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
Ellewintlie, It is lamentit be the said auld Lawrichtmen, that quhairas
of the law and consuetude of the cuntrie in all tyme precedand the
Lairdis entres, the Comownis payit thair dewities, callit Wattill, upone
thair Lawrichtmanis bismeyre, be ane nummer and calculatioun callit
merkis. Quhairas the Laird now compellis thame to pay the same in
gudlin-taill upon the Dutche bismeyre, quhilk is thre or four merkis
mair nor just; and swa of everie sewin merkis of wattill that thai pay
in dewitie, thair is nyne schillings Dense mair tane fra thame nor thai
aucht to pay. Quhilk alswa provin be the foirsaid Comownis.
Twelftlie, It is lamentit be the said Lawrichtmen, that quhairas befoir
the Lairdis entres in the office of Fowdrie, gif the Duchemen lay upon
ony grund, and held buyth thairon, the man that aucht the grund, or had
the same for dewitie paying, was wount to gett for the grundleiff ane
barrell of beir, or ellis ane barrell of meill. But sen the Lairdis
cumming, he has tane the same to him selff, and will giff thame na
recompenss thairfoir. And siclyk, quhair affoir the Lairdis cumming, at
the cowp settein of everie schip and merchannis wairis thairoff, it was
the use that the Comownis of that pairt or yle gat ane cowp barrell of
beir at the said cowpsetting. Bot the Laird, sen his entres, at dyvers
places and tymes, hes dispenst with the Duchemen thairfoir, and causit
the Comownis to want the said cowp barrell. And how oft that ever thai
have gottin it, quhen the beir was drunkin, the Laird tuik the tume tre
to him selff, quhilk was ay the Comownis awin of befoir. Quhilk
compleint the Comownis foirsaid hes proven to be of trouth.
Item, Quhair as the haill Comownis of the cuntrie, quhair thai wantit
servandis, and culd get nane to fee in the yle or parochin quhair thai
dwelt, throw derth and scarssness thairoff, in that case thai had
libertie to pass to vther yles and parochinis of the cuntrie quhair
aboundance and sufficient number of servandis was, and fee servandis to
thair lawbour all tyme befoir the Lairdis cumming thair.
Notwithstanding, sen his cumming to the office, he has inhibit thame,
under pecuniare panes, to do the same, to thair grit hurt and scayth.
And quhair thai contraveine his said inhibitioun, he takkis up the said
pane with all rigor; lyk as he did to James Spence, indwellar in Zell,
becaus he past furth of Zell to Fetlair, and feit ane servand thair, and
broucht him hame with him, and fra tyme the work come in hand, the
servand was tane fra him, and he compellit to pay to the Laird thre
dolouris thairfoir. This provin be Edwarde Odsta in Fetlair, Williame
Magnusson in Unst, Williame Spence, and David Spence in Zell, quha
affirmes that thai saw the silver delyverit in Magnus Nubiebakis zairde
in Zell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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