Some Troubles Betwixt Sutherland and Caithness in 1612
The year of God, 1612, there happened some discord and dissensions
betwixt Sutherland and Caithness, which troubled a little the peace
of
that part of the Kingdom. The occasion was this:- One Arthur Smith
(a
false coiner), being, together with his servant, apprehended for
making
and striking of false money, were both sent to Edinburgh, the year
of
God, 1612. His Majesty gave a secret commission to his servant,
Sir
Robert Gordon (the Earl of Sutherland's brother), for apprehending
this
Arthur Smith; but, as Sir Robert was going about to perform the
same, he
received a commandment from His Majesty to accompany Sir Alexander
Hay
(then Secretary of Scotland) in apprehending John Lesley of New
Lesley,
and some other rebels in Gereagh; which Sir Robert obeyed, and
committed
the execution of the commission against Arthur Smith unto his
nephew,
Donald Mackay of Farr, John Gordon of Gospeter, younger (nephew to
George
Gordon, slain at Marle, the year 1587), and to John Gordon, son to
John
Gordon of Backies. These three, parting from Sutherland with 36
men,
came to the town of Thurso in Caithness, where Arthur Smith then
dwelt,
and there apprehended him; which, when John Sinclair of Skirkag
(the Earl
of Caithness's nephew) understood, he assembled the inhabitants of
the
town, and opposed himself to the King's commission. There ensued
a sharp
skirmish upon the streets of Thurso, where John Sinclair of Skirkag
was
slain, and James Sinclair of Dun left there, deadly hurt, lying
upon the
grouind; Arthur Smith was there likewise slain; divers of the
Sutherland
men were hurt; but, perceiving Smith dead, they left Thurso, and
retired
themselves all home into their own country.
Thereupon, both the parties compeared before the Secret Council at
Edinburgh. The Earl of Caithness did pursue Sir Robert Gordon,
Donald
Mackay and John Gordon for the slaughter of his nephew. These,
again,
did pursue the inhabitant of Caithness for resisting the King's
commissioners. The Secret Council (having special commandment from
His
Majesty to that effect) dealt earnestly with both the parties; and,
in
end, persuaded them to submit these questions and debates to the
arbitriment of friends. A certain number of the Lords of Council
were
chosen as friends for either party. The Archbishop of St. Andrews
and
the Earl of Dunfermline, Chancellor of Scotland, were appointed
oversmen by consent of both parties. These friendly judges, having
heard the business reasoned in their presence, and, finding that
the
examination thereof would prove tedious and intricate, they direct
a
power to Marquis of Huntly to deal in the matter; desiring him to
try, if, by his means and mediation, these contentions might be
settled, happening betwixt parties so strictly tied to him by
blood and alliance, the Earl of Sutherland being his
cousin-germain, and the Earl of Caithness having married his
sister. The Marquis of Huntly did his best, but could not
prevail, either party being being so far from condescending to
the other's demands, and so he remitted the business back again
to the Secret Council; which Sir Robert Gordon perceiving, he
moved the King's Majesty for a pardon to Donald Mackay, John
Gordon, and their associates, for the slaughter of John
Sinclair of Skirkag; which His Majesty earnestly granted,
seeing it was committed in the execution of His Majesty's
service; yet, nevertheless, there still remained a grudge in
the minds of the parties, searching by all means and
occasions to infest one another, until the year of God,
1619, that the Earl of Caithness and Sir Robert Gordon (then, by
his
brother's death, Tutor of Sutherland) were reconciled by the
mediation of
George Lord Gordon, Earl of Enzie, by whose travel and diligence
all
particulars betwixt the Houses of Sutherland and Caithness were
finally
settled; and then went both of them familiarly to either's houses;
whose
perfect reconciliation will, doubtless, tend to the peace and quiet
of
these parts of the kingdom.
The Spanish Blanks, and What Follows Thereupon
The year 1592, the Ministry and Church of Scotland thought it
necessary
that all such as professed the Roman religion in the kingdom should
either be compelled to embrace the reformed religion, or else that
the
censure of excommunication should be used against them, and their
goods
discerned to appertain to the King so long as they remained
disobedient.
Mr. George Carr, doctor of laws, was the first that withstood, and
was
excommunicated; the next was David Graham of Fintrie. This Mr.
George
Carr, considering that hereby he could have no quiet residence
within his
native country, did deliberate with himself to pass beyond sea into
Spain; and, therefore, that he might be the more welcome there, he
devised certain blanks, as if they had been subscribed by some of
the
Scottish nobility, and directed from them to the King of Spain, to
be
filled up at his pleasure; which project was first hatched by the
Jesuits, and chiefly by Father Crightoun, who, for some
discontentment,
had, a few years before, left Scotland and fled into Spain, where
he
endeavoured to insinuate himself with King Philip's favour, and
published
a book concerning the genealogy of his daughter, the Infante,
married to
the Archduke; wherein he did his best to prove that the two Crowns
of
England and Scotland did appertain unto her; and, that this cunning
Jesuit might the rather move King Philip to make war against the
King of
Scotland, he wrote books and pamphlets in the disgrace of his own
native
Prince. Then he adviseth with himself that his next and readiest
way
was to solicit some of his friends in Scotland, who were of his
faith;
and, to this effect, he wrote letters, this year, 1592, to this
George
Carr, and to such of his own colleagues, the Jesuits, as were then
in
this kingdom, whereby he made them understand what great favour and
credit he had with the King of Spain, who, by his persuasions, was
resolved both to invade England, and to establish the Catholic
faith
in Scotland; but, first, that King Philip would be assured of the
good will of the Catholics of Scotland; whereupon he behoved to
have
certain blanks subscribed by the Catholics, and that he should
cause
them to be filled up afterwards; which, if he did obtain, he had
promise of the King of Spain to send them 250,000 crowns to be
distributed among them. After this advertisement of Father
Crightoun's,
this George Carr (by the advice of the Jesuits then resident in
Scotland)
devised these blanks, to the effect that George Carr might
transport them
into Spain. Carr addressed himself to the town of Ayr to have
taken
shipping there, and, lying in the Isle of Cumrye, attending a fair
wind,
he was discovered, byu the indiscretion of Father Abercromby, and
apprehended in the ship; from whence he was carried back to Ayr,
and from
thence conveyed to Edinburgh. With him was found a packet of
letters,
directed (as it were) from some Scottish noblemen into Spain and
some
parts of France; therein were found blanks alleged subscribed by
the
Earl of Angus, the Earl of Huntly, the Earl of Erroll, and Sir
Patrick
Gordon of Achindoun, uncle to the Earl of Huntly. The blanks were
thus, Imprimis, two missive bills directed to the King of Spain;
the
one subscribed de votre Majeste tres humble et tres obeissant
serviteur, Francois Comte d'Erroll; another on this manner,
de votre Majeste tres humble et tres obeissant
serviteur,Guillaume Comte d'Angus; item, another blank
subscribed by them all four, as it were by form of contract or
obligation conjointly, thus -- Gulielmus Angusiae Comes,
Georgius Comes de Huntley, Franciscus Erroliae Comes, Patricius
Gordon de Achindowne Miles; item, a blank subscribed apart by
Franciscus Erroliae Comes; item, one by Georgius Comes de
Huntley; item, one by Gulielmus Angusiae Comes;.
Hereupon the ministers sent some of the Privy Council to the King
to Alloway (where His Majesty then lay) to advertise him of these
blanks. The King came to Edinburgh, where all the matter was
debated to him at length, partly by Mr. Bowes Leiger, Ambassador
for the Queen of England in Scotland, and partly by Mr. Robert
Bruce, Principal Minister at Edinburgh, showing that the realm of
Scotland was in apparent danger of Spaniards to be brought in, by
the forenamed earls being Papists; and, thereby, both his Majesty's
crown was in danger and the Established religion at hazard to be
altered. That Mr. George Carr had sufficiently declared the whole
circumstance of the business in his confession, accusing the Popish
lords as guilty of these blanks; and thus, taking the matter
already pro confesso, they urge the business vehemently, and
do entreat His Majesty to proceed against them with all celerity
and rigour., Then was David Graham of Fintrie apprehended,
arraigned, and executed at Edinburgh, in February this year, 1592
(or 1593 stilo novo, who, thinking to save himself thereby,
did write a long letter, subscribed with his own hand, directed to
the King, wherein he made mention that the Roman Catholics of
Scotland had undertaken to receive such a number of soldiers as the
King of Spain and his Council should appoint; and, in case he would
bestow any money for levying of men here, they should willingly
both convey the King's army into England, and retain a certain
number in Scotland, for reformation of religion, and to purchase
liberty of conscience; that he himself had given counsel thereunto
divers times, after that the matter was communicated to him by the
Jesuits, and because he fore-new this purpose, and concealed the
same, he was in danger of the law; for this cause, he desired not
to be tried by a jury, but offered himself unto the King's mercy
and will, when he was arraigned at the bar. The King (nottheless
of this his voluntary confession) commanded to proceed against him
according to the law; which was done.