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 Parochinaris beneith Tingwall, that is to say, betwixt Tingwall and
Scalloway, ar complaynters on the Laird: Quhair as he compellis thame to
fure him, his servandis, gudis, and geir, ferdar be twelff myle of see,
nor ever thai war wount in uther Fowdis tyme to do; and quhair as thai
war bot thrysse in the zeir wount with flitting and furing, and gat
allowance and payment thairfoir, now he compellis thame continewalie to
flit and fure him and his geir as he hes ado, but ony payment or
allowance; quhairthrow thair boitis ar brokin and thame selffis put to
uttar wrak. And sicklyk thir Parochinaris of Tingwall complenis upon the
Laird, quha compellis thame to flit the haill gudis, baith of King and
Bishop, of the North Yles, that cummis to Laxfurde fra the same, to
Scalloway; Quhair as thai war never chargit thairwith of befoir, bot was
weill payit for the same. But now giff thai refuse to carie ane barrell,
thai ar compellit to pay xl s. to the Laird, quhilk is tane up fra thame
in thre zopindales and ane halff.
Burray, Quharff, and Goldberwyk, and Trondray, deponis, anent the furing
of the Laird, his cumpanie and gudis, and unlawis uptaking thairfoir,
thai ar conforme to Brassay; affirmand, that thai ar compellit till
leiff thair lynes in the sey, and to flit and fure by use and wount, but
ony maner of allowance, or meit or drink, giff they suld die for hungar.
And mairattour, thai complein upon the Laird and his doaris, that at ane
tyme quhen certane boitis of Burray, Goldberwyk, Quhairff and Trondra,
war lyand at Havera at fisching, the Laird send his servandis fra
Scalloway to thame, and tuik fra everie boit, but payment making, twa
fisches, ane keilling and ane ling, quhilk was done upon ane Tysday, and
upon Setterday thairafter, they cummand with thair fische to Scalloway
to thair merchandis, the Lairdis servandis tuik agane fra ilk boit twa
fische, keilling and ling, and wald giff nathing thairfoir, the number
of the boitis that the fische was tane fra, war ten or twelff. And the
boitis of Burray and Trondray, at sundrie vther tymes, cumand to
Scalloway, war spulzeit of thair fische be thame. And giff thair had
bein bot twa fische in the boit, thai wuld have ane of thame.
Delting and Scatsta declaris, that quhair thai war in use and wount of
befoir to pay thair scatt and landmales of butter and ulie at Laxfurde,
bot thir twa or thre zeiris sen the Lairdis entress, he hes causit this
parochin to bring thair butter and ulie to Northmaven; and thair
ressavis and packis, and thairefter compellis thame to transpoirt the
same, or samekle vther mens gudis thairfra to Laxfurde, quilk is xxx
myles or thairby of dangerus passage of seis, and gettis nether payment,
allowance, meit nor dreink thairfoir. And the Commownis desyris to be
relevit of this oppressioun for Goddis saik.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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