merchand in Ffrasersburgh, and Johne Urqhart in Ferritoun [Meikle Ferry] his factor for his entres [interests] that upon the thretin day of Apyll 1666 the said compleiners obteinit ane decreit. . . against Johne Fforrester ane of the baillies of the burgh of Tayne, ordaining him to mak payment. . . of the sowme of fyftein pund eight shillings money containet in ane ticket [bond]... grantit be him to the said complainer daitit the eighteint day of March 1659; and of the sowme of twentie four punds money forsaid as the pryce of ane hundreth and twentie fyve pun weight of tobacco and that as the wairing [laying out] of the frie money receavit be the said Johne Fforrester for the number of fourtie fyve ells thrie quarters wheeling and fingering, delivered to him in Scotland for the said complainer to waire in Holland according to his commissioune and obleissment to the said Johne Fforrester to him of the dait 18th March 1659, extending in the haill . . . to threttie nyne pund eight shilling... with four punds for expenses of plea . . . the said complainer causit lawfully requyre and chairge the said Johne Fforrester to mak payment. . . . We chairge you [i.e., officers] that incontinent [at once] in our name command... to mak payment within fyfteen dayes under pane of rebellione ... [Next, the officer relates how he served the summons and letters of horning on Forrester,] personallie before thir witnesses Walter Ros, Dean of Guild of Tayne, Alex. Ross borrow officer there, etc. . . . And becaus Johne Forrester. hes most contemptouslie disobeyit the former chairge . . . theirfor on the sext day of June I past to the mercat croce of Tayne head brugh of the schyre of Ros . . . and thereat, efter three severall Ho! yess! oppin proclamatione of the within wrettin letters, in our soveraigne lord's name and autie. [authority] I deulie and orderlie denuncit the said Johne Forrester rebell, and did put him to our lord's horne be three severall blasts of ane horne.. and ordainit his haill movable goods and geir to be escheitit . . . befor thir witnesses David Ross merchand in Tayne, Johne M'Culloch elder there, and Alex. Ross post there. [Fraserburgh is still very often pronounced in the district with the s in the middle. Such pronunciation is reckoned a vulgar one, but here is very old authority for the s, with which it is spelt each time. Another current pronunciation reckoned vulgar is brogh or broch for burgh in the name; but in this very paper brugh is used for both towns, while borrow and bruch are also applied to Tain. The doubling of ƒ at the beginning of words was a fashion or conceit prevailing from early in the seventeenth century till late in the eighteenth. The tobacco consignment betokens an import trade at Fraserburghmost likely from one of the larger English ports. The English colony of Virginia was then the chief source of supply, and there were no Scottish ships--or almost none-fit to cross the Atlantic; certainly no harbour then at Fraserburgh fit to take them. But in 1659 the smaller Scottish ports were profiting by Cromwell's enlightened policy of free navigation between England and Scotland. After the tobacco, apparently from an English port or colony, and the worsted, probably produced in Aberdeenshire, were sold in Tain, the free proceeds should have been laid out in getting goods in Holland for Urquhart. Two Convention of Burghs accounts of the period may be conveniently inserted: four 1650, No. 581, 1655.-] Accompt awneing be the burrowes. yeirs a'rent of 1000 merks payit to Stainhyve £160.. ane accompt allowit in Edr. and Pearth £400 ... Received from Wm. Ross, commr. for ye brugh of Taine, £9 12s. . missive dewes . . . do., do. £14 6s as their proportione of £2863. [So Tain had to pay in spite of poverty. No. 582, 1658.-Account of expenditure by the Convention.] To Michael Craige at the puteing of the petitione anent the bay salt £2 18s . . . To the clerks of Haddingtoun, Edr., and Glasgow for writeing and directing the missives. . £120. Borrowed and advanced for the use of the agent at Londonn, £1333 6s 8d. . . Do. do. for prosecuting ye action at the instance of Irvine and Renfrew agt. unfree men. Debursit in ye actione of contraventione at ye instance of Aberdein [other fees, &c., then] Receaved from Androw McCulloch, Provest of Tayne, £12 13s . . proportione of £2556. . . . [Many papers relating to the next period have come under Sections I., II., and III., and from Nos. 303-4-5, &c., it has appeared that the exactions and quarterings were not less then than under the Commonwealth. B. No. 583, 1662.-Bond of the Peace.]... Act of Parliament, ordaining all chieffes and landlords to secure their kinsmen, vassals and followers, men tennents and servantes to keepe his Majesties peace. . . . Me James Ross of Eye as ane of David Ross . . his followers, and wt me as cautioner Robert Ross in Lochsline, to be bound and obleigit . . . shall keepe . . . . and that his mentennents or any whome he may stope or let shall not break the same subscribit at Mekill Reaine 21st day of March 1662 in pns. of Androw Ross brother to Walter Ross of Ballamuckie, James Ross of Mekill Rennie. [The forerunner of the newspaper is seen in . B. No. 584, 1667.-Written paper, docketed News Letter."] Covent Garden 16th July 1667. The last news of the dutch fleet wes the greattest number to have appeared towards Evlens Port near Portsmouth. Ther be som aprehentiones that they may doe mischieff upon doacwairds qr divers of our Straittes schipes have putt in, that the consideratione of the almost concludit peace doe not check them. The report I wreat last of Sir Hermones taking of some of the East India Schipes appeirs now to be Captan Kempthorns takeing 5 hollands Staitsmen outward bound and loaded with East India comodities, besydes great quantitie of Holland cloth, all which they say is secured in Galloway in Ireland.. may allay our untowardly negligence at Chattin [Chatham.] No certaintie yet of Sir Jerimie Smith, tho the opinione is that he has reached Lymbrick. The French King hes returned to the army, and hes been so bold with the Hollands minister Van Binnighame that the States indirect preictises wer non sufficientlie unmasked . . . The dutch are bussie prepareing to help the spainyard as is reported. The Sueddes are still quyet. . upon the close of our treaty they will either do or threattin great matter. All the hopes of the Spanish forces in Flanders is from heaven for ther strenth at the best now doe scarce venter upon anything but the remaynes of ane army that half killed the land by plague and famine. In the last attack of Courtack the governor was killed. The duke of Buckinghame on Sunday last in the evening wes sett at libertie from the towr Sir Robert Holmes, Sir Tho. Ellen, Sir Geo. Captan Kempthorne to the number of 40 sail were all joyned upon the high seas. Sir John Hermones success against . . Dutch East India schipes is revived. . going to Straittes. . valued to £300,000 sterling. [The exaction of men as well as money is shown in B. No. 585, 1680.--Receipt.] I Mr George Paterson of Seafeild, Levtennent to his Ma'tie in the companie of foot out of the division of Eist Ross, grant me to have receivit from David Ross, Laird of Ballnagowne . eight sufficient shouldiers qch is his full proportione. . to his valued rent, without armes. obleidgt to produce them the first randezvous day. Given at Scone the twentie fourt of August. . Geo. Paterson. [The Highlands were the favourite recruiting ground at the period, and the special muster made on the eve of the Revolution is seen in No. 586, 1688.-] List of the leaders and outreckers [fittersout] of the hundreth and sixty fyve footmen impoised be his Ma'ties privy counsell and of the militia horse or foot out of the Eastern divisione of Ross-shyre and to be sent to Stirling to be devydit into two Companys well () and provydit wt. fourtie days provision under the Command of () made be ye commissar and oyr heretors . . . . At Tayne the 4th Decr. 1688 . . . . having mett. . . that ilk leader have £200 for outreick of each man and . . £30 for furnishing and 12s Scots further of ilk £100 valued rent to be given to the commanders to defray their charges. immediately under paine of quartering . . . . [Another paper gives a list of the foot militiamen, numbering 86. No. 587, 1688.-Order by the Commissioners.] . . ilk heretor within the Eastern Division of Ross who are neither leaders nor adjuncts.. to pay £15 6s ou of ilk hundreth pounds valued rent towards the outreick of officers and commanders of the 160 footmen to be sent to Stirling. [But there is a notable difference shown in No. 588, 1688.-Letter, addressed].. The Lord Viscount Tarbat My Lord, His Majesty's Privy Council considering it unnecessary to give your shire any further trouble in bringing forth the proportion of men lately ordered to be reiked out.. by you These . . authorizing and requiring you. . to dismiss and send home your men, And the Councill. . . give you and . . under you their thanks for . . hearty concurrance in his Majesties service. Signed . . . Perth Cancellarius. Edr. 29 Nov. 1688. [The real reason probably being that the Chancellor or the Council did not trust Lord Tarbat, and as the Revolution went on, there was great slackness about the levies. No. 589, 1689.-Instrument of protest.]... Alexr. Dunbar produced commission by Major Generall M'Kye.. impowring. . to receave the horse which the shires of Moray, Inverness, Ross, Sutherland and Caithness are obliged to furnish to the reglement of the Estaits, as also to receive. £15 15s from such as could not furnish . horse notice to David Ross of Balnagown, Sheriff Principal, who . . gave order for the commrs. to meet and proportion the leavies. . and mak uplifts of leaders, but some only did meet . . not a quorum and actit nothing . . .. [Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, went into open opposition, and Brahan was occupied by Mackays and Rosses; but Balnagown made a strange compact with the officer of the latter: B. No. 590, 1689.-Assignation.] I Captaine Alexr. Ross for the love and favour I bear to the Laird of Balnagown my Cheiff who wes pleasit to nominate me as captaine of his hundreth men in the garrisone of Brahan . . . assign to him the pay due to the said office. . refer myself . . for what he pleases to bestow upon mee for my service witnesses Hugh Ross of Glastulich, Dond. Ross of Knockgartie. [No. 591, 1689.-Letter to Balnagown.] Inverness ye 11 Nov. 1689. I have received yors of ye 8th, and blamed you for nothing more than for not giving me notice . . I never doubted yor loyallty, but was unwilling you should put the countrey to a needless trouble when there was no enemie at hand. . . I will not pretend to give you any orders since you have the major generalls and the Privy Councils . . . when I designed to have the countrey keep a watch I warned in the herritors. . consulted most convenent wayes to lay it on the countrey they advised. I proposed it to be on every hundred pounds rent. . gentle men well-affected, but wonder a watch has not been sett ... I will not be wanting to protect you or your countrey Three of Grants Companies will be up this day as likewise Major McKay .. James Leslie. [The seal is identical with that of George Leslie, 4th Earl of Rothes, of which family the writer was. In 1st and 3rd quarters 3 buckles, in 2nd and 4th lion rampant. See here No. 186. B. No. 592, 1689-90.-Affidavit.] David Ross of Balnagowne maketh oath That he did ffurnish The Independent Companie off ffoot under his command in the years Iai Vi ct Eighty nyne and nynty with compleit Cloathing and other necessars according to the highland ffashione alloted by the Government-David Ross Johne Ross of Achna cloath, Alexr. Ross of Litle Tarrell, Willm. Ross of Easter Ferne.. Justices . . 1709. [B. No. 593, N.D., Revolution time.-Note to Balnagown, docketed] Fraser about the behaveour of Balnagown's men at Brahan Captan Alexander before he wold remove from Brahan this day he did call me up to sie the house and windows with yr leads. All that I decerniat . . of wrong done is som lossans of glaiss broken, with locks of doors. . all in keiping till they be called for . . . [B. No. 594, not dated, but, from above, 1709.-Petition] Unto . Lords of Counsell. . David Ross . . . . to evidence his zeal. . did wait upon Generall Major M'Cay . . Inverness. . present to him 500 of my men weill armed . . in defence of the present Government notwithstanding of my neighbours' opositione . . . General . . did make choise of ane hundred of my hyleanders with yr own arms, and having mustered ym himselfe he established ym in ane independent Company received ym to be under pay, 1st May 1689. . there being no Fond. . petitioner . his own credit raise money and advance pay . . . . . on [B. No. 595, 1689.-Letter to Balnagown.] Holyrood House Decr. 17, 1689 . . . I am concerned to find. yt our countrey is so much harassed . . . list of the officers of State ... The King desired the Duke of Hamilton to take the publict management of affaires in Scotland till his Ma'tie settled the government. . . . Tarbat continues still at Court ... a governor to the Lord Melville, who does nothing without his direction . . . The Count de Mainard, second son of the Duke of Schomberg, past by here from Ireland . . . . Lord Berkeley is sailed. . with 24 men of war and 4 fire ships for the coast of France, and Killegrew has orders to follow him . . . . William Ross. [B. No. 596, N.D., by script Revolution time.] Memorandum for Lieutenant Maxwell.. That you press earnestly upon the Earl of Seafort, Bellagown, Obsdale. . and freinds. uther heritors and gentilmen . . to send in yr proportion of |