Page images
PDF
EPUB

that my Lord Aduocat man fay pofitiue, that he is landit, and condifcend quhat land he hes; ffor it man be lybellit and cognofcit be Affyife, quhidder he be ane landit gentilman or nocht; and ane prefumptioun can nocht be put to ane Afsyise, bot (without) ane affirmatioun and ane speciall condifcending vpoun quhat land he hes; and the partie man be hard, to propone his defenffis aganis the famin.The Aduocat repetis his former anfuer.

(3.) Forder, of all neceffitie, the Aduocat man condifcend vpoun the names of the landis, becaus gif he wald condifcend, that fame condifcending wald be ane fufficient exceptioun to the defender, to purge him of the haill Dittay; be reasoun that the euidentis, alledgeit ftollin, will be fund to be the euidentis of the landis quhairof he falbe condifcendit to be heretour; and fwa, can nawyis be thift; for ane man can newir be callit and convict of thift, for fteilling of his proper guidis; that is contrar to the definitioun of thift, quhilk is contrectatio rei aliene, invito domino. -The Aduocat repetis his former anfuer and the Dittay.

(4.) ITEM, it is allegeit that the Dittay is nocht relevant, in respect that it condifcendis nocht, quhat euidentis and of quhat landis thay ar of; quhilk man be condifcendit vpoun, in refpect the defender wald fufficientlie purge the haill Dittay and away-taking thairof, be fchawing that the saidis euidentis wer his awin proper euidentis.-The Aduocat repetis the Dittay for anfuer.

(5.) ITEM, it is forder allegeit, that this Dittay can nocht be putt to the knawledge of ane Affyfe, becaus it man reffaue ane Ciuile precognitioune, quhilk is nocht'... ..-The Aduocat anfueris, that thair is na Ciuilitie in Treffoun, and the allegeance mereitis na anfuer.-The defender fayis, he will fay na mare at this tyme.

(6.) ITEM, anent the feruiettis, non relevat, et eft res parvi momenti ; and per fe can work na thing.

INTERLOCUTOR of Relevancy. THE Juftice findis the Dittay relevant; and remittis the famin to the tryell of ane Inqueift, nochtwithstanding of the haill alledgeances aboue writtin, proponit for the pannell; and to be verefeit to the Inqueift, as accordis.

Vpoun the quhilk Interloquutour, the Aduocat afkit inftrumentis.

ASSISA.

Sir Patrick Creychtoun of Mr Patrik Balfoure of Pitcullocht, Johne Mathefoune of Brochtoune,
Strathuird,
Andro Paterfoune of Leuchrie, Clement Kyncaid of the Coittis,
Patrik Hepburne of Riccartoune, James Richefoune of Smetoune, Alexander Fairlie of Braid,
Patrik Levingtoune of Saltcoittis, Johne Houftoune of Lany, Patrik Johneftoune of Elphing-
George Lyle of Stanypeth,
ftoune.

Johne Fairlie of Comeiftoune,

Mr Patrik Hepburne of Smetoune, Williame Congiltoune of that Ilk,

The Aduocat afkit inftrumentis of the fwering of the Affyfe; and that my Lord Juftice will nocht reffaue the Laird of Latoune in will; bot will put him to ane Affyfe. The Aduocat (alfo) askit inftrumentis of the reding of the Dittay to

1 Left blank.

the Affyse; and of the productioun of the Act of Parliament; and of the productioun of the foure Depofitiounis, maid and fubfcryuit be the pannell; beirand the haill contentis of the Dittay.

The Defender acceptis the Dittay, the haill verificatiounis and Judgeis Interloquutour, and repetis the haill allegeancis proponit of before, to be cognofcit be the Affyfe; And alledgis, to the Affyis, that seing the Act of Parliament is ane pairt of the Dittay, and the fundament and ground of the famin; and feing, the haill Dittay and verificatioun confiftis vpoun thift; in caise the Assyse find nocht the pannell giltie of Commoune Thift, proteftis, that he be chargeit of the said Dittay and Act of Parliament; and ane cryme or poynt of Thift, of the law and practik of this realme, man newir be eftemit Commoun Thift; and ane perfoune can newir be convict of Commoun Thift, for ony ane alledgeit poynt or cryme; ffor he, of the law and practik of the realme, is eftemit ane Commoun theif, quha is convict of thre feuerall poyntis and crymis of Thift; quhilk is nather qualefeit in the Dittay nor verifeit. And forder, the Defender takis inftrumentis, that thair is na thing produceit to verifie him to be ane landit gentleman; and thairfore, of all neceffitie, man be clangeit of all poyntis of Treffoune; ffor except it had been relevantlie qualifeit in the Dittay, and fufficientlie instructit, that the Defender wer ane landit gentilman, Treffoune could nather. be inferrit nor concludit vpoun that dittay. Forder, the defender alledgis, that the remanent of the crymes contenit in the faid Dittay, for the alledgit awaytaking of the euidentis and the Confeffioun maid be him of the famin, is na cryme of Thift; haifand confideratioun, that the euidentis is confeffit to appertene to his fader, to quhome he is eldest sone and apperand air; and the away-taking of his faderis euidentis, can newir import Thift; haifing confideratioun, that his fader, quhom-fra the euidentis is alledgeit tane, is na perfewar nor complenar ; and thair is na actioune that can be compitent for the awaytaking thairof, bot1 only ane fimple actioun of spuilzie; ffor that wer ane dangerous preparatiue2 to the haill realme of Scotland, that quhen ane fone offendis his fader, ather be alledgeit away-taking of his euidentis, horse or vther graith, the fader newir complenand nor fyndand falt with the doing of the faid deid, that the committeris falbe convict of Treffoun or Thift, at the Aduocatis inftance.

To the quhilk, it is anfuerit be the Aduocat, that the Affyse aucht nawyis (to) respect the alledgeance proponit, in fafar as this Dittay is confauit aganis William Wod of Latoune; becaus he nather proponis nor adheris to itt, bot hes ratifeit his Depofitiounis, and hes becum in his Maiefteis will, for the haill poyntis of the Dittay; in respect quhairof, in cais the Affyis onywyis clange,3 proteftis for Wilful errour. And in fafar as the alledgeance is proponit for Boningtoune, 1 Unless, excepting. 2 Precedent, example. 3 Cleanse, or acquit.

the fyrst pairt, anent the Commoune Thift, nawyis concernis the Affyis, bot the dittay foundit vpoun the Thift, Reffett of Thift and Stouthreiff, speciallie fett doun in the Dittay, in ewerie speciall poynt thairof, is fund relevant be my Lord Justice; and the confideratioun of the relevancie of the famin, only pertenis to the Judge, and nawyis to the Affyis, quhais dewtie is only to try, declair and determine, gif the fact and deid contenit in the Dittay to haif bene done and committit be the Pannell; and gif thay be giltie thairof, thair giltienes of the quhilk Dittay being manifeft, be thair awin Depofitiounis, fubfcryuit with thair handis and red in thair presens before the Affyis, thay nor nane of thame can pretend ony ignorance thairof: And quhair it is alledgeit, that it is nocht verifeit that the faid James Wod is ane landit gentilman, that aucht to be repellit, in respect of the notorietie that he is eldeft fone and apperand air to the Laird of Boningtoune, and fear of the faid lewing; as his fubfcriptioun of his awin Depofitioun, produceit, beris: Nether is it neceffar that the Aduocat, persewand for his Maiefteis interes, fal verifie, be writt or productioun of the pannellis euidentis, that he is ane landit gentilman; quhilk wer impoffibill, the writtis being in the defenderis awin handis; quhilk, poffiblie, can nocht be prefumit to be habill to be recoverit be the perfewar; bot in crymes of Treffoun, fyve yeiris poffeffioun of heretage, be the rebell, is loco tituli, and makis the rebell to be repute to haif bene heretabill proprietor of the faidis landis, and the heretabill rycht of the famin to befall to the King, be fforfaltour. And it is of veritie, that the defender hes poffeft the Landis of Birnie, as heretabill proprietour thairof, be the space foirfaid: in refpect of the notorietie quhairof, and of his awin affirmatioune foirfaid, it being manifest and notour that he is ane landit gentilman, and that he hes committit the haill crymes contenit in the dittay, as is cleirlie verifeit be the Depofitiounis produceit, and Latounis Confeffioun, and becuming in will; in caife that the Affyfe clange him of ony of the pointis libellit, proteftis for Wilfull errour aganis the faid Affyfouris, and all payne that can follow thairvpoune. As to the laft pairt of the alledgeance, that the fader, to quhome the euidentis and geir pertenis, perfewis nocht, and that the fact is committit be his eldest fone and apperand air; anfueris, that albeit the partie grewit keipis fylence and perfew nocht, the Aduocat hes fufficient interes, be express Act of Parliament, to perfew all crymes, without concurrence of the partie: Lykeas, the perfewar acceptis that pairt of the alledgeance, that the deid contenit in the Dittay is committit be the Laird of Boningtounis eldest fone, quhilk beris ane judiciall Confeffioun of the treffonabill fact contenit in the Dittay, and fand be interloquutour of the Judge to be ane treffonabill cryme.

It is anfuerit, that the Dittay and ewerie heid thairof aucht to be verifeit; and quhair it is alledgeit, that he man be prefewmit ane landit gentilman, becaus he

VOL. II.

2 X

fubfcryves ffear of Boningtoun,' that argument can work na thing, becaus na thing can mak ane man ffear, bot Chartour and seafing; and forder, gif that may verifie, ergo, it is confeft be the perfewar, that the euidentis tane away ar the defenderis awin proper rychtis, and fa can nocht be Thift: As to the Act of Parliament, the famin militatis na thing in this caice, ffor in the caice of the Act of Parliament, it is the cryme that makis the man tratour; and this cryme pe, et fua natura is na Treffoun, except it be committit be ane landit gentilman; quhilk man (must) be verifeit.

VERDICT of the Affife.

QUHILKIS perfounis of Affyis, being chofin, and the faid JAMES WOD, fear of Boningtoun, and WILLIAM WOD of Latoune, being accufit oppinlie in judgment, be reding of pe faid Dittay, &c., thay removit altogidder furth of Court, to the Counfal hous of the faid Tolbuith; quhair thay, being convenit, electit and chufe the faid James Rychardfoune of Smetoune Chancillar, and reafonit and votit vpoun the poyntis of the faid Dittay; and efter lang deliberatioun, being throwchlie auifit thairwith, thay reenterit agane in Court, and thair, be the mouth of the faid James Rychardfoune Chancillar, all in ane voce, ffand, pronunceit and declarit the faid Willame Wod of Latoune to be ffylit, culpabill and convict of the Dittay aboue writtin, and haill crymes thairin contenit; in refpect of his Depofitiounis, and that he become in his Maiefteis Will thairfore: AND als, the faid perfounes of Affyfe, for the maist pairt, be the mouth of the faid James Rychardfoun of Smetoun Chancillar, ffand, pronunceit and declarit the faid James Wod, ffear of Boningtoun (as ffear of Boningtoun, quhilk he confeft to, be his awin fubfcriptioune at his Depofitiounis) to be ffylit, culpabill and convict of airt and pairt of the thifteous breking of the Place of Boningtoune, entering thairin perforce, accumpaneit with the perfounes contenit in the said Dittay, and of opning of the haill duris and lokis of all the kiftis within the said Place; and speciallie, of the Chartour-kift, standing in the chalmer of daice of the faid Place, pertening to Patrik Wod of Boningtoun his fader; and of the thifteous fteilling, conceling, ftouthfullie reifing, reffetting and away-taking furth of the faid kift of the haill euidentis being thairin, and findrie vther writtis furth of ane vther kist, standing within the galrie of the faid place; and opning of the haill remanent cofferis and kiftis being within the faid place; and of the thifteous fteilling, ftouthfullie reifing, reffetting and away-taking furth thairof, of nyne pair of fcheitis, foure burdclathis, twa dofone and twa feruiettis, ane pair of blankettis of fufteane, and ane piece of vnbleachit linning claith, pertening to the auld Laird of Boningtoune; and of ane coffer with euidentis, pertening to the Lady Vfane; committit vpoun the xvj day of March inftant, vnder fylence and cloud of nycht.

'Hary Stewart of Craigiehall and George Dowglas of Langnudrie, amerciat in þe pane of ane hundreth markis' each; for not appearing to haif past vpoun the faid Affyfe.'

SENTENCE. Apr. 1. THE quhilk day, JAMES WOD, fear of Boningtoune, and WILLIAME WOD of Latoune, being presentit on pannell, to heir and fie dome pronunceit aganis thame, as thay that war lawfullie and ordourlie convict and fund guiltie, be ane Affyis, in ane Court of Jufticiarie, haldin in the Tolbuith of Edr the laft day of Marche laftbypaft, be the faid Juftice-depute, of airt and pairt of the thifteous breking of the place of Boningtoune, &c. as at lenth is contenit in thair Convictionis: Thairfoir, the said Justice-Depute, according to the tennour of the Act of Parliament, hes fund, be the Convictioune of the said James Wod, as feare of Boningtoune, and the faid Williame Wod of Latoune, be ane Affyis, of the crymes of thift foirfaidis, that thay and ather of thame hes incurrit the cryme and pane of Treffoune, viz. tynfall of lyffe, landis and guidis: ffor the quhilk caufe, he, be the mouth of Robert

Galbraith, dempftar of Court, hes Ordanit and Ordanis thame and ather of thame to be tane to ane gibbet, ftandand be-eift the mercat-croce of Ed', and thairvpoune to be hangit, quhill thay be deid:1 And all thair landis, heritageis, takis, fleddingis, rowmes, poffeffionis, coirnis, cattell, guidis and geir to be forfaltit and inbrocht to our fouerane lordis vfe, as convict of the faidis crymes.2

[Mr Williame Borthuik, Juflice-Depute.]

Breaking into the Place of Bonningtoun,Stealing Title Deeds, &c. Apr. 3.-THOMAS DAW, fmyth in Brechin, and Alexander Daw, fmyth, his brother, in Correftoune.

Dilatit of airt and pairt of the thifteous Steiling, conceling, reffetting and awaytaking of certain euidentis and writtis, with pleneiffing, furth of the Place of Bonningtoun ;3 with certane pleneiffing, scheittis, blankettis and buirdclathis; and ane coffer, with writtis, pertening to the Lady Vfane.

The Aduocat takis inftrumentis of the Confeffioune of the pannell, of thair being at breking of the Place of Boningtoune; and that Thomas Daw gat thre crownis, and Alexander Daw gat ane croune, for thair panis : And protesting, gif the Affyis clenge, for Wilfull errour: Repeittis lykewyis the Depofitionis of Latoune and Boningtoune; quhilkis ar produceit to the Affyis.

VERDICT. The Affyis, be the mouth of Thomas Somervell, merchand in Ed', chancellar, ffand, pronunceit and declarit the faidis Thomas Daw and Alex' Daw to be ffylit, culpabill and convict of airt and pairt of the thifteous fteling, conceling, reffetting and away-taking of the faidis writtis and euidentis, &c.

May 7.--The Justice-depute, be the mouth of Robert Galbraith, Dempftar, ordanit the said ALEXANDER DAW to be tane to the gibbet on the Castlehill, and thairvpoun to be hangit3 quhill he be deid; and all his movabill guidis to be efcheit and inbrocht to our fouerane lordis vfe, as Convict of the faidis crymes.

It is probable that great interest was made for the young Laird of Bonningtoun. The sentence was not carried into execution till Apr. 27; under which date, Robert Birrell records as follows:'James Wood of Bonnytoun beheidit at the croffe, at 6 houres in the morneing, for breaking the Place of Bonnytoun, quhilk appartenit to hes father, and fould haif beine hes awen."

2 Since the above was written, the Editor has found the following interesting notice :-'UPON Mounday pe 27 of Aprile (1601), THE LAIRD OF BONYTOUN was beheaded at pe Croffe of Edinburgh, betwixt fix and fevin in the morning, be a Commiffion from the King, directed to pe Bailliffes of Edinburgh, tymously in the morning; for howbeit great interceffion was made be Huntly, Erroll, Hume, and operis, yett pe Minifters were inftant with the King, to have a proofe of his fincerity. He died ane obftinat Papift, ever looking for pardon till the laft gafp. He pretended he fuffered for the Roman Catholic Religion, but it was noe point of his Dyttay; only the fteeling of his father's evidences and writtes was layed to his charge. LATOUN gatt Remiffion, be pe moyen of Courtearis.'— Calderwood's Church Hist. MS. Adv. Library. 3 In an abstract of their Dittay, which is inserted, it is stated, that they, accumpaneit with the Wodis,' &c. vnder fylence and cloude of nycht, come to pe Place of Boningtoune, and pair thifteouslie clam ye barnekyn wall with ane ladder,' &c. • Composed of merchandis' and burgeffis' of Edinburgh. 5 Birrell says, ‹ The 7 of Maij tua men wer hangit on the Caftell Hill, the ane callit Williame Crichtoun, for thift; and the uther, Alexander Smythe, dager-maker, for opining of the lockis to the Laird of Bonytoun.'

« PreviousContinue »