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reasoun, to elude the course and ordour of Juftice, and to haif aper the faid dyett defert, that he and his cautioneris may be fred of 3our lordschipis ordinance, and fruftrat ws of all the effect of our juft perfuit; or the mater to be continewit, to wearie bayth the perfewaris and pe Affyfe, except zour Lordfchipis, quha sufferit him to be fred vpoun cautioun, haifing committit fo haynous and recent Murthour, provyde remeid, be zour lordschipis Act and ordinance, be estableiffing, in absence of pe Juftice ordiner, fum vper Judge, be Commiffioun, for miniftrating juftice in pe faid caus and perfute, or be vper convenient ordour, as beft pleiffis 3our lordschipis. HEIRFOIR We moft huimblie befeik zour honorable lordfchipis, quha is the only mantenaris of justice and chastiezaris of fic haynous enormeteis within pis land, in his Maiefteis absence, to constitute certane Judge or Judgeis, be Commiffioun, coniunctlie and feuerallie, viz. Mr Olipher Colt, 3ounger, Mr James Sandielandis, Mr Dauid Prymrose, to hauld Juftice Court and miniftrat Justice in pe faid perfute, that throw inlaik thairof the cours of law and juftice may nocht be eludit and fruftrat; and We that hes our blude spilt and tane, be nocht disappointit of pe ordiner cours of Law and juftice, and 3our lordfchipis ordinance of finding of Cautioun be nocht ineffectuall. Accoirding to Juftice; and 3our lordfchipis anfuer maift huimblie we beseik. [Sic deliberatur.] APUD EDR, xxix Septembris, 1608.-FIAT Commiffio vt petitur. And the Lordis Ordanis the Judgeis within writtin, to hauld Court this day, in pe mater within writtin. (Sic fubfcribitur) AL. CANCELLARIUS. LOWTHIANE. ABIRCORNE. JO. PRESTOUNE. [Sic notatur infra.] APUD EDR, xxix Septembris, 1608.-The quhilk day, in prefens of the lordis of Secreit Counfall, compeirit, perfonallie, Mr Olipher Colt, younger, and Mr Dauid Prymrofe, Aduocattis, and gaif thair aith for doing of Justice, faithfullie and vprychtlie, in the mater within writtin; as thay will anfuer to God. J. PRYMROSE.1 Philp Nisbet of that Ilk and George Lyell, ffiar of Stanypeth, vnlawit in the panes of tua thowfeand pundis, for nocht entrie of the faid Williame, &c. Williame Nisbet ordanit to be denuncet his hienes rebell, &c.

[Mr Alexander Coluill, Juftice-Depute.]
Slaughter.

Nov. 9.-ALEXANDER TULLOCHE, appeirand of Tannacheis, &c. Johnne Dumbar of Moynes, cautioner for repoirting of the Letteris, purchest at the inftance of Normand Torrie and remanent bairnes2 of vmqle James Torrie, fumtyme in Logiehauch, aganis Alexander Tulloche, appeirand of Tannacheis, James Tulloche, his brother, Williame Cuik, in Forrefs, Rorie Mccoilziecharchar, alias Rorie Buffache, in Mordant, and Donald Mclauchlane thair, that thai fould compeir befoir the Justice or his depute this day and place, in the hour of caus, to haif vnderlyne the Law, for the Slauchter of the faid vmq James Torrie and vmqle Agnes Douglas, his spouse, &c.

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Compeirit Mr Johnne Dempfter, Aduocat, as procuratour for Johnne Dumbar, quha become cautioun for repoirting of the faidis Letteris; and allegit, that, nochtwithstanding of the nocht repoirting of the faidis Letteris, deulie execute and indorfat, this day and place, conforme to the Act, that the faid Johnne Dumbar, as 1 Clerk of the Privy Council.

2 Alexander, Walter and Robert.

cautioner, fould nocht be vnlawit; becaus it is of veritie, that the faidis Letteris, being delyuerit to James Dumbar, Meffinger (at arms), to haif charget the defenderis thairin contenit, to haif fund cautioune to haif vnderlyne the Law for the crymes thairin contenit, the fyftene dayis being bypast, within the quhilk the Defenderis fould haif fund cautioun; Alexander Tulloch, ane of the principall defenderis, being joynit in marriage with Iffobell Dumbar, mother to Alexander Dumbar, scheref of Murray, and principall of the cuntrie quhair he duellis, conspyret maliciouflie, with the said Schereff, and inftigat him to tak and apprehend the faid Meffinger, be force, put him in waird, and thairby to prevene that he had na power to denunce the said Alexander and his complices to the horne, for nocht finding of the faid Cautioun, quhairby the faidis Letteris mycht haif bene formerlie repoirtit, deulie execute and indorfate to this day: Quhilk Scheref of Murray, vpone the fevint of October laft, eftir the charge gevin to the faidis defenderis, be inftigatioune foirfaid, barbaruflie maid eruptioun in Patrik Dumbaris hous, in Gowfurd, quhair the faid Meffinger was for the tyme; entering within the said hous, accumpaneit with the faid Alexander Tulloche and certane vtheris, to the number of fevin perfonis, or thairby, with drawin fuordis, affailzeit the faid Meffinger and eftir mony outragious woirdis, affirmeing to tak the faidis Letteris from him, and to bereif him of his lyfe; ffirst denudit him of his suord, gantiletis, dager and vtheris wapponis, tuik and apprehendit him, perforce, led him captiue to the Caftell of Forres, being the faid Schereffis awin duelling hous, and fua carcer privatus, bot' ony lauchfull Warrand: In the quhilk priffon the faid Meffinger was detenit, maist wranguflie; luiking at all tymes to haif bene bereft of his lyfe, be the space of ten dayis; and at laft, be interceffion of freindis, the faid Scheref wald nawayis put the faid Meffinger to libertie, quhill' he had forcet and compellit him to ryve3 our faid fouerane lordis Letteris, with the executiones vpone the bak thairof, with his awin handis. Lyk as, the faid Meffinger, for juftifeing the treuth of the faid matter, hes raifit his hienes Letteris, be delyuerance of the Lordis of Secreit Counfall, for chargeing the faid Scheref and Alexander Tulloche and remanent perfones, thair affociattis, to anfuer to the faid complent. Quhilk allegeance, the said Johnne Dumbar, cautioner foirsaid, offeris him to verifie instantlie, be productioun of the faidis Letteris, revin; be the faid Meffingeris awin Declaratioun, present at the bar, with his ayth of veritie vpone the ryveing thairof, and be the faidis Letteris raifit befoir the Counfall, beiring the faid complent. In refpect quhairof, the faid cautioner fould nawayis be vnlawit: At the leift, the Juftice can nawayis vnlaw the cautioner, quhill the tryell of the premiffes befoir the Counfall. And thairupoun, the faid procuratour, in name of the faid cautioner, afkit inftrumentis.

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THE Justice ordanit the said Johnne Dumbar to be vnlawit in the panes contenit in the Actis of Parliament.1

[Mr Alexander Coluill, Juftice-Depute.]
Treasonable Murder under trust, &c.

Nov. 23.-JOHNNE MURE, elder of Auchindrane, and Johnne (James)
Mure, younger of Auchindrane.

Dilaitit of airt and pairt of the crymes following, viz. the Auld Laird, for the Slauchter of vmqle Sir Thomas Kennydie of Culzeane, knycht, and vmqle Williame Dalrumpill: And the Young Laird, for airt and pairt of the Slauchter of the faid vmqle Williame Dalrumpill.

PERSEWARIS, Sir Thomas Hammiltoun of Bynnie, knycht, Aduocat to our fouerane lord for his entreis, Johnne Erle of Caffilis, (Beffie Dalrumpill, as mother.) PRELOCUTORIS for the pannell, the Laird of Caldwall, The Laird of Bombie, The Laird of Blair 3ounger, Mr Williame Oliphant, Mr Johnne Ruffell, Williame Mure of Randerftoune. My lord Aduocat proteftis that this dyet may continew, in respect of the grit disorder of this hous, this day;2 vnto the tyme the Juftice tak ordour thairwith. THE Juftice continewis this dyet to the laft day of November inftant; and Ordanis the Laird of Auchindrane elder to be of new committit to waird within the Tolbuith of Edinburgh, and Young Auchindrane to be committit to waird within the Caftell of Edinburgh, thairin to remane quhill the said day.

Nov. 30, 1608.-THE Justice, be directioune of the Counfall, continewis this dyet to the thrid day of ffebruare nixtocum; and Ordanis the pannell to enter to thair wardis of new agane, &c.-Vnto the quhilk continuatioun the Lairdis of Auchindrane baith difaffentit; and nochtwithstanding thairof, and in respect of thair innocencie of the allegit crymes aboue writtin, offerit thame felfis to the tryall of the Law for the famyn, and thairupon afkit inftrumentis.

Feb. 3, 1609.—THE Juftice, be command of the Counfall, (continewis) this dyet to the aucht day of ffebruare nixt.—(Feb. 8, 1609.) THE Juftice continewis the dyet to the thrid day of May nixtocum.*

Slaughter.

Dec. 21.-ALEXANDER TULLOCHE, appeirand of Tannacheis, and Williom Cuik in Forres.

1 This at first sight appears to be a very arbitrary mode of proceeding; but his recourse against the party would be reserved entire. The influence of these atrocious malefactors was such, that by false representations, and the incessant complaints made by them and their friends to the public, of the oppression of the Lord Advocate, in cruelly delaying their case, though he knew them to be innocent, they succeeded in raising such a popular ferment, that the Court had to be dismissed on this and perhaps on other occasions. 3 Sir Williame Hairt officiated as Justice-depute on this and the following diet.

Jul. 17, 1611.

↑ No farther notice of proceedings before the Court of Justiciary occurs until

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Dilaitit of airt and pairt of the Slauchter of vmq James Torrie in Logiehauche, and Agnes Douglas, his fpous.-Continewit to the fyftene day of Junij nixt.'

[Mr Williame Hairt, Juftice-Depute.]
Forcing-(Rape.)

Dec. 30.-JOHNNE ERROLE, cowmone poft.

Dilaitit of the filthie and deteftabill cryme of the abuseing and fforceing of Jonet Craig, ane young virgane of xj yeiris of age.

PERSEWAR, Mr Robert Foullis, Aduocat, substitute to our fouerane lordis Aduocat.
DITTAY against the Pannell.

JOHNNE Errole, cowmoun poft, Ze ar indyttit and accuset, fforfamekill as 3e, haifing schaiken af all feir of God, reuerance to our fouerane lordis lawis, or regaird to ciuill honeftie, as a diffolute and vyld perfone, ouercum with the beiftlie rage of 3our awin filthie luft, about ane half zeir fyne, or pairby, to get your filthie appetite quenchet, drew acquentance with Jonet Craig, dochter to vmqle Andro Craig, mercheand burges of Edinburgh, ane honest manis bairne, and ane 3oung virgane, nocht past the age of ellevin zeiris; and haifing forgadderit with hir, upone the Hie ftreit of this burgh, vnderstanding hir to be at the fcole, maift craftillie and vnhoneft lie feducet and tryftit hir to gang with 50w to Hammiltones close-fute, quhair 3e was myndit maist barbaruslie to haif abuset hir; and þan gaif hir certane billis, with vther allureing woirdis, to gang with 30w: And becaus, at that tyme, ze gat nocht zour beiftlie defyre fatisfeit, perfauing the fimplicitie of the bairne, and how eafilie fcho micht be circumvenit, 3e, a tuentie dayis fyne, or thairby, eftir foure houris at evin, and ringing of the Prayer-Bell, awaitit the said Jonet at the mercat croce of this burgh, and be geving to hir of apillis and vther frute, of new, agane maist craftillie feducet and intyfet hir to gang with 30w; quha, vpone bairnlines and meir fimplicitie, haifing paft with 30w to Bellis-wynd-heid, ze tuik hir in to ane bak turnepyke, within the faid wynd, and behind the 3et pairof, maist filthielie forcet pe faid bairne, and did quhat in 30w lay to haif carnall deilling with hir, and to haif bereft hir of hir virginitie: At the quhilk tyme, fcho haifing cryit that ze crewallie hurt hir, ze maist barbaruslie and crewallie, to haif 3our filthie appetite fatiat, pat 3our handis vpone hir movth, that hir cryis fould nocht be hard, and pairby ftoppit hir braith and almoft fuffocat hir, and had nocht failzeit to haif filthielie defloirit hir, gif 3e had nocht bene skarrit be tua wemen at þat inftant. Lyk as, 3e, perfeviring in our former beistlie rage of luft, vpone the fevintene day of December inftant, being Satterday, at fyve houris at evin, ze awaitit, of new agane, the faid Jonet Craig at the mercate croce of this burgh, quhair scho, with vther honeft menis bairnis war playing thame for pe tyme, and pair, with walnuttis, cheftennes and appillis than gevin be zow to hir, ze maist craftillie feducet pe faid bairne to gang with 30w; quha haifing refuiset to gang with 30w, 3e maift forceablie harrillit hir doun the ftreit with 30w; and 3e, being demandit be dyuerse persones that met 30w, quhair ze was taking hir to, ze maift diffimulatlie and falflie gaif thame anfuer, that scho had bene frome hame all that day, and pat nane of the house knew qubair scho was, and þat þairfoir ze was taking hir hame; at the quhilk tyme, ze tuik hir to pe faid bak turnepeck in Bellis-Wynd; quhair 3e, aganis pe bairnis will, tuik vp her claithes, and maist filthielie forcet zour self to haif ado with hir, and wald nocht pairt frome hir quhill ze gat zour beistlie will fatisfeit, and was within hir body; and fcho, haifing in maift pitious maner cryit, that ze hurt hir, ze, as ofbefoir, pat 3our hand vpone hir mouth and held in hir braithe; quhilk is nottourlie knawin. Lyk as, 3e and pe said bairne being laitlie examinat, in presens of pe Ministrie and Magistrattis of this burgh, 3e and fcho haif confeffit pe treuth of pe premiffis, be 30wr Depofitionis. Quhairin, ze haif

1 No farther notice of this case occurs on the Record. See the preceding case, Nov. 9, 1608.

committit the maift haynous, deteftabill and odious cryme of Rapt, Raveifching and Violent fforceing of the faid zoung bairne; the lyk quhairof aucht nocht to be namet within any Cristiane kingdom fubiect to a Cristiane Prince, or amang Cristiane people reulit with guid lawis.

The Aduocat, for verifeing of the Dittay, producet the faidis Johnne Errole and Jonet Craigis Depofitionis, fubfcryuit be his hand, and be certane of the Minifteris and Magiftrattis of Edinburgh and Elderis of the Seffioun of the Kirk ; and in respect thairof, Proteftis for Wilful Errour, in caice the Affyfe Acquit. VERDICT. The Affyfe, be the mouth of Williame Trumbill, mercheand in Edinburgh, chanceller, all in ane voce, ffand, pronuncet and declairit the faid Johnne Errole to be ffylet, culpable and convict of the fforceing and abuseing of the said bairne, in maner, and at the perticular tymes and places aboue specifeit and set doun in the faid Dittay.-SENTENCE. For the quhilk caus, the said Juftice-depute, be the mouth of Johnne Lawfone, dempfter of Court, decernit and ordanit the faid Johnne Errole to be tane to the Caftell-hill of this burgh; and thair to be hangit vpone ane gibbet, quhill he be deid; and all his moveabill guidis, gif he ony hes, to be efcheit and inbrocht to our fouerane lordis vse, as culpable and convict of the faidis crymes; quhilk wes pronuncet for dome.

[Mr Alexander Coluill, Juflice-Depute.] Stouthreif-Hurting and Wounding.

Jan. 3, 1609.-JAMES HUNTER of Hagburne.

Dilaitit of airt and pairt of the Steilling of ffourtie pundis furth of Robert Hogis purse, potter in the Potter-Raw (of Edinburgh); committit in the moneth of October, ITM.Vc.lxxxxviij; and Hurting of the said Robert in his heid, and leifing him for deid, at Theyuis corfe.'

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PERSEWER, Robert Hog, potter.

Continued to the air of Roxbur', tertio Itineris (vel fuper premonitione) xv dierum.'

[Sir Williame Hairt of Preftoun, Juflice-Depute.]
Slaughter.

Jan. 31.-ANDRO AIRMESTRANG of the Langholme, Ebbie' Airme-
ftrang of Kirktonehill, James Airmeftrang of Cannabie, Tho-
mas Airmeftrang callit the Mercheand, and Johnne Murray,
myller in the Cruikis.

Dilaitit of airt and pairt of the Slauchter of vmq James Somervell in Eirdhouffis; committit in the moneth of . . .

PERSEWAR, Robert Somervell, fervand to the Laird of Waftraw, as neir kynfman. PRELOCUTOURIS for the pannell, Mr Laurence McGill, Adame Cunninghame, (Advocates.)

Thieves' Cross.

• Perhaps a clerical error for Ekkie (Hector,) a common name in the south at that time. Habbie was also a favourite name. It may, however, be a familiar abbreviation for Ebenezer, though the name was unusual among the Armstrongs, whereas Ekkie was very prevalent.

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