KING SENDS TEAM TO ARRANGE PEACE TREATY

29th September 1394: Robert, King of Scotland, has commissioned Walter, Bishop of St. Andrews, Thomas, Bishop of Galloway, George, Earl of March, James de Lindesay of Crawford, bannaret, William Steward of Jedburgh and John de Ramorgny, knights, Mr. Thomas de Barry, clerk, Alexander de Cokburn of Langton and Adam Forestar of Liberton, esquires, as special commissioners to treat with the king's adversary of England , to draw up a final peace and concord in the king's name Any eight to four of them are empowered to act.

Given under his great seal, Monastery of Holyrood, Edinburgh.

COUPLE APPEAL TO POPE

2nd June, 1421: Rome. The Pope has received a poignant appeal from a couple wishing to marry. They say " To compose discords lately arisen between their kindred and friends, Robert de Erth [Airth ] and Mariot de Fyf [Fyfe ] Dunkeld diocese, desire to be united together in matrimony, but cannot fulfil their desire without apostolic dispensation because the father of Mariot was godfather of Robert.

They therefore supplicate that, notwithstanding this impediment of spiritual kinship, the Pope would dispense them to contract and remain in matrimony, declaring legitimate the offspring to be born. "

PEST KEPT AT BAY

September 1604, Paisley Burgh: "It is ordained that nane of the Keipers of the Portis let in ony thairat unknawin to them outwith this burghe without them adverteis ane of the Baillies, at the leist ane of the Quarter Maisteris efternamit, appointit for visiting of the sadis Portis, causing keip the samin manner underwritten, viz.,...."

Translation: "It is officially ordered that none of the keepers of the town entrance gates will let in there any non-resident unknown to them, unless first they call in one of the Baillies, or at least one of the Quartermasters undernamed, appointed to visit the gateways and ensure they are being looked after correctly, i.e....."

Named are:

"At the eist Port on the bridge Thomas Inglis, Robert Algie, Thomas Quhytfurd [Whiteford ], Robert Urie, Thomas Petir, Johne Hucheson, and Robert Semple, quha sall [who shall] attend upon the keiping of the said Burne Port, and for awaiting and keiping of the West Port John Algie, Andrew Stewart, William Cumming, Johne Hendersone, Robert Craig, David Hendersone, and John Quhite [White ], merchand [merchant ]."

RUNAWAY BACK AT WORK

26th August 1616: James Paige, one of the twenty barrowmen working on building operations at Edinburgh Castle, ran away to Etherlie, but was fetched back by Robert Holme, who was paid 12 shillings for this. As he was previously listed as a mason, and was not on the official list of barrowmen, it may be that he had been demoted and this had caused him to run off.

WORKMAN INJURED AT STIRLING CASTLE

8th September 1628: A poor workman called Donald Makintyre [MacIntyre], working on the red [clearing up after the builders] under the long wall, has broken his thigh bone in pieces. Out of pity for him, the Master of Works has authorised payment of 6 pounds 13 shillings and 4 pence towards his medical costs.

The Master of Works authorised another payment of 30 shillings [roughly a week's wages] to Donald at the beginning of March, 1629, so the injury was very serious indeed.

NEW TENEMENT FOR THE COWGATE, EDINBURGH

1st July 1665, Edinburgh: James Belsches, son of the late James Belsches, indweller in Edinburgh, has agreed a contract to build a new tenement at the foot of the Horsewynd on the east side of the Cowgate, adjacant to that of Thomas Craufurd, merchant, on the east side.

The contractor is George Herries, wright, a burgess of Edinburgh, and the building is to be 57 English feet in length and 17 and a half in breadth, and three stories high.

The completion date is set as being before Whitsunday next, and the price of the completed contract is two thousand merks.

EXCISE MAN SWORN IN

5th June 1718: At Lanark, in the presence of Allan Lockhart of Cleghorn and George Muirhead of Whitcastle (two of the Justices of the Peace for the shire of Lanark), appeared in person Nicol Donaldson, officer of excise for the division of Carnwath, who qualified and did take and swear the oath of allegiance to his majesty King George, and the oaths of supremacy and abjuration, and subscribed the same with the assurance, and also did take and swear and subscribe the oath of office as exciseman.

WORKFARE IN OPERATION

14th December 1816: Great exertions are made in the country to help the labouring poor. In Edinburgh about 300 men are set to work at Public works at one shilling a day, with freedom to go away if they can find higher wages.

Lord Hopetoun has been employing a great many work people at Hopetoun House.

The managers of the Theatre at Edinburgh are to give the profits of one night to the fund for the labouring poor. Kirk Sessions are meeting to consider what is to be done for the poor.

At Gogar, 8 miles from Edinburgh, a Mrs. Dundas is giving out yarn to spin.

Everbody who is able is doing something to lessen the general distress.

WICK HIGH SCHOOL APPOINTMENT

9th October 1911: Miss Elizabeth O. Begg has been today appointed as an assistant teacher. She takes up her appointment on 8th November.

The new High School had officially been opened on 23 August 1911.

The female teachers' room has a new gas pendant light, lit by electric ignition. To light this gas, one merely has to press a button placed at the doorway.

25th December, 1912: The school log-book records that "As today is Christmas day the school will continue at work until 2 o'clock pm and will then be dismissed for the day."

We hope you have enjoyed this issue of our "oldnewspaper". Contributions are welcome for future issues, but please note that they must all be Scottish news items, and not less than about 70 years old (for copyright reasons). They may be emailed to gordon@kinhelp.co.uk

Copyright G. Johnson, 1999