiit, ressauit, sworne, and admittit, zeir, place, and dayis respectivé beforesaid, deponis and testifiis this Article to be trew, as particularlie followis— First, The men of Brassay foresaid, deponis, quhen the Laird passis in threw the cuntrie (quhilk he dois our oft) he causis warne all the Parochinaris to cum with thair horss and boitis to fure him. And albeit that thair cum horss and botis sufficient to staik him and his cumpanie, zet gif ony man beis absent with thair horss or boit, he causis poynd thame for xl s. Zetland payment, for the quhilk he takis up thre dolouris, but dome or law. And this Yle of Brassay complenis that the Laird compellit thame this last zeir to transpoirt his gudis, extending to thre lastis of butter and vther geir, fra the Yle of Brassay to Swounburgh, quhilk is twentie myles of seagait, upon thair awin expensis, but ony allowance or payment; quhilk thai never war in use to do of befoir to ony Fowde, and was in danger of thair lyveis in thair passage.