REFOIRT of resaving the Aithes of the Ministeris and Persones electit for answer giving to the Articles of the Commission p. 64 ART. I.---RENTALL of the Landis and Dewties thair of quhilkis appertenit to the lait Bishoprick of Orknay.---Delivered to the Magistrates of Edinburgh in 1642. Of the Half Parochin of St Olaw Orphair Home and Paplay Holme Stromness Sandwick Wallis Hoy Schapinshay Silver Deuties of Lands and Teynds ART. II. Ane Perfyt Rentall of the Bishopric of Orkney ART. III. Summa of the Haill Rents of the Bischopric of Orkney, confor to the Rentall No. V. The True and Just RENTALL of all the Fermis, Debtis, Dewtis, and Gersumes off the Bischoprick of Orknay. The Rentall of Land Maillis coft be George, bischop of Orkney 32 No. VI. DONALD GROAT's Bishoprick Compt Boook, cropt 1739. Bishoprick of Orkney compting prices, crop 1739 Ministers stipends, &c. Compt with Vassals and Tenants in Walls, crop 1759, Sandwick Stromness Shapinshay Holme St Olla Orphir Hoy 3 5 12 35 45 50 58 61 65 APPENDIX. No. 1. Concordia inter Alexandrum Regem Scotia et Magnum Regein Norwagie,-1312 2. Contractus Matrimonialis inter Jacobum III., Regem Scotia et Margaretam filiam Principis Christiani Primi Daniæ Norwegia et Sueciæ Regis,-1468. 3. Carta Regalitatis Orcadensis,—10th Oct. 1490, 7 14 4. Charter, confirming the Bishoprick of Orkney as a Regality,-20th January 1501, 16 5. Foundation, &c. in the Cathedral of Orkney, by Robert Reid, Bishop 18 25 7. Carta Mortificationis, Jacobi Orcadensis Episcopi,-Oct. 4. 1614, 31 40 9. Extract from a Charter by King James VI. to Patrick Earl of Orkney, relative to Bishoprick,-May 25th, 1600, 86 10. Resignation by King James VL and Queen Anne to James Law, Bishop,-Feb. 13. 1605, 11. Contract betwixt Patrick Earl of Orkney and Bishop Law, Jan. 21st 1607, 12. Tackman compt of Sand wick,-Nov. 20th, 1613, 13. Overtour and Letter of King James VI. anent the provision of the Kirkis of Orkney,-Nov. 22, 1615, 99 14. Act of Exchequer in favour of George Bishop of Orkney,-June 25, 1627, 103 15. List of Bishoprick Leases since the Revolution 105 16. Report of the Barons of Exchequer, on a petition for Captain Moodie of Melsetter,-Feb. 13, 1713, 106 17. Petition for Andrew Ross, 1762,-and Report by Sheriff-substitute 108 109 18. Prices of Orkney produce, prior to 1813 19. Fiar Prices of Orkney produce, 1811 and 1817, inclusive 112 20. List of Crown Vassals in Bishoprick of Orkney from Cess-book of the County 114 21. Weights and Measures of Orkney, Glossary, &c. 117 PREFACE. FROM the year 1266 to 1468, the Orkney and Zetland Islands were acknowledged, by treaties betwixt Scotland and Norway, to be a province of the latter power. On the marriage of James III. of Scotland, to Margaret, a daughter of Christian I. of Denmark and Norway, they were pledged as a security for the portion of the royal bride. They were never afterwards redeemed; and, by the lapse of time, and many acts of annexation, they have long been held as a part of Scotland. By the treaty of marriage in which they were impignorated to Scotland, (8th September 1468) it was stipulated that the laws and customs of Norway should be continued in the province until redeemed; and this stipulation was recognised by the parliament of Scotland. The connection, however, with this country, gradually introduced the laws and customs of Scotland, until at length, in the reigns of Queen Mary and King James VI., very considerable changes took place. A very important one was, the introduction of written land rights in place of the udal or allodial tenure which prevailed in Norway and its territories; a kind of holding which required no written titles, and involved none of the peculiarities of the feudal form. But al a |