  APPENDIX.—No. I.CHARGES laid before King Eric (the Pomeranian) by the COMMONS OF ORKNEY against DAVID MEYNER (MENZIES) OF WEEM, PrÆses of the Islands. MCDXXV. Extracted and Corrected from the Orcades seu Rerum Orcadensium HistoriÆ, Auctore Thormodo TorfÆo. HavniÆ, 1697, p. 179.I. Cum adversi frugibus anni affligerent terram, Publico-que Concilio (ipsius quoque Davidis consensu) decretum esset, ne frumentum efferretur, sed indigenis tolerabili pretio venderetur, nihilominus ipsum PrÆsidem quatuor navibus frumentum in Scotiam avexisse, et antequam hÆc constitutio facta esset, quinque aut sex naves frugibus onustas alio amandasse, maximo insularum damno. II. Peregrinos prÆterea invexisse, qui plebi universÆ, etiam iis qui judicia administrabant, admodum graves hospitiis se magnis civium damnis et molestiis violenter ingessissent. III. Publicum TerrÆ Sigillum, invito Supremo juris PrÆfecto abstulisse, contraque leges et consuetudines obsignandis quÆ libuit adhibuisse; cumque vir quidam Nobilis nomine Christianus Ellingeflet (Linklett) expostularet, prÆposterÈ Signaculum Gentis in abusum trahi, magnam eum pecuniÆ jacturam fecisse. Cum autem Comes accederet, postularetque idem ad obsignandum Testimonium, quo jus suum in Orcades a marjoribus per ordinem successionis ad se delatum, monstraret et afferreret, simulque ut quidam indigenarum Nobiliores secum ad Serenissimum Regem ejusque senatum transfretare permitterentur, ad statum publicum declarandum, verumque de jure suo testimonium ferendum, neque Signaculum, neque comites ullos, prÆter Thomam Sinclerum et Archidiaconum HialtlandiÆ, duosque famulos indigenas impetrasse. V. RegiÆ monetÆ valorem adeo minuisse, ut uni Scotico duos regios nummos Æquari juberet, idque tantisper, donec tantum non omnem regionem monet exhausisset. Cum autem Thomas Sinclerus novissimÈ e Dani rediisset, in eundum valorem eam restituisse quem in Norvegia obtinuit, idque publicÈ promulgasse, quod et hodie teneat. VI. Nec parum incolis nocuisse mulctarum Regi Comitique debitarum (prÆter legum privilegiorumque aut reformationum regulas), rigidas exactiones. VII. Supremi insularum Judicis, quem Nomophylacem (Lawman) appellant, uxorem, ejusque propinquos accusasse, quod is bis comprehensus in Turrim (carcerem) conjectus fuerit, talibus ex causis. Quarum prima, quod Jon de Baddi Nomophylacis minister et propinquus, repetivisset equum suum a MichÆle Magio (Menzies?) Davidis propinquo, qui eo invito eum (aliÒ profecturus) abstulisset, ea de causa Nomophylacem in Plate Kyrkinvogensi (The Dom Platz of Kirkwall, now Broad Street) incedentom apprehensum Turri (Bishop’s Tower) inclusisse, sed postquam dimisisset peregrinos Catanesenses, in domum ejus immissos, templum offringi fecisse et quÆcunque ibi continebantur evihi singula quÆ in domo erant, magna parvaque corrumpi, nullo omnino excepto. Captum denuo Nomophylacem in Turrim conjecisse, tantÙm quod ei Sigillum TerrÆ ad obsignanda quÆcunque volebat tradere recusasset, ibique tam diu detenuisse, donec se ei addixisset, uxorque ejus Sigillum et Codicem Legum altari Divi Magni imposuisset. Exinde prÆdictum Davidem Sigillum et Codicem in suam custodiam assumpsisse, aliumque Nomophylacem constituisse, qui id officium ÆgrÈ assumpsisset. VIII. Quo tempore Supremum Judicem Turri incluserat, alium quoque Nobilem indigenam simul in carcerem, contra Leges et sine causÂ, intrusisse. IX. Jonem Loggium (Logy) accusasse, se quoque eidem carceri mancipatum, quod requisitum Sigillum negaret sibi, nisi ad custodiendum, commissum esse. XI. Ipsum quoque Thomam Sinclerum suo propriÆ nomine questum, quod postquam literis Regiis munitus esset, quibus eum Rex, ejus ministros, bona navem et quÆcunque ejus essent, in suam regiam protectionem receperat, nihilominus famulum suum Davidem Smid (Smith) comprehensum, ad sanguinem usque intra suam domum verberatum, inque infima Turris detrusum, ibique compedibus injectis, in reditum suum Ê Scotia detentum fuisse. Se vero, cum primum in Orcades reverterit, interponentibus se bonis viris, statim domum suam cum suis rediisse, ibique ad finem diei permansisse, quo tunc Johannes Kroge (Craigie) filiusque sororis ejus, cum pluribus aliis se accessisse suasisseque, ut in Templum (Kirk of St. Magnus) aut aliÒ profugeret, ni cum suis incendio perire mallet; quÒ cÙm se recepisset, ad jura Templi literasque tutelÆ regiÆ quas simul exhibuerit, nequiequam provocasse; tandem clam elapsum, Clementissimi Regis suisque amicis collectis, postulasse, ut in gratiam Regis, se ab oppressione vindicarent, legum pro se suisque prÆsidia sÆpius inclamasse. His comitatum, ubi ad Templum rediisset, suosque ministros inde exemisset, cÆsum esse sororis suÆ filium. Inde interponente se Nomophylace cum aliis Primariis Viris, litem istam ita compositam, ut datis ab utraque parte prÆdibus, causam omnem Regis aut Comitis judicio decidendam committerent; cavisse prÆdibus Thomam duodecim, Davidem nullo. Cumque ille in Scotiam rediisset, Comitem decessisse; quo cÔgnito, Davidem prÆdibus istis duodecim triginta sex libras Anglicas expressisse, omnemque dilationem, quoad simul judicio Regis senatusque sisterentur, abnuisse. His ita ordinatis, eos qui ThomÆ Sinclero ad Ædem Sacram protectoriis literis Regis conservandis adhÆserant, octuaginta Libris Anglicis et quinquaginta solidis multasse; fuisse autem qui Davidis ThomÆque verba exceperant, cum Thomas ad Legis et judicis sententiam provocaret, nimirum Nicolaum Myrium (Muir), Dominum Laurentium, Dominum Johannem Canonicum, Wilhelmum de Hedal (Heddle), Alexandrium de Suderlandia, Johannem de Krage (Craigie), Wilhelmum Yrving (Irving), Wilhelmum Flet (Flett), Adamum de Nestegaard, Christiamum de Ellingeklat (Linklett) multosque alios terrÆ istius Bonos viros, et presbyteros et laicos. XII. Wilhelmum quoque Bressium (Brass), sine ullo juridico processu, nedum criminis alicujus convictum, compedibus constrinxisse, tantÙm quÒd ad colloquium cum Comite in Scotiam profectus esset. XIII. CÙm plebs de RognvaldzÖ (South Ronaldsey) PrÆsidi provinciÆ suÆ quereretur, de Scotorum quos Feros (wild Highlanders) appellant, nimiÂ, sibique commissationibus aliisque XIV. Davidem Meynerum Henricho Garoch (Garrioch) duas selibras Anglicas abstulisse, quod prÆdicto ThomÆ in Regii diplomatis autoritate vindicanda adhÆreret. XV. Joni Simonis filio undecim solidos Anglicos, eodem die abstulisse. XVI. Malcun Jonis (Malcolm Johnson) etiam questum, nave se bonisque aliis, pretio ducentorum nobliorum, sine actione juris spoliasse. XVII. PrÆdictum Davidem Jonem Jonis filium, comprehendi curasse, adque livorem et sanguinem contusum in Turrim conjecisse, eique unam naviculam sex scalmorum, pretio duarum Librarum Anglicarum, emuuxisse, cum pluribus aliis bonis sine causÂ. XVIII. Nauclerum Thomam Brun questum, conjectum se À Davide in Turrim, quÒd ad primum nuncium eum non accessisset. XIX. Et cum David novissime ex Dania rediisset, onustam mercibus prÆdicti ThomÆ navem arripuisse, inque Scotiam se invito misisse, ibique similagine pretio viginti quatuor nobliorum eum spoliasse, detenuisseque, maximam partem hiemis, cujus exitu cum domum navigasset navis, mercium nautarumque aliquot jacturam fecerit. XX. Jonem Loggium quiritatum, exutum se a Davide ex prÆdictÆ navis vectura decem cadis (tounas vocat) hordeo, octo similagine refertis, octo cupis pice uno ferro distentis, undecim mensuris cerÆ quas Lapides appellant, viginti sex lebetibus magnis parvisque, duabus stateris, duobus molegis malluviis, centum et octo libris cannabis, sex cantharis stanneis, undecim albarum et rubrarum patinarum decadibus, quÆ simul in summam viginti sex librarum Anglicarum ascenderint. XXI. PrÆdictum Davidem AndreÆ Jonis ex eadem nave sex lebetes, pretio sex nobliorum, eripuisse. XXII. PrÆfatum Davidem Nicolaum Jonis (Nicol Johnson) spoliari fecisse quadraginta solidis Anglicanis, in auro et argento, eo quod se ThomÆ Sinclero conjunxisset, Clementissimique Regis diplomati satisfecisset; ad leges se sed frustra provocasse. XXIV. Jonem Fif in Turrim conjectum, compedibus ferreis duriter constrinxisse, vigintique nobliis mulctasse, sine juris processu, tantum quod dixisset Comitem esse ad comitatum Orcadensem illo jure potiorem, essetque Comiti sanguine junctus. XXV. Joni Blatto (Flett?) quinquaginta marcas Anglicas de nocte eripuisse, quod in mandatis regiis vindicandis, cum Thoma Sinclero unum fecisset; eum quoque leges judiciumque implorasse, sed nullo successu. XXVI. Wilhelmun Graa (Gray) conquestum, se ab eo coactum ad transmittendam navem suam ad insulam in mari longÈ dissitam, Solsker (Soulis skerry) dictam, sub minis exilii, cumquenavi duos fratres suos minorennes et octo alios indigenas imposuisset; omnes cum ea periisse; navem cum armentis mercibusque quindecim marcis Anglicis Æstimatam. XXVII. Samsonem Vilhelmi filium (Williamson) deplorasse, se Templo violenter ereptum, damnatorum in morem vinctum, protinus capitis supplicio À Davide destinatum, ni Canonici cum uxore ejus intercessissent. Expressos tamen sibi unum et quinquaginta solidos Anglicos, sine juris processu, sine judicio, tantum quod imputaret sibi, quod ministrum suum vulnerasset; se legibus crimen diluere volentem, non admissum. XXVIII. Paridem Lutzit (Louttit) professum esse, se quoque inclusum Turri, coercitum ferreis compedibus, tribus integris diebus ac noctibus; liberationem deinde impendio decem marcarum signatarum constitisse, inobservato se nullius criminis convictum, tantum quod a Thoma Sinclero dependens, Regis mandatis velificari studuerit. XXIX. PrÆdictum mandatum Paridi inter recitandum, a Davide ereptum, referente, ‘se tales Literas in alium sermonem translatus, octodecim denariis Anglicis in Dania ‘emere posse;’ retenuisse deinde, et in eum diem quo hÆc querela instituta est, retinere.’ XXX. ThomÆ Bimsoni (Beenson) unam et viginti marcas Anglicas, inaudit causÂ, eripuisse. XXXI. Inaudita quoque causÂ, sine judicio, contra leges Magno de Jennelandia (Mainland?) duodecim cados hordeo plenos, viginti quatuor solidorum Anglicorum pretio erepuisse. XXXIII. Eadem de causa Sanderum Brunum (Saunders Brown) de nocte viginti septem marcis Anglicis spoliasse. XXXIV. Et prÆdicti Sanderi ministrum undecim marcis Anglicis, ejusdem intentati criminis prÆtextu. XXXV. Dominum Nicolaum Myrium (Muir) et Dominum Laurentium, Canonicos, questos esse, quod sigillum capituli arc quÆ in penetrali Templi stetit, eximisset, prÆterque semestre detenuisset; quid scribi illoque obsignari fecerit non sibi constitisse. Multo plura esse quÆ ad Clementissimum Dominum suum Regem de gestis Davidis Meyneri, illatisque ab eo populo Orcadensi damnis, scribi possent, necessariaque essent; sed molem ejus criminum, longamque seriem, in prÆsens se exponere nequisse; tantum in horum capitum firmius testimonium, majoremque securitatem, TerrÆ suÆ Populique Sigillo has literas obsignatas, etiam sigillis Reverendi probique viri Wilhelmi Thurgilssonii Regionis nomophylacis, Kolbeini FlÆt (Flett) Jonis Magni filii (Manson) et Wilhelmi Urving (Irving) confirmatas. APPENDIX.—No. II.THE TAXATION, RENTALS, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES, OF ORKNEY AND ZETLAND.The earliest Survey and Valuation of Orkney (1263) was the counterpart—perhaps the pattern—of the AULD EXTENT of Scotland made by Alexander III. somewhat later and subsequently to his intimate relations with Norway. It was to the Islanders an event of such importance, that history and tradition have combined to commemorate its date, place, and circumstances with picturesque minuteness. It was on St. Martin’s day 1263 that Hacon IV., in an upper chamber of Bishop Henry’s palace in Kirkwall, lay down to die of a broken heart and mortified ambition. But the cares of royalty followed him even to his deathbed; his troops and seamen, the relics of the storm and battle at Largs, were starving and houseless; and in the absence of Magnus Jarl III., he issued orders to divide the whole occupied lands of Orkney and Zetland into MARKLANDS containing 8 Eyrislands or Urislands, each of which should find quarters and supplies for a Hofding and a fixed number of men, probably in proportion to the Skatts formerly paid. In the comparatively fertile and populous Orkneys, more minute subdivision soon became necessary; and some Scottish Jarl divided each Norse Urisland into the Scottish denominations of 18 Pennylands, and each pennyland into 4 Farthings or Merks, or (in some districts) into 6 Uriscops or MÆliscops, and finally into 10 Yowsworths, to suit the excessive partition of Odal heritage. Though the Mark is still the vague denomination of land measure in Zetland, as being sufficiently minute for its large tracts of comparatively valueless waste, even there it has been found convenient to estimate the unequal value of the Markland by Pennies, and to apportion its Skathald, Skatt, and Landskylld to the number of Pennies ascribed to each Mark, an alteration traditionally attributed to English valuators under a commercial Treaty between England and Norway—perhaps that of 1431. From the confusion of terms of value, weight, and size,—of Mark and Merk—of Peningr and Penny—of Urisland and Uriscop—of Marklands in Zetland of 4, 8, and 12 pennies per mark—and of Pennylands in Orkney of 3, 4, 5?, and 8 merks to the penny—so many difficulties beset this subject, that I rejoice that I am not required to attempt their solution; for the denominations of land-value still exist as fixed by Hacon’s Survey, practically undisputed by subjects or rulers—neither the ground of oppression nor the cause of complaint. The several exactions may be classed in the order in which they are named in the Rental. 1st. Odal; 2nd. Tenant; and 3rd. District or Parochial Burdens. The Odal payments consisted of— 1st. Stent, the Butter Skatt assessed by ancient valuation in proportion to the pennylands. 2nd. Butter Skatt, prÆter the Stent, an obviously unwarranted and often large increase of the tax—generally as much more. 3rd. Malt Skatt. 4th. Silver Skatt. 5th. Forcop, already explained, but of such arbitrary and unequal exaction as fully to warrant the definition of Dufresne, “Forcop, Forcapium, exactio, tributum haud debitum, per vim et contra jus captum.” 6th. Wattel, the Fee of the Underfoud, paid or estimated in grain. 1st. Cost, or victual—generally paid in a commutation of two-thirds of malt, one-third of meal. 2nd. Flesh—paid in cattle or live stock, at a conventional estimate of 2 or 3 head to each Last of nominal quantity. 3rd. Pennyworths—an equivalent in grain, butter, oil, or other produce of the lands, in case of deficiency of the other payments. The parochial exactions (all of Scottish origin) are summed up with a quaint acknowledgment of omnivorous rapacity; “And all this supra, is prÆter the Skattmarts, Wrack, Waith, Hawkhens, Chetry, Balliatus, and uthir profittis and Revenues that may happen ony maner of way.” The relative share of the Odaller and Tenant in these new parish burdens is not expressed, but both must have looked back with regret to the worst of their ancient rulers, and watched with dismay the rising tide of Scottish oppression which was slowly but inevitably sapping their rights and overwhelming their liberties. Of the taxes, rents, and assessments of the Rental, only a very small part was payable in money, and every coinage seems to have been current, though at an exchange often and arbitrarily fluctuating. The rest of the Debts and Duties, as they were called, were paid in kind or produce, and measured by the Pundar and Bysmar—the Can and Barrell—the Cuttel and Pack—the native Standards and Instruments respectively of weight, capacity, and extent. The correctness and uniformity of these instruments was guarded with jealous care by the Thingmen, and the Wardthing of every Parish elected a LÖgrettman or Lawrightman to watch the measuring of its debts or duties by the Underfoud, and to take charge of its Standards, which were from time to time compared and corrected in presence of the Thing, by reference to a Common Standard of each kind of instrument of mensuration. Each of these common Standards was more solemnly authenticated by the Common Seal, or the signature or mark of the Lawman, by authority of the Lawthing, and severally kept by one of the Lawrightmen of four different districts, honoured by law or custom with their custody. This system of inspection, counter-checks, and separate guardianship, effectually precluded fraudulent or ignorant tampering with the Weights and Measures of the country, till virtually cancelled by the violence of the Donatary and his agents in superseding the Lawrightmen. Of measurement by weight the instruments were—1st, The Pundar or Pundlar, identical with the Steelyard or Statera, and of two kinds—the Malt Pundar for weighing Malt and other bulky articles, and the Bere Pundar for Bere only, using the same weights, but each a third less than the same denomination on the Malt Pundar; and 2ndly, the Bysmar, The first is a facsimile of the woodcut which occurs in the original edition of the Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus, of Olaus Magnus, Archbishop of Upsala, p. 468, RomÆ, 1555, folio. The other is copied from The General Grievances and Oppression of the Isles of Orkney and Shetland (by James Mackenzie), p. 19. Edinb. 1750, 8vo.: Both cuts are figured in Dr. Hibbert’s Shetland. The weights in use were—
Bysmer Pundar Of measurement by capacity, the instruments were the Can or Kanna of Norway, and the Barrel or Bariel of fifteen Lispunds.
Of measurement by extent the only instrument was the Cuttel or Alin, a wooden rod of the length of the Scottish Ell. The Cuttel of WadmÆl became in Zetland the general measure of value, standard of barter, and substitute for a current coinage; 6 Cuttels being equivalent to an Eyrir or ounce of land taxation, and 6 score or a large hundred of Cuttels being the standard price of an ox or six sheep. The standards of weight and measure were unchanged till Earl Robert, by raising the weight of the fundamental Mark from 8 to 10 ounces, added in the same proportion of one-fifth to every other denomination—and by increasing the Gudling from 6 to 8 Cuttels, he added one-fourth to every Pack of Zetland WadmÆl. Earl Patrick increased the Mark to 12 ounces, thus adding one-third to every Lispund, Meil, and Last; and subsequent Donataries improved the profitable example by aggravating the Mark to 20 ounces, and thus boldly achieving an increase of 250 per cent. upon every denomination of weight or measure. The only apparent exception was the Barrel, which, being a vehicle of foreign export, could not be enlarged, and consequently could only contain 10 of these aggravated Lispunds instead of 15 of the normal size; but the balance was charged in loose Lispunds of similar overweight. There is no authentic statement of the revenues of James III. as Sovereign and as Earl of Orkney, but assuming and deducting a rise during the Episcopal Tacks proportioned to that which appears between the first and second Rentals of Lord Sinclair, the Skatts and Land-males of the Crown may be approximately stated at between £500 and £600. Their progressive increase during the sixteenth century may be more minutely estimated by a comparison of Lord Sinclair’s Rentals (1492–1502) with that of Earl Patrick (1600–1), and an unerring tariff of current prices is found in the Rentals themselves, or in the contemporary Rolls of the Scottish Exchequer. The last Rental of Lord Sinclair stands thus—
The same Tack duty of £2000 was paid by Lord Robert Stewart as a Feu-duty; and in 1568, the first year of his actual exercise of power, the higher prices of conversion had raised the Crown Rental to the following value, without increase of quantity:—
But this numerical statement of quantities no longer expressed the actual burdens of Orkney. Earl Robert’s increase of the weights and measures had added a fifth to every nominal Mark, Lispund, Meil, or Last in the Rental, and when he was reinstated (1589) (compounding at a reduced Feu-duty of £2075), the quantities and value actually paid under the nominal Rental amounted to—
Accordingly Earl Robert’s final Rental, although the articles of payment differ in arrangement and commutation, amounts, at the former conversions, to nearly the same sum and value:
Thus showing an increase of quantities and value since his first audit of 1569 amounting to—
If to this aggravation of the Rental we add his revenue from Tolls, Customs, Droits, Escheat and triennial Grassums, and consider the forced labour, the diminished area of cultivation, and the doubled penal conversions for every deficiency of these impossible quantities, we may estimate the income of Earl Robert and the misery of the Islanders; though the Rentale pro Rege et Episcopo (1592–1600), which exhibits the numerical increase of exaction, is silent as to his aggravation of the Weights and Measures. This addition of a fifth to every actual payment was augmented to a third by Earl Patrick’s similar aggravation of the Mark to 12 ounces; and increased penal conversions were exacted for all arrears, rests, or unpaid balance of duties beyond what the Islands could produce, till their actual burdens thus aggravated, and valued at the current averages of conversion, amounted to—
But besides this large revenue, and that derived from the Grassums, Droits, Tolls, Customs, Fines, and other unrentalled, unacknowledged, and unestimated perquisites, to the amount of about £6000 more, the Stewart Earls were also Commendators of the Estates of the Church, to which they proved no less dutiful as nursing fathers during their possession of about half a century. The Rental of the Bishopric at the Impignoration or beginning of the sixteenth century cannot be ascertained, but at the time of James V.’s visit, the articles composing the Church Rental (as shortly afterwards attested, and valued at the prices of the period), amounted to the following sums and quantities:—
These quantities were officially attested by Bishop Adam in 1561, and in 1568 (the date of his first contract with Lord Robert), amounted at the current prices to the value and quantity following, viz.—
These articles, the amount of the Bishopric Rental at Earl Robert’s entry, he increased to the following quantities at the same conversion:—
Earl Patrick’s aggravation of one-third in like manner raised the actual quantities paid from the Bishopric in the same proportion, and at the current prices of conversion, to the following value:—
The following Abstract of the results of these Tables will exhibit briefly the progressive increase of the burdens of Orkney during the sixteenth century—
I am not aware of any authentic Rental of the burdens of Zetland during the sixteenth century, except the statement in the Charter to Maitland and Bellenden (1587), and the Comptroller’s Accounts (1588), after twenty years of Earl Robert’s aggravations of weight, measure, and value, when a third had been added to the contents of every Pack of WadmÆl and Lispund of Fat-gude at arbitrary conversions in a coinage as arbitrary. The nominal quantities (for which the Donatary compounded with the Royal Comptroller at £400) are there stated as follows:—
But by the augmented Weight, Measure, and Price, the burdens actually extorted from the Lordship of Zetland were raised (exclusive of Ox-money and other unacknowledged exactions) to the amount and value of—
3. About £5000 Sterling—a princely revenue in those days, when the general scarcity of coin, and poverty of kings and kingdoms had been met by a debasement of the coinage gradual and universal; but in Scotland so rapid, that the £ Scots, equivalent to the £ English in 1366, was worth only 8s. in 1468—6s. 8d. in 1540—3s. 4d. in 1568—and 1s. 8d. in 1600. The peculation of subsequent Donataries, by the fraudulent increase, fluctuation, and complexity of the Standards of Weight and Measure, and consequent augmentation of the burdens of Orkney to the amount of 3000 Cattle, 5000 Bolls of Grain, 6218 Lispunds or Stones of Butter, and 700 Gallons of Oil, became (1750) the subject of the memorable PUNDLAR PROCESS. To the various Memorials and Pleadings in that suit I must refer for more minute details, as the whole difficult subject is there discussed and exhausted, but in a form too long for insertion, and too intricate for condensation. The evidence was complete, that the Crown Donataries had for two centuries persistently, fraudulently, and enormously increased the legal weights and measures of the Islands. But after the Pursuers had been driven to incur the expense of this elaborate proof, a decision was given against them on the merely preliminary plea of prescription, to the disgrace of a corrupt or partial Court. With such Judges even the specific evidence of date, place, and person, now added by the complaints, might have had little weight; perhaps they might have obsequiously convicted the Zetland witnesses against Lawrence Bruce, of Conspiracy against “that worthy man.” GLOSSARY OF UNUSUAL WORDS.AL-THING, see Thing. ANGEL, An English gold coin = 10s. sterling. ARFF, AYRFFE, N. Erffd, hereditas, heredium, Heritage, succession. AYNING, N. Eign, possessio, The Ownership of an Odaller. BABIE, BAWBEE, A coin = 1/2d. sterling, but varying from 3d. to 6d. Scots. BAILLIE, An official appointed by the Donatary to perform the functions of the ancient Under-fowd, especially in guarding the interests of the Crown. BALLIATUS, A parochial assessment for the Baillie’s salary, in addition to the ancient Wattel, appropriated by the Donatary. BARREL, N. Bariel, A measure of quantity = 15 Lispunds. BERE, hordeum hexastichon, A species of Barley, of six rows of grains. BERE PUNDLAR, see PUNDAR. BOLMAN, N. Bu-madr, rusticus, inquilinus, A husbandman, a yearly tenant or tenant at will. BONDER, N. Bondi, Bonde, paterfamilias, colonus, An Odaller. BORD-LAND, N. Bord, mensa, cibus, The guest quarters of the King or Jarl, and therefore exempt from skatt. Bota-Mali, (N.) Offences expiable by compensation or damages to the injured party, or by Mulcts shared between him and the Crown, which derived no small part of its revenue from this source and from the Obota-mali (quod vide). BULL, N. Bol, Bu, prÆdium nobile, The principal farm of the Odalsjord; sometimes called HEAD BULL, N. Hofd-bu, or Chemisplace, Dan. Hjems, domus. CAN, N. Kanna, A measure = 1 CHETTRY, Revenue arising from the Scottish Casualty of Escheit. COMMONTY. Each Tun possessed its own Soettur or Infield Common; each Skat-hald or Hrepp, its Hagi or Hill Pasture, shared exclusively by the Hreppismen of its Tuns; and each Herad its Moar, common to every Hrepp and Tun of that Vard Thing, but to none else. COST, Grain Rent, generally commuted at ? of Meal and ? of Malt or of raw grain. CUTTEL, ELL, N. Alin, ulna, A measuring rod of the length of a Scottish Ell, used in Zetland as the fundamental unit of Length and of Valuation. A Cuttel of WadmÆl long bore a Standard value of 6d. Scots—6 cuttels being equal to an Eyrie or “Ure” of Valuation; 20 Cuttels = to a sheep, and six score or a “Large Hundred” to an ox. The value of the cuttel was raised to 2 shillings by Earl Robert. DOLLAR, A silver coin = 50d. sterling, but varying from 30s. to 40s. Scots. DOMERA, DOMERAL, N. Dom-rof, mulcta eorum qui judicia contemnunt, A fine for contempt of court. DONATARY, A grantee of the Crown’s Skatts, Males, and Duties. FATGUDE, a term used in Zetland for the Butter or Oil paid to the Donatary. FLESH, Rent paid in Cattle, generally estimated by Weight, 15 Meils = an ox, 10 Meils = a cow, 4 Meils = a sheep. But this valuation rose and fell according to the caprice of the Donatary. FLORIN OF THE RHINE, A German gold coin = 2 dollars, also a Money of account = 100d. sterling. FORCOP, N. Thing-fÖr-kaup, itineris forensis merces, The Lawman’s salary for the Thing circuits; afterwards charged by the Donatary, first against the Crown, and again against the parishes on various pretexts, sometimes of Odal usage, sometimes of feudal claim; but according to Dufresne, “Forcapium, Exactio, Tributum haud debitum, per vim et contra jus captum.” FOUD, N. Fogeti, Dan. Fogud, quÆstor Regius, Collector of the King’s Skatt, Skyllds, Mulcts, etc., afterwards Chief Judge, and ultimately Sheriff of the Foudries of Zetland. GARTH, N. Gardr, prÆdium nobile, A portion of Odalsjord. Goedingr (N.) Locuples—Gofugr, nobilis, venerandus—Hofdingr, procer, magnas, terms applied in the Sagas to the Odaller, expressive of his superior wealth, dignity, and powers. GRANDRIE, GRANDORIE, N. Grand-rof, noxarum castigatio, A septennial Court to abate nuisances and punish local abuses. GUDLING, GULLION, A measure of quantity = 6 cuttels, or ? of a pack of WadmÆl, but afterwards raised to 8 cuttels. GUEST-QUARTERS, The occasional residence of the King or Jarl as guest of the Husbondi, whose Bordland was exempt from Skatt on that account. Hagi, (N.) Dan. Grasmark, pascua, Hill pasture, common to a Tun HOG-LEAVE, N. Haga-leyfi, permissio pascuendi—Hag-ra, facultas pascuendi—RIDING THE HAGRA, perambulation of the Marches of the Hagi. HAWK-HENS, A general parochial burden of “poultry to feed the King’s falcons” taken in the islands; first exacted by Bishop William Tulloch (in addition to the new Scottish burden of Kanefowls, exigible from tenants only), and still occasionally demanded by the Queen’s Falconer. Herad, (N.) districtus montibus et mari terminatus, A district containing several Hrepps or Skathalds, with their several Tuns or Rooms, and a Moar common to them all. Hirdman, (N.) Miles, aulicus. HIRDMAN STANE, N. Hirdman Stefn, congressus militum. HOMER, HOEMOTHER, Sunfish, or Basking Shark. Hrepp, (N.) tribus, The Community of Hreppmen, or Skatt brethren possessing a Skathald, with common pasture in the Moar, and a share of the Tulberskatt exacted from intruders not entitled to pasture there. Huss-Bondi, (N.) paterfamilias—Huss-Karl, domesticus, operarius. Jol, (N.) natalitia Christi, initium Aquarii, Yule or Christmas. LANDSETTERCOP, N. Land-settr kaup, merces conductionis, A fee or fine on letting or reletting a farm. LANDSKYLD, Dan. Land-skylld, N. Land-skulld, Scot. Landmale, debitum quod locator fundi debet domino prÆstare, locarium, redditus prÆdianus, The rent of a farm. LAW-BOOK, N. LÖg-bok, codex legum, Book of Laws. LAWMAN, N. LÖg-madr, nomophylax, The President of the Althing, Keeper and Expounder of the Law-book, and Chief Judge of Orkney, anciently paid by the assessment of FÖrkaup, and afterwards by the Scottish Government, and ultimately abolished or merged in the office of Sheriff. LAWRIGHTMAN, N. LÖg-retta-madr, scabinus, An Official chosen by the Vard-Thing, and charged with the custody and application of the Standards of Weight and Measure, and the general interests of the Herad or Parish, especially in the Law-thing, where he acted as Assessor of the Lawman or Foud. The name was latterly given to the inferior local umpires of minor questions of Scandal, Marches, or breaches of the Sheep Acts, more correctly called RANCELMEN. LÆANGER, N. Ledangr, contributio in prÆsidium patriÆ, A Tax paid in Zetland. Leigumadr, (N.) conductor prÆdii, A Tenant farmer under a formal Tack of Assedation, generally for three years, but renewable on payment of Grassum, Landsettr or Eysettr-cop. LISPUND, LESPUND, LESCHPUND (idem ac SETTEEN q. vide), A Weight = 24 Marks, or ? of a Meil, or 1 MARK, N. MÖrk, bes, sonulibru, octo unciÆ, A weight = 8 ounces or 1 MEIL, N. MÆlir, A Weight = 6 Lespunds, or 1 MERK, A Scottish coin = 13s. 4d. or ? of a Pound Scots. MŒLISCOP, A local Land-measure = ? of a pennyland. MUIR, Islandic Moar, ericetum, Heath pasture, common to all the Skathalds and Hrepps of a Herad. MUIR STANE, N. Moar Stenn, The idol, afterwards (till lately) the Thingstod of a Herad, or Vard-Thing. NOBLE, ANGEL-NOBLE, An English gold coin = 10 shillings sterling. NONENTRY, A Scottish Feudal casualty. O-bota-mali, (N.) crimen Ære non expiabile, Crime inferring death, exile, or forfeiture to the King. ODAL, N. Odal, allodium, prÆdium hereditarium, The estate of an Odaller; quasi Odh-al plena possessio. ODAL-BORN, N. Odal-borinn, natus ad heredium avitum, viz., rect line a primo occupante. ODALRED, N. Odh-al-RÆdi, jus plenÆ possessionis a primo occupante. ODALLER, Odalsmadr, dominus allodialis, The Free possessor of an Odalsjord. Odalsjord, (N.) prÆdium hereditarium. OX-MONEY and SHEEP-MONEY, Exactions in Zetland, grounded upon the provisions furnished to Bothwell. PACK, N. Packi, A quantity of WadmÆl = 10 Gudlings. PLOWK, Scot. A plug or pin. PUNDLAR, N. Pundari, statera, An instrument of Weight of two kinds, viz., the Malt-pundlar for Lispunds, Meils, and Lasts of Malt—1 Last = 24 Meils = 144 Lispunds; and the Bere-pundlar for Bere only, but estimating the Last as containing 36 Meils, or one-third more than the Malt-pundlar, according to a conventional proportion of raw to dried grain. QUOY, N. Qui, area circumsepta, An enclosure. RENTALS OF ORKNEY, Records of the Odaller’s Skatts, Tenants’ Males, Vassal’s Feu-duties, and Parish burdens, chargeable by the Donatary or Chamberlain. ROOM, N. Rum, locus, The same in Zetland as Tun in Orkney. ROTHE, ROYTH, N. Roedi, dispensatio rei oeconomicÆ, The Odaller’s Conditions and Rights as master of his own house—ROITHISMEN and ROTHISMEN’S SONS, Odallers and Odalborn. SAMYNG, N. Soemd, honos, decus, An Odaller’s Rank and Dignity as a free-born Thingman. SCHYND, SCHOIND, SCHOWND, N. Skynd, Dan. Skjon, ratio, An Inquest of Thingmen to examine, sanction, and confirm all procedure respecting the Succession, Impignoration, or Alienation of Heritage; anciently by a viv voce doom, but frequently (after the accession of the Scottish Jarls) by a Skynd-bref or “Schynd Bill.” SCOULDING, N. Skulld, debitum, crimen, mulcta, A Thing for civil debts, damages, and fines for minor offences. SET, N. Settr, pactio, An agreement, the letting of land. SETTEEN, SETTING, N. Settungr, sextans, A weight = 24 marks, or ? of a Meil, idem ac Lispund et Span. SETTER, N. Soettur, The infield pasture of a Tun. SKAT, N. Skattr, vectigal, tributum, The Tax upon all land occupied by Odal-red, for the support of the Crown, and expense of government—SKATT-BRETHREN, N. Skat-broedir, Members of the same Skathald, called also Hreppismen—Skat-fal, (N.) Failure for two years to pay Skatt, punished by confiscation, unless redeemed—SKATTALD, N. Skat-hald, A district or Hrepp containing several Tuns or Rooms, with an exclusive Hagi, and a share in the Moar of the Herad. SKYLD, LAND-SKYLD, Dan. Land-Skyld, A Tenant’s Rent, as opposed to Skattr, Odaller’s Tax. SKYLLING or QUHYT, A Danish coin = 1½d. Scots, afterwards raised to 6d. by Earl Robert. Span, idem ac LESPUND. Stefn, (N.) citatio, A Summons, afterwards a Court or Assembly. STEMBOD, N. Stefn-bod, signum citationis, A symbol of citation, being a Staff for ordinary Meetings, an Arrow for matters of urgency or haste, an Axe for a Court of Justice, and a Cross for Ecclesiastical or Religious affairs. STENT, N. Stend, stare, equivalere, The amount of Butter Skatt legally due by each Odal-Tun. TACK, A Lease of a farm, sometimes of a considerable district, or sometimes even of the whole Earldom, or Bishopric—TACKSMAN, the holder of such a lease. The term is generally applied to the Farmers of the Crown Rents and Revenues. Thing, (N.) comitia, An Assembly, Parliament, or Court of Freemen. Al-Thing, forum universale, A general Assemblage of all Free-men. Herads-Thing or Stefn, A district Meeting of Heradsmen. Hirdmans-Thing or Stefn, A Council of Warriors. Hof-Thing, consultatio de rebus sacris. Huss-Thing, consultatio de rebus domesticis. Law-Thing, A Court of Law—Leidar-Thing, A War Council. Thing-Stod (N.) locus comitiorum. ThrÆll, (N.) servus, A slave. TOFT, N. Tomt, area domus vacua, Land once tilled but abandoned. TOWN, N. Tun, viridarium, pratum, The original Odalsjord of a Primal Occupant or Land-nama-madr, possessing its own exclusive Soettur, a share of the Hagi, and rights of commonty in the Moar. TUMALE, Scot., Land enclosed from the common pasture, and tilled; but not included in the original Odal-Tun. TULBERSKATT, N. Told-boer-Skatt, A fine or rent exacted by the Vard-Thing from unentitled intruders on the Moar of its Herad. Tun-gardr, (N.) sepimentum viridarii, Hill-dyke. UMBOTHSMAN, N. Umbods madr, procurator, mandatarius, An agent, procurator, for-Speaker, or advocate. UNDER-FOUD, An Official in every parish of Zetland, with local duties and powers similar to those of the Head Foud, especially in representing and watching the interest of the Government, latterly superseded by the Bailie. URE ORE, N. Eyrir, uncia, An ounce, the fundamental unit of all Orkneyan mensuration, being 1/8th of a Mark. URISLAND, A denomination of Land Value = 1/8th of a Mark of Land, or 18 pennylands. Vatn, (N.) aqua, lacus. Vikingr, (N.) pirata. Viking (N.) piratica. Haust- or Vor-Viking, an Autumnal or Spring expedition. Voe-bond, (N.) sepimentum dicasterii, tutela pacis publicÆ, Anciently the cord which encircled the Thing-stod, and the rupture of which dissolved the meeting—from its peculiar sanctity it came to signify an Asylum or Sanctuary. Voeringr, (N.) miles Nordmannus Imperatoris GrÆci. WARD HILL, WART HILL, N. Vardi, strues lapidum, The hill on which the beacon was lighted to give warning of approaching danger. WATTEL, WATTLE, N. Vottr-tel, testes numerare, The ancient assessment for the salary of the Under-foud for summing up the evidence at the Vard-Thing, afterwards a perquisite of the Baillie, in addition to the Balliatus. ZOPINDALE, YOWPINDAL, A silver coin = 15 shillings Scots in 1541, but raised by Earl Robert to 20 shillings in 1572. ZOWISWORTH, YOWISWORTH, COWSWORTH, a proportion of Odal-land = 1/10th of a pennyland. ERRATA.In the Table of Contents, after “Appendix,” add “and Glossary of Unusual Words.” In the Introduction— P. xix, line 7, for “Leign-madr,” read “Leigu-madr.” P. xxxv, line 10, for “Leign-men,” read “Leigu-men.” P. xli, line 3, dele the comma after “rights,” and read “of rights Odal.” P. xli, line 8, dele the comma after “casualty.” P. xli, line 28, for “the Crown,” read “the Crown-lands.” P. xliii, line 21, for “Few,” read “Feu.” P. 8, line 21, for “In stopping of all ferries of the country, to transport sic as he pleased, to stop and” &c., read “In stopping of all ferries of the country to transport sic as he pleased to stop, and” &c. P. 10, line 4, for “countryman,” read “countrymen.” P. 16, line 2, for “office be himselff,” read “office, he himselff.” P. 34, line 5, for “wadwell,” read “wadmell.”
P. 77, lines 7, 25, for “reddendo,” read “reddens.” THE END. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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