Christiern the first King of Denmark He Marry'd Geils or Egidia Dowglass Daughter to William Dowglass Lord of Niddisdale and of Geils Stewart Daughter to King Robert the Second So much was he favour'd by King Robert the Third that when he was to send his Son Prince James afterward King James the First to France he appointed this Henry Prince of Orkney to be his Governor who taking Ship with him at the Bass came as far as Flamburgh-head but by reason of the Sickness and Indisposition of the young Prince they were necessitated to land and so were both detained Prisoners by the English He had a Daughter call'd Beatrix Sinclar who was Marry'd to James the gross Earl of Douglass And in the Inscription that is on her Tomb at Douglass her Father the Earl of Orkney is stil'd Lord of the Isles and Lord Sinclar To him succeeded his Son William Sinclar Earl of Orkney and Zetland he Marry'd Elizabeth Douglass Daughter to Archibald Earl of Douglass sirnamed Fineman by whom he had a Daughter that afterwards was Marry'd to Alexander Duke of Albany second Son to King James the Second In the Douglass History we find a Note of this Earl's Titles viz. Prince of Orkney Duke of Oldenburgh Earl of Cathnes Lord Sinclar Lord of Niddisdale with the Valleys of Neth Sheris of Dumfreis great Admiral of Scotland Warden of the Marches great Justice General Baron of Erkefoord Caverton Cousland Rosline Pentland Harbartshire Dysart and Newburgh in Buchan He was questionless a Man of great power and eminence and very intimate with King James the Second whom he follow'd and assisted in all his difficulties and by him was made Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom and Lieutenant after that Office was taken from the Earl of Douglass And from that same King he got a confirmation of the Earldom of Cathnes united into a Baronry with his Lands of Orkney in compensation of his claim to the Lordship of Niddisdale and of other Offices and Pensions that he pretended to as being Son to Geils Douglass Daughter to William Douglass Lord of Niddisdale and of Geils Stewart Daughter to King Robert the Second by his Wife Elizabeth Muir This confirmation is dated April 29 Anno 1436. The following Paper I transcrib'd from an ancient Manuscript now in the hands of the Reverend Mr. Robert Norry Minister of Dundee By the Characters and way of Writing it seem'd to be of the Age it relates to viz. 1403 tho' in some things it differs from the Account you have had before yet because this may be more likely and that it gives a better Account of the Earls of this Country I thought it might not be unacceptable to the curious Quoniam inter ceteras hujus fluctuantis seculi curas solicitudines pensata temporum morum ac hominum in hac lacrimarum valle labilitate brevitate testante venerabili illo Cronographo Martino Domini nostri pape Penetentiario Capellano necesse videtur de congruo extrahere progenitorum regum principum aliorum preclarorum genelogias per quas mundus iste transitorius regitur Reges regnant principes gubernant signantque in deduccionem agniccionem veritatis quo ad eorundem successionem veresimiliter evenire speratur Illustri ergo excellentissimo Domino nostro principi supremo Norwegie regi suisque successoribus satrapis patriciis consulibus proceribus dicti regni Thomas Dei Apostolice sedis gracia Episcopus Orcadie Zetlandie Canonici Ecclesie Cathedralis sancti magni Martyris gloriosissimi legifer ceterique proceres nobiles populus ac communitas ejusdem gracia pax caritas gaudium lonagnimitas misericordia a Deo Patre omnipotente a Jesu Christo in spiritu sancto In omnibus vobis per quem reges regnant in cujus manu corda sunt regum cum omni subjectione humilitate obediencia prompti parati vestram in Jesu Christi visceribus zelantes ficientes salutem in caritate non ficta Requirentes ut in dicendis in nostra simplicitate vestra suppleat regia sublimitas quia scimus firmiter longi temporis spacio efficax rerum magistra nos experientia docuit quod in dubium non revocamus qualiter erga Comites Orcadie regalis ipsa sublimitas zelum semper exuberantem exercuit Quamobrem firmam spem gerimus plenamque fiduciam obtinemus quod illa regia majestas verba nostra benegne recipiat diligenter intelligat effective prosequatur ut infra pectoris claustrum solicite considerare convenit ipsa regia sinceritas diligenter attendere quod adulatorium vestre serenitati aliquid non scribimus quod secundum Petrum Blessensem in suo prologo canentem Olei venditores esse non intendimus sed patefacciones veritatis Ergo arbitramur pium esse meritorium testimonium perhibere veritati ne veritas occultetur presertim illa per quam innocenti possit prejudicium generari cum uterque reus est qui veritatem occultat mendacium dicit quia ille prodesse non iste nocere desiderat quod a nobis Deus avertat potissime cum in dicendis per quondam recolende memorie Erici vestri predecessoris regis nostri admoniti patentes literas fuissemus testimonium perhibere veritati prout lacius in sequentibus patebit Hinc est quod nos Thomas Episcopus Capitulum Cononici Legifer ceterique proceres nobiles populus communitas sive plebei antedicti coram Deo in fide ac fidelitate quibus vestre regie Majestati tenemur astricti fideliter attestamur ad perpetuam rei memoriam deducimus fidemque facimus vobis omnibus presentibus futuris Jesu Christi fidelibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis in forma effectu subsequentibus Coram nobis congregatus comparens magnificus praepotens Dominus Dominus Willielmus de Sancto Claro Comes Orcadie Dominus le Sinclar in ecclesia sancti magni martyris in Orcadia proposuit in hunc modum supposuit enim quod nobis bene ad plenum cognita res fuisset quo modo magnis retroactis temporibus antecessores sui progenitores ac ipsi Orcadie comites juste ac juridice inconcusse linialiter gradatim jure hereditario comitatui Orcadie superdicto successerant ac illam per tempora magna longeva nulla aliena generatione interveniente quietissime possederant Et qualiter diverse carte evidencie instrumenta libri censuales alia diversa probacionum genera fuerant igne consumpta deperdita alienata hostilitatis tempore guerrarum emulorum inimicorumque nonnullorum defectu carencia firmissime domus seu municionis inexpugnabilis ubi hujusmodi collocarentur subjunxit idem Dominus Comes quod habuit literas quondam supremi Domini nostri Regis Erici illustris Patentes quas nobis ostendit perlegi fecit precepta continentes subsequencia scilicet quod si quis nostrum habuerit vel qui habuerint aliquas cartas evidencias cirographa
time of King James the First 4. William Tulloch who was Bishop of this Country in the time of King James the Third of him we read that Anno 1468 he was sent with several other Noble Persons to Christiern King of Denmark and Norway to seek his Daughter the Lady Margaret in Marriage to the said King James About July they came to Hafnen in Denmark where King Christiern then remained and were of him joyfully received and well heard concerning their Sute insomuch that by advice of his Council he agreed that the Lady Margaret should be given in Marriage to King James and that the Isles of Orkney and Zetland should remain in the Possession of him and his Successors Kings of Scotland till either the said King Christiern or his Successors in Name of Dowry should pay to King James or his Successors the Sum of Fifty thousand Florins of the Rhine Upon this the Bishop and the other Ambassadors return with the espoused Lady to Scotland in November and in the Abbey Church at Holyrood-house She was Married and Crowned Queen Afterwards she was brought to Bed of a Son call'd James who afterwards succeded to the Crown whereupon Christiern to congratulate the happy Birth of this young Prince his Grandchild renounced by a Charter under his Great Seal all the Right Title and Claim which he or the Kings of Denmark might have to the Isles of Orkney and Zetland This Bishop was translated from this to the Bishoprick of Murray and continued five Years Bishop of that See and there dying was buried in St. Maries Isle in the Canonry Church of Elgin 5. To him succeeded Andrew Bishop of Orkney who also liv'd in the Reign of King James the Third and was Bishop at that time when the Town of Kirkwall got their erection into a Royal Burrough confirm'd by the said King Anno 1486. 6. After him succeeded Edward Steward Bishop of Orkney who liv'd in the Reign of King James the Fourth of him Boethius gives a noble Testimony He enlarged the Cathedral Church to the East all above the Grees 7. To him succeeded Thomas Bishop of Orkney who Endowed something for the maintenance of the Choiristers of the Cathedral 8. After him was Robert Maxwell Bishop of Orkney he caused to be built the Stalls that are in the Cathedral and it was he that caused found and made those excellent Bells that are in the Steeple of the Cathedral which at his own expences were founded in the Castle of Edinburgh in the Year 1528 in the Reign of King James the Fifth as their inscription bears The next Year Anno 1629 May 18. The Earl of Cathnes and the Lord Sinclar came with a great Army by Sea into Orkney to have taken possession of it as of a Country to which they pretended some Right but the People of the Country under the command of Sir James Sinclar natural Son to Robert Sinclar the last Earl of Orkney of that Sirname encounted the Earl with such courage at a place call'd Summersdale that his Army was wholly discomfited the Earl himself with 500 of his Men being killed and the Lord Sinclar with all the rest taken Prisoners It is said of this Sir James Sinclar that presuming on his merits and the good service he had done the King by that engagement begg'd of King James the Fifth then Reigning the Isles of Sanda and Eda which he represented to him then as small Islands or Holms only sit for Pasture and upon his Request obtain'd them which I conceive may be the reason why Buchanan does not reckon any of these either Sanda or Eda amongst the Isles of Orkney by being deceiv'd with that opinion that they were but Holms whereas they are amongst the most considerable Islands in this Country but the King being afterward better informed and that he had been imposed on by Sir James threatned that his Head should pay for it when he came to Orkney for fear of which when he heard of the King's Arrival he cast himself in the Sea in a place called the Gloup of Linksness and was drowned The King coming in Person to this Country to settle the Troubles and Commotions that were in it was nobly entertain'd by the Bishop all the time of his stay and having put a Guard in the King 's and Bishop's Castles having first visited some of the Western Isles he returned to Edinburgh taking with him some of the Factious Gentry At this time also the Town of Kirkwall gave such demonstrations of their Affection and Loyalty to their King that sometime after he ratified their Erection into a Royal Burrough by a new Charter of confirmation Anno 1536 9. To him succeeded Robert Reid Bishop of Orkney a very deserving Man of an excellent Wit and great Experience He caus'd to be built a stately Tower to the North end of the Bishop's Palace where his Statue in a stone is as yet remaining set in the Wall He greatly enlarged the Cathedral Church adding three Pillars to the former Fabrick and decoring the entry with a magnificent Porch He moreover built St. Olaus Church in Kirkwal and a large Court of Houses to be a College for the instructing the Youth of this Country in Grammar and Philosophy He made a new foundation of the Chapter enlarging the number of Canons Prebendaries and other Officers and setling large and ample Provisions on them as is set down in the former Chapter In a Book Dedicated to him by Adam Senior a Monk of the Cisteroian Order I find that he had a right to the Monastries of Beaulie and Kinloss but whether he had these as Bishop of Orkney or only in commendam I cannot determine He was in great credit with his Prince King James the Fifth who consulted him in all his weighty Affairs In his time he perform'd many Honourable Embassages to the Credit and Benefit of his Country Amongst the rest he was one of those that accompanied the young Queen Mary when she was sent into France to be Married to the Dolphin afterwards Francis the second King of France tho' both in his going and coming he had bad Fortune for in his going the Ship he was in Perished on the Coast of France near to Bulloigne the Bishop and the Earl of Rothes that was with him hardly escaping by the Ship 's Boat And in his return from the Court of France he died at Diep the 14th of September 1558 of whom Ant. Bardol gives us this Epigram Quid tentem angusto perstringere carmine laudes Quas nulla eloquii vis celebrare queat Clarus es eloquio Coelo dignissime praesul Antiqua generis nobilitate viges Commissumque gregem pascis relevasque jacentem Exemplo ducens ad melioratuo Ac velut exoriens terris sol discutit umbras Illustras radiis pectora caeca tuis Hortaris tardos objurgas corripis omnes In mala praecipites quo vetus error agit Pauperibus tua tecta patent tua prompta voluntas Atque
bonis semper dextera larga tua est Nemo lupos melius sacris ab ovilibus arcet Ni Christi lanient diripiantque gregem 10. The Reformation being set afoot about this time there succeeded to him Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkney the first Reform'd Bishop of this Country and who continued long in his Bishoprick notwithstanding of the prejudice that the Church had then to that Order This Bishop was a Man of great employment and action it was he that Married the Earl of Bothwel then made Duke of Orkney with the Queen in the Palace of Holyrood-House To him Queen Mary when she had resigned the Crown gave a Procuration for the inaugurating the Prince her Son who accordingly on the 29th of July 1567 Crowned and Anointed him in the Church of Sterling And in the Year following when the Earl of Murray Regent was to go to England about the debate betwixt the King and his Mother who was detained Prisoner there This Bishop was one of those who by the Estates of the Kingdom were Commissioned to attend the Regent and assist him in that debate And afterwards at the desire of Queen Elizabeth Anno 1571 he with others were sent into England for the composing of some differences between the Kingdoms He made an exchange of the Bishoprick of Orkney with Robert Steward natural Son to King James the Fifth then Earl of Orkney for the Abbacy of Holyrood-House whereby it came to pass that the Bishop's Son afterwards was made Lord Holyrood-House Robert Steward being Earl of Orkney and also obtaining the Bishoprick of Orkney as is said by the exchange of the Abbacy of Holyrood-House which he before possessed he and his Son Earl Patrick who succeeded him uplifted the Rents of the Bishoprick as their own Hereditary Patrimony The Church of Orkney in the mean time according to the custom then received in Scotland being governed by a Superintendant with Episcopal Power to direct all Church Censures and Ordain Ministers 11. This Superintendant was Mr. James Annan at that time Minister of the Churches of Sanda and Westra But Anno 1606 King James the Sixth by consent of his Parliament and assembly of the Church having restored the Estates of Bishops in Scotland 12. James Law was made Bishop of Orkney and tho' for some time he was deprived of the Temporalities of his Bishoprick by the Oppression of Patreek Earl of Orkney yet after his death he enjoy'd them peaceably Considering the many and great Quarrels and Mischiefs that had always been between the former Earls and Bishops of Orkney and their several Vassals because their Lands did lie mixed thorough other therefore he made that Transaction and Contract with King James the Sixth of which in the last Chapter you have had an Account whereby the Bishoprick is separated from the Earldom and the Bishop is made sole Judge within his own bounds He was a Person who King James did much respect and often employ in several important Matters After his Election to the Bishoprick he was with some other Prelates sent for by the King to Court to advise with them about setling the State of the Church in Scotland And the next Year we find him presiding in the Convocation or Assembly at Linlithgow He had a chief hand in the Tryal of those Oppressions and Treasonable Acts for which Patrick Earl of Orkney was Executed After he had sat Bishop nine Years he was translated from this See to the Archbishoprick of Glasgow 13. To him succeded George Graham Bishop of Dumblane who sat Bishop of Orkney twenty three Years but in the Year 1638 at the Assembly at Glasgow he resign'd his Bishoprick 14. After Bishop Graham had been divested of the Bishoprick King Charles the First did promote Robert Barron Doctor and Professor of Divinity in the Marishal College of Aberdeen to the Bishoprick of this Country but he being forced to fly to Berwick he there died before his Consecration In the Interval of Presbytery the Rents of the Bishoprick were granted to the City of Edinburgh till the Year 1662. 15. In which Year Episcopacy being again restor'd Thomas St. Serf who seems to have his name from Servanus the first Bishop of Orkney commonly call'd St. Serf formerly Bishop of Galloway and the only old Bishop who was then alive was made Bishop of Orkney he liv'd two years after his Installment and died at Edinburgh 16. To him Anno 1664 succeeded Andrew Honyman Archdeacon of St. Andrews a Godly and Learned Prelate the Author of The Seasonable Case and Survey of Napthalie he repaired the Church of Sandwick and did many other works of Charity Anno 1669 being at Edinburgh and going into the Archbishop of St. Andrew's Coach with him he was shot thorough the Arm with a poisoned Ball which by the Phanaticks was designed for the Archbishop this so weakned him that he liv'd not many years after for he died in February 1676 in great peace and with great resignation contrary to what is asserted in a late scandalous Pamphlet as is ready to be attested if need were by several Gentlemen of untainted Reputation Witnesses when he died 17. To him succeeded Murdoch Mackenzie Bishop of Murray translated from that See to this Anno 1677 a most worthy Bishop and greatly beloved of all for his Hospitality Peaceableness Piety and prudent Government he did on his own Charges repair the Lady Church in Shapinsha He liv'd to a good Age being near an hundred Years and yet great was his vigour of Body and Vivacity of Judgment even to his Death but to the regret of all that knew him and the loss of the whole Country He died February 1688. 18. To him Anno 1688 succeeded Andrew Bruce formerly Bishop of Dunkeld He died last March CHAP. VIII The History of the first Plantation of the Isles of Orkney and of the ancient and present Possessors of them The Pights or Picts the first Possessors Of Belus and Ganus Kings of Orkney When it came to the Possession of the Kings of Scotland When the Norwegians got footing and when they were expell'd An Account of the Earls of Orkney Of the Sirname of Sinclar A double of an ancient Manuscript relating to the Affairs of Orkney wherein there is an Account of the first Possessors of that Country different from the former and a full Account of the Earls of Orkney till that time Of Bothwell Duke of Orkney Of the Earls of the Sirname of Steward and Douglass When this Country was again re-annex'd to the Crown Of the Stewardry The several ways how Orkney hath been a Honorary Title Of the Law-right-men and their Office THE first Planters and Possessors of this Country were the Pights as the generality of our Historians do affirm who call Orkney Antiquum Pictorum regnum There are yet in this Country several strange Antique Houses many of which are now overgrown with Earth which are still by the Inhabitants call'd Pights Houses and the Firth that runs betwixt this
mense Romam rediit triumphavit maximo apparatu This Juvenal takes notice of when he says in his second Satyr Littora Juvernae promovimus modo captas Orcadas minima contentos nocte Britannos A little after this the Romans had not such cause to triumph over Orkney for when Agricola was their General in Britain Anno Christi 87 as Henry Isaacson computes it in his Chronological Tables he sent a Navy to sail about Britain to discover the largeness of it and whether it was an Island or not and after they had coasted many days towards the North they came at last in sight of Orkney which Tacitus for want of better information imagines to be unknown before that time but fearing to pass thorough Pightland-Firth for fear of Shallows they seized some of the Country People that liv'd in the next Islands constraining them to go aboard and pilot them thorough the Firth but they suspecting that the Romans had a hostile design on their Country not caring for their own Lives they enter'd the Strait at such an inconvenient time that the Ships were born with the violence of the stream against Rocks and Shelves in such a manner that they were all almost torn broke and lost without recovery only some few of the Navy that were not so hasty to follow perceiving the sad loss of their fellows returned by the same way they came and reported these lamentable Tidings to Agricola And indeed there is a place in Shapinsha over against which are impetuous Tides and dangerous Shallows at this day call'd Agricola but whether it got that name from this accident I am not able to determine But yet it seems that Orkney was a considerable thing in the Eyes of the Romans For Polyd. Virgil. lib. 3. Ang. Historiae speaking of the division of the Empire among the Sons of Constantine the Great reckons Orkney amongst the famous Kingdoms that fell to the share of his Son Constantine says he Huic sorte evenit Britannia cum Gallia Hispania Orchadibus This Country it 's like continued thus under the Government of their own Princes till the fatal Ruine and Subversion of the Pictish Kingdom in Scotland in the Year 839 at which time Keneth the second that Martial King of Scots having in many Battles overthrown the Picts at last expell'd them out of all Scotland seizing on Fife and Lothian and the other large Territories that they had therein he pursued them to Orkney vanquishing these Isles and adding them to his other Dominions Orkney being thus annex'd to the Crown of Scotland it continued many years under the Government of the Scottish Kings and their Lieutenants till about the Year 1099 at which time Donald Bain Lord of the Isles having usurped the Crown and caused himself to be proclaimed King of Scotland and being thereupon hardly put to it by the injur'd Heir and discontented Nobility that he might not lose what he had unjustly usurped he invited Magnus King of Norway to come to his assistance with an offer of the Isles for his pains who coming with his Navy Invaded Orkney and the Western Isles putting Garrisons in all convenient places By this means the Norwegians got possession of this Country who held it for the space of 164 years when they came to lose all again upon this occasion Anno 1263 Alexander the Third being then King of Scotland Atho by some called Hagin King of Norway hoping from the divisions that were then in the Kingdom and the Famine that was then sore pressing the Land to make some further conquest in Scotland he comes with a great Navy and Army of Danes and Norwegians to the West Isles and conquers Arran and Bute which were the only Isles at that time under the dominion of the Scots and from this success hoping for greater matters he lands on the Continent and takes in the Town and Castle of Air. But King Alexander having assembled a great Army assaults him in Battle at Largis kills his Nephew a Man of great Renown and after a great Slaughter of his Soldiers to the number of twenty four thousand puts the remainder to flight Immediately upon this defeat King Acho hears of another sad loss namely That his Fleet by a Storm were all cast away and broken against the Rocks except four in which he presently embarked and fled away to Orkney being come thither he sent to Norway and Denmark for a new Army and Fleet with an intention again to Invade Scotland the next Summer but he died the beginning of the following Year January 22 Anno 1264 and was bury'd in that place where the Cathedral now stands under a Marble Stone which is seen to this day and goes under the name of his Monument After his death King Alexander Invaded the Isle of Man and the Western Isles which after some opposition he recover'd and intending to make the like attempt for the recovery of Orkney and Zetland there came Ambassadors to him from Magnus King of Norway and Denmark who succeeded Acho in these Kingdoms after several Treaties it was at last condescended upon that King Alexander should pay to the King of Norway the Summ of 4000 Merks Sterling with the Summ of 100 Merks by year and that for this Magnus King of Norway should quit all Right that he might pretend to the Isles of Orkney and Zetland and the other Isles of Scotland which accordingly he did by Letters under his Great Seal renouncing and giving over all Right and Claim that he had or might have both for him and his Successors to these and all the other Isles of Scotland and for the better confirmation hereof a Marriage was agreed upon betwixt the Lady Margaret Daughter to Alexander and Hangonanus or Haningo or Aquin as others call him Son to King Magnus both Children to be completed when they came to a Marriagable Estate Orkney being in this manner recover'd from the hands of the Danes and Norwegians it continued ever after annexed to the Crown of Scotland King Alexander giving the property of it to a Nobleman sirnamed Speire Earl of Cathnes whose Son Magnus Speire Earl of Cathnes Orkney and Zetland was in great repute in the days of King Robert Bruce But he dying without Heirs Male his Daughter Elizabeth Speire succeeded him in the Estate and was Married to Sir William Sinclar who accompany'd Sir James Douglass when he went to accompany the Bruces Heart to Jerusalem He was great Grandchild to Willielmus de Sancto claro second Son to Valdosius Earl of Saint Claire in France This Sir William Sinclar by his Wife Elizabeth Speire had a Son call'd William also who was made Earl of Orkney and Zetland by King David Bruce He was first Marry'd to Florentina Daughter to the King of Denmark and after her death was Marry'd to Jane Halyburton Daughter to Walter Lord Dirleton To him succeeded Henry Sinclar usually call'd Prince of Orkney he was also made Duke of Oldenburgh by
sue antiquioris de terris de Cathnes sub denominacione appellacione comitatus sive Comitis quam partim ut superius dictum est alienavit vendidit ipse quondam Alexander de Ard regi Scocie prenominato Hujusque rei testes sunt adhuc viventes fide digne qui ipsum matrem Henrici primi oculis viderunt labijsque sunt locuti cum ea communicantes ad plenum Cui successit ejus nepos Henricus Secundus filius primi Henrici cui Henrico Secundo successit presens superstes Dominus Wilielmus comes modernus Dominus le Sinclar Excellentissime Princeps ut premissimus in principio it a fine protestamur quod vestra serenissima regia sublimitas ac ipsius benignissima majestas Justa ingenij nostri modulum sensuum capacitatem nos linqua 〈…〉 naturam incultam nebulis ignorancie multipliciter obfuscatam velit rudes indoctos a Rhetorica sciencia alienas in fecunda facundia ignaros habere excusatos quamvis barbarico more non poetice locucionis modo grosso loquamur quia Insulares sumus a literarum sciencia penitus alieni imo quod condecenti rethorice locucionis stilo sive Scriptura non referimus vestre regie majestatis ea nos submittimus correctioni Sed verum est ut attestamur quod more nostro barbarico omnia que superius vestre majestati scribimus vera sunt quia ex antiquis libris scripturis autenticis cronicis approbatis relacionibus fide dignorum antecessorum nostrorum ac infeodacionibus nostris ecclesiarum nostrarum ista extruximus compilavimus Et si opus esset plura quam in presenti epistola vestre celsitudini lacius manifestare sciremus ipsamque in premissis informare sed quia longa solent sperni hec pauca sufficiunt pro presenti Et ut hec nostra epistola taliter qualiter compilata vestre regie majestati ac dominis vestri consistorij palacij circa latera vestra existentibus majorem fidem ac roboris firmitatem faciat animos vestros ad plenum informet ac inter archana 〈…〉 vestrorum radicem emittat veritatis firmam ceteros Christi fideles sancta matris Ecclesie filios instruat ad Deum sacrosancta dei evangelia per nos corporaliter tacta juramus quod premissa modo quo super relata deponimus ad Dei honorem vestreque celsitudinis predecessoris mandatum non alias nec prece nec precio odio amore vel favore vel sub spe cujuscunque muneris presentis vel futuri sed pro veritate duntaxat dicenda In quorum omnium singulorum fidem testimonium premissorum sigilla Thome Episcopi Canonicorum Capituli antedictorum totiusque populi communitatis patrie nostre Orcadie quod dicitur sigillum commune mei Henrici Randale legiferi in nostra publica generali sessione non sine magna maturitate plena digestione presentibus sunt appensa apud Kirkwaw mensis maij die quarto Anno Domini millesima quadringentesimo tertio To this William Sinclar Earl of Orkney succeeded his Son Robert Sinclar Earl of Orkney but he being as I am inform'd forefaulted for non compearance to the Parliament the Earldom of Orkney and Lordship of Zetland was again annexed to the Crown and so it continu'd till the Reign of Queen Mary At which time James Hepburn Earl of Bothwell was by her made Duke of Orkney by that Dignity to make him the more worthy to be a Husband for her self who were Marry'd by Adam Bothwell Bishop of Orkney in the Palace of Holyrood-House after the manner of the Reformed Church on the 15th of May 1567. He perceiving how much he would be envy'd by the Nobility for that Marriage and for a suspicion they had that he was the Murderer of her former Husband he caused to be built a strong Castle in Westra in Orkney call'd the Castle of Noutland to be a place of retreat in case a storm should fall And so it came to pass for being deserted by the Queen at Carberry Hill and pursued by the Lords of the Congregation he made to Sea with two or three Ships which he had prepared before hand for that purpose and came to Orkney but being deny'd entrance into the Castle of Kirkwall the Castle of Noutland not being fully finished by Gilbert Balfaur the Keeper of it he betook himself again to Sea playing the Pirate and making Prey of all Ships that he could master and seize upon till at last he was driven from this Country by William Kirkaldie of Grange and so flying from this to Zetland and from thence to Norway he was there apprehended and convoyed to Denmark where he was put into a vile Prison in which after the space of ten years he made a base end answerable to the wicked life he had liv'd After the death of James Hepburn Duke of Orkney the Lord Robert Stuart natural Son to King James the Fifth was made Earl of Orkney in August Anno 1581 and being before provided to the Abbacy of Holyrood House he made an exchange of that with Adam Bothwell for the Bishoprick of Orkney and so became sole Lord of the whole Country He built or repaired the Palace of Birsa the chief Residence of the Earls of Orkney having this Inscription above the Gate Dominus Robertus Stuartus Filius Jacobi quinti Rex Scotorum hoc opus instruxit Which Inscription together with the Motto he took above his Coat of Arms Sic fuit est erit I am inform'd did militate something against his Son when he was try'd for his Life In his time King James the Sixth was marry'd to Queen Anne the King of Denmark's Sister at which time there was a new Renunciation of the Right that the Kings of Denmark might pretend to these Isles of Orkney and Zetland To him succeeded his Son Patrick Stuart Earl of Orkney He was a great Oppressor of the Country Spotswood's character of him is in these words This Nobleman says he having undone his Estate by Riot and Prodigality did seek by unlawful Shifts to repair the same making unjust Acts in his Courts and exacting Penalties for the breach thereof if any Man was try'd to have concealed any thing that might infer a pecuniary mulct and bring profit to the Earl his Lands and Goods were declared confiscated or if any Person did sue for justice before any other Judge than his Deputies his Goods were escheated or if they went forth of the Isles without his Licence or his Deputies upon whatsoever occasion they should forefault their Moveables and which of all his acts were most inhumane he ordain'd That if any Man was try'd to supply or give Relief unto Ships or any Vessels distressed by tempest the same should be punished in his Person and fined at the Earl's Pleasure So far Spotswood These Acts produceed by the Complainers and confessed by the Earl himself were by the King 's Privy Council
This Map of THE ISLANDS OF ORKNEY is Humbly Dedicatid To D R HUTTON the Kings first Physician by Ia Wallace AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISLANDS OF ORKNEY By JAMES WALLACE M. D. And Fellow of the Royal Society To which is Added an ESSAY concerning the Thule of the Ancients LONDON Printed for Jacob Tonson within Gray's-Inn-Gate next Gray's-Inn-Lane 1700. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter Ld. Lieutenant of the County of Sussex and one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council My LORD THE way to make these Bleak Northern Islands more Temperate will be your Lordships taking 'em into your Indulgence and Protection They are not so distant as to be unacquainted with your Character for the Latitude that is so must not be inhabitable Every one that wants 'em feels the Effects of your Lordships good Actions but no Body sees you do ' em Your care and concern for mankind is your own but your Fortune is your Friends Your Wit is the only thing you are not enough Diffusive off and what others covet of you most you your self value least In the Ardour to declare the perfections of your Lordships Pen I forget to conceal the Imperfections of my own which are most pardonable when I most profess to be My LORD Your Lordship 's Most Obedient and most Humble Servant James Wallace THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE several Names by which Orkney is call'd The Longitude and Latitude of this Country An account of a Stone generated in the Air. How this Country is bounded Some odd Phaenomena about the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea The number of the Islands and a short Account of each of them with their different Harbours The chief Products of this Country Page 1 CHAP. II. Of the Plants growing naturally in Orkney Of those Beans call'd the Molucca Beans thrown in there A Description of a strange Fish taken in Sanda An Account of their Land and Sea-shells Of their Mines Of some exotick Fowls driven in there and some other effects of violent Storms Of their Lakes and Locks pag. 15 CHAP. III. Of the Ancient Monuments and Curiosities of this Country An Account of the Dwarfie Stone in Hoy. Of the Obelisks and standing Stones in Stennis Of the figur'd Stone Causey near Skeal Of some Urns and Burial Places found in several places An Account of the Finn-men that are sometimes driven in there pag. 51 CHAP. IV. Some peculiar Customs Manners and Dispositions of the Inhabitants of this Country An Account of a Woman that had a Child in the 63d Year of her Age. An Account of their Diseases and some of their particular Cures A particular Language amongst them Their way of Transporting and Weighing their Corn. Their custom of Sheep-shearing And the way they have to catch Sea-Fowls And an Account of some Remarkable Accidents that have fallen out here pag. 62 CHAP. V. Of the Town of Kirkwall pag. 78 CHAP. VI. Of the ancient State of the Church of Orkney Of the Cathedral Church at Kirkwall Bishop Robert Rei's erection of the Chapter Bishop La's Transaction with King James IV. pag. 81 CHAP. VII Of the Plantation of the Christian Faith in Orkney and of the Bishops thereof pag. 91 CHAP. VIII The History of the first Plantation of the Isles of Orkney and of the ancient and present Possessors of them The Pights or Picts the first Possessors Of Belus and Ganus Kings of Orkney When it came to the Possession of the Kings of Scotland When the Norwegians got footing and when they were expell'd An Account of the Earls of Orkney Of the Sirname of Sinclar A double of an ancient Manuscript relating to the Affairs of Orkney wherein there is an Account of the first Possessors of that Country different from the former and a full Account of the Earls of Orkney till that time Of Bothwell Duke of Orkney Of the Earls of the Sirname of Steward and Douglass When this Country was again re-annex'd to the Crown Of the Stewardry The several ways how Orkney hath been a Honorary Title Of the Law-right-men and their Office pag. 105 An Essay concerning the Thule of the Ancients pag. 148 The Author not being in Town these following errors are desir'd to be corrected PAge 15 line 9 locks read lochs p. 19 l. 25 chamaeustus r. chamaecistus p. 25 l. 1 laetifolia r. latifolia p. 28 l. 26 Cardamini r. Cardamine p. 33 l. 8 surge r. spurge p. 37 l. 6 Seols r. Seals p. 46 l. 19 Foists r. Toists p. 47 l. 18 Greehead r. Greenhead p. 51 l. 13 eight feet r. eighteen p. 64 l. 19 tho we have also sure account r. tho we have no sure account p. 66 l. 28 Cumfrey r. Comfrey p. 67 l. 13 They use Arby the Caryophyllus marinus Thrift or much as they call it r. They use the Caryophyllus marinus Thrift or Arby as they call it p. 71 l. 8. lecspound r. leispound p. 72 l. 2 and l. 10. wrack r. sea-weed p. 73 l. 11 Foists r. Toists p. 73 l. 20 fowl r. fowls p. 74 l. 17. perhaps some hundered of Fathoms r. perhaps some fifty or sixty Fathoms p. 101 l. 12 Patreek r. Patrick p. 101 l. 26 who r. whom p. 107 l. 6 Twisio r. Twisco p. 107 l. 9 Kelders 1. Keldees p. 118 l. 20 accompany r. carry p. 120 l. 13 Sheris r. Sheriff p. 123 l. 13 patefacciones r. patefacciores p. 133 l. 30 regnirem r. regni p. 136 l. 11 digne r. digni p. 145 l. 23 near three thousand and five hundered pounds r. near three thousand pounds Sterling p. 153 l. 1. Tu r. Tu. p. 153 l. 25 Caledonio r. Caledonios p. 155 l. 5 imperva r. impervia p. 161 l. 22 maria r. mari p. 162 l. 15 Agricola r. Agricolae p. 166 l. 20 Romani r. Romane p. 173 l. 4 means r. meant l. 5 had r. has p. 173 l. 21 where the country of the Pights was add of which the North east part was our Thule Figured Stones Molocca Beans Penna Marina Piscis non scriptus pecten vide pag 44 A Circle of long stones Concha Anatifera Another molucca bean Urna Sepulchralis patella articulata cymbi formis Duarfie Stone Ember Goose Obeliscús Fibúa CHAP. I. The several Names by which Orkney is call'd The Longitude and Latitude of this Country An account of a Stone generated in the Air. How this Country is bounded Some odd Phaenomena about the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea The number of the Islands and a short Account of each of them with their different Harbours The chief Products of this Country THIS Country in our English Language is call'd Orkney by the Latins both Ancient and Modern it is call'd Orcades Pomponius Mela writes it with an aspiration Orchades What reason there is for the Name is not condescended upon but it 's probable the Latin Name may be from Orcas which Ptolemy makes to be a Promontory
of the Bishop Provost Canons and Chaplains and their Servants in the time of Easter and to administer the Eucharist to them The 4th Prebendary was to have the Chaplainry of St. John the Evangelist in the said Cathedral Church The 5th Prebendary was to have the Chaplainry of St. Lawrence The 6th was to have the Prebend of St. Katharine And the 7th Prebendary was to have the Prebend of St. Duthas To which seven Dignities and seven Prebendaries he moreover assigned and allotted besides the former Churches and Titles the Rents and Revenues of the Personages of St. Colm in Waes and Holy-cross in Westra as also the Vicarages of the Parish Churches of Sandwick and Stromnes with their pertinents for their daily Distributions Besides these he erected thirteen Chaplains to the first was allotted the Chaplainry of St. Peter and he was to be Master of the Grammar School To the second was allotted the Chaplainry of St. Augustin and he was to be Master of the Singing-School The third was to be Stellarius or the Bishop's Choirister The fourth the Provost Choirister The fifth the Archdeacons The sixth the Precentors The seventh the Chancellors The eighth the Treasurers The ninth the Subdeans The tenth the Prebendaries of Holy-cross The eleventh the Prebendaries of St. Mary The twelfth the Prebendaries of St. Katharine The thirteenth the Chaplains of Holy-cross Every one of these Choiristers were to have twenty four Meils of Corn and ten Merks of Money for their Stipend yearly besides their daily distributions which were to be raised from the Rents of the Vicarage of the Cathedral Church and from the foundation of Thomas Bishop of Orkney and of the twelve Pounds left by King James III. and King James IV. Kings of Scotland To these he added a Sacrist who was to ring the Bells and light the Lamps and carry in Water and Fire to the Church and to go before the Processions with a white Rod after the manner of a Beadle and for this he was to have the accustomed Revenue together with forty Shillings from the Bishop yearly He moreover ordained six Boys who were to be Taper-bearers and to sing the Responsories and Verses in the Choire as they were to be ordered by the Chanter Of which six Boys one was to be nominate and maintain'd by the Bishop the second by the Prebendary of St. Magnus the third by the Prebendary of St. John the fourth by the Prebendary of St. Lawrence the fifth by the Prebendary of St. Katharine the sixth by the Prebendary of St. Duthas And every one of them was to have besides their Maintenance twenty Shillings Scots a Year To every one of the foresaid Dignities Canons and Prebendaries he assigned certain Lands in Kirkwal for their Dwelling Houses The Charter of this erection is dated at Kirkwal October 28. Anno 1544 and in the following Year it was confirmed by another Charter granted by David Beaton Cardinal of St. Stephen in Mount Celio and Archbishop of St. Andrews having Authority so to do It is dated at Stirling the last of June and eleventh Year of Pope Paul the Third and confirm'd by Queen Mary at Edinburgh the last of April Anno Regni 13. In this condition the Church stood as long as Popery continued but the Reformation coming in and Robert Steward Earl of Orkney having obtain'd the Bishoprick from Bishop Bothwell in exchange for the Abbacy of Holyrood-house he became Lord of the whole Country and he and his Son Earl Patrick who succeeded him did in the Church what they pleas'd At last James Law being made Bishop of Orkney and the Earldom being united to the Crown by the death and forefaulture of the foresaid Patrick Earl of Orkney as we shall have occasion to speak more of in the 8th Chapter he with the consent of his Chapter made a Contract with King James VI. In which they resign to the King and his Successors all their Ecclesiastical Lands and Possessions with all Rights and Securities belonging thereto to be incorporated and united to the Crown especially by such as should be thought necessary to be united to it and the King gives back and dispones to the Bishop several Lands in the Parishes of Ham Orphir Stromnes Sandwick Shapinsha Waes Hoy St. Ola and of Evie Burra and Flotta to be a Patrimony to the Bishop and his Successors for ever disponing moreover to him and his Successors the Right of Patronage to present to all the Vicarages of Orkney and Zetland with power to them to present qualify'd Ministers as oft as any Church should vake Disponing also to them the heretable and perpetual Right and Jurisdiction of Sheriffship and Bailiffry within the Bishoprick and Patrimony thereof exeeming the Inhabitants and Vassals of the Bishoprick in all Causes Civil and Criminal from the Jurisdiction of the Sheriff or Steward of the Earldom As also he gave to the Bishop and his Successors the Commissariot of Orkney and Zetland with power to constitute and ordain Commissars or Chancellors Clerks and other Members of Court This contract was made Anno 1614 and in the Year following by an act of Platt dated at Edinburgh the 22d of November the several Dignities and Ministers both in the Bishoprick and Earldom were provided to particular Maintenances besides what they were in possession of before payable by the King and Bishop to the Ministers in their severl bounds respective And as it was agreed by that Contract and determin'd by that Act of Platt so are they provided for at this present CHAP. VII Of the Plantation of the Christian Faith in Orkney and of the Bishops thereof NIcephorus writing that Simon Zelotes after he had preached the Gospel in several other Kingdoms came at last ad occidentalem oceanum insulasque Britannicas by which Orkney must be especially understood and there Preached the Gospel Whatever truth may be in that yet it is certain That the Christian Faith was greatly promoted in this Country about the beginning of the Fifth Century Eugenius II. being then King of Scotland at which time Palladius being sent by Pope Celestin to Purge that Kingdom of the Heresie of Pelagius that had infected it He Instituted 1. Servanus call'd St. Serf in the Calender Bishop of Orkney that he might instruct the Inhabitants of these Isles in the Faith of Christ which Polyd. Virgil says he did very carefully He was a Man of Eminent Devotion and Piety and Master of the famous Kentigern whom he used to call Mongah which in the Norish Tongue signifieth Dear Friend which afterwards became the Name by which he was usually called From him there has been a continual Succession of Bishops in this Country but by reason of the many alterations that fell out in it and the loss of ancient Records his Successors for many years are not known yet in History we read of these that follow 2. William Bishop of Orkney who liv'd in the time of King Robert the Third 3. Thomas who liv'd in the
discerned unlawful and the practice thereof prohibited in all times These Oppressions moved King James the Sixth that he might deliver these injur'd People from so great a Tyranny to purchase Sir John Arnot's Right to whom the Earl had given the Morgage of his Estate and so he took the Country into his own hand sending Sir James Stuart to it whom he made Chamberlain and Sheriff of the Country who came and took possession of the Castles of Kirkwall and Birsa in the King's Name The Earl at this time being Prisoner in the Castle of Dumbarton sent his natural Son Robert Stuart with an express Command to retake these Houses again who accordingly did so But the Earl of Cathnes being commissioned by the King to be Lieutenant in these bounds with Order to recover these Castles and pacify the Country Shortly after his coming he took in the Castle of Kirkwall which he demolished and in it seized on the said Robert Stuart with some of the Earl's Servants whom he sent to Edinburgh where shortly after they were hang'd And the next Year being February the 6th 1614 the Earl himself for several treasonable Acts and Oppressions proven against him being brought from Dumbarton to Edinburgh was there Beheaded He was a Man of profuse spending and the Builder of that beautiful Fabrick which afterwards was appropriated to be the Manse of the Bishops of Orkney The King by these means being fully possessed of this Country he made Sir James Stuart Lord Ochiltrie Chamberlain and Sheriff as is said After whom others succeeded to be Governors in it till the Year 1647 at what time William Douglass Earl of Morton got a Wadset or Morgage of this Country from King Charles I. To him succeeded his Son Robert Douglass Earl of Morton Anno 1649 in which Year the Marquiss of Montrose came to this Country from Holland with several Commanders and some Companies of Foreign Soldiers and having staid some few Months in Kirkwall he there raised some Forces most of which were either killed or taken Prisoners at that unfortunate encounter of Carbersdale To him succeeded in the possession of Orkney and Zetland his Son William Douglass Earl of Morton Anno 1664 or thereabouts in the first Dutch Wars there was a great Ship call'd The Carmelan of Amsterdam cast away at Zetland in which Ship as was said were some Chests of Coin'd Gold which were seiz'd on by some who acted for the Earl whereupon the Lords of the Treasury call'd the Earl to an Accompt and so redeemed the Morgage of Orkney and Zetland and obtain'd a Decreet of Declarator against him and in the Year 1669 these Countries of Orkney and Zetland thus redeemed from the Earl of Morton were excepting the Bishops interest re-annexed to the Crown and erected into a Stewardry by Act of Parliament Thus Orkney hath been a Honourary Title several ways to several Belus and Ganus as we have read were Kings of Orkney Henry and William Sinclars were stil'd Princes of Orkney Bothwel by Patent from Queen Mary was made Duke of Orkney and the Lords of this Country of the Sirname of Sinclar and Stuart were entituled Earls of Orkney as were the Earls of Morton when they had possession of this Country and at present the Right Honourable George Earl of Orkney Brother to his Grace the Duke of Hamilton has the honourary Title of this Country but they have ever since the Year 1669 when these Countries were again adjoyn'd to the Crown been governed by those they call Stewards of Orkney The Kings Exchequer gives a Lease to any that gives highest for it at a Roup The present Farmers and Taxmen have it for Eighteen hundred Pounds Sterling so low by the oppression and changing of Taxmen has this Country fall'n being reckon'd in the Earl of Morton's time to near three thousand and five hundred Pounds when the Taxmens Lease is out which is commonly in three or five Years the Lords of the Treasury Roup it of new and he that bids most is Taxman and Steward for the Lease of Years he takes it for The Government of the Steward is in the King's bounds the manner and procedure of his Jurisdiction is after the form of Sheriffship the Title only differing The Bishops part is governed by a Sheriff both he and the Kings Steward have one and the same manner of punishing of Delinquents and administration of Justice and that according to the custom and practise of other Shires in the Kingdom Both their seats of Justice is at Kirkwal Under the Sheriff and Steward are some Judges of their Creation and Appointment called Baliffs In every Parish and Isle there is one Their Office is to oversee the manners of the Inhabitants to hold Courts and to decern in civil petty matters to the value of ten Pounds Scots but if the matter be above that it is referred to the Sheriff or Steward or their Deputies under and subservient to these Bailiffs are six or seven of the most honest and intelligent persons within the Parish called Lawrightmen These in their respective bounds have the oversight of the People in the fashion of Constables and delate to the Bailiff such enormities as occasionally fall out which the Bailiffs punish according to the importance and circumstances of the Fault and if it be above his limits or extent of his Power he sends the delinquent to the seat of Justice either to the Steward or Sheriff respective These Lawrightmen have a privilege inherent to their Office by the custom of the Country which is not usual elsewhere and it is this if there be at any time any suspicion of Theft they take some of their Neighbours with them under the silence of the night and make search for the Theft which is called Ransalling they search every house they come to and if the Theft be found they seise upon him with whom it is found and bring him to the seat of Justice for Punishment An Essay concerning the Thule of the Ancients THere is no place oftner mentioned by the Ancients than Thule and yet it is much controverted what place it was some have attempted the discovery of it but have gone wide of the marks the Ancients left concerning it yet they seem all to agree that it was some place towards the North and very many make it to be one of the British Isles and since Conradus Celtes saith it is encompassed with the Orkney Isles It will not be amiss to subjoyn to the description of Orkney this Essay concerning it Some derive the name Thule from the Arabick word Tule which signifies farr off and as it were with allusion to this the Poets usually call it ultima Thule but I rather preferr the reason of the name given by the learned Bochartus who makes the same to be Phaenician and affirmeth that it signifieth Darkness in that language Chanaan lib. 1. Cap. 40. Thule propriè Syris umbrae sunt hinc translata significatione Thule pro tenebris passim