Cases from The Barony Court of Urie [Kincardineshire ]; (Lesley Robertson, reporter in 1996)

18th March, 1617: William Reid, Sheref Deput of Kincardine presiding. James Murray, James, Duncane, John Murray and David Murray were all found guilty of unlawfully cutting and destroying the Laird's wood. Each was fined 10 pounds Scots.

9th June, 1623: John Hay of Crimondmogit, presiding, sentenced John Smyth, skipper, to sit in the stocks for 24 hours for lavishly abusing John Mowat.

11th September, 1632: John Mowatt of Powhair (baillie) presiding, William Reid, servant to John Mowatt in Rothnik, accused Agnes Duncan, daughter of William Duncan there of beating, striking and bleeding him. As she denied the charge, Agnes was referred to an assyse where the chancler [foreman of the jury] convicted her on the basis of her own confession, and fined her 5 pounds.

28th January, 1684: John Erskine in Glithnoe (baillie) presiding, the following people were found to be guilty of contravening the Act of the 15th Parliament of King James 6th against the use of guns, pistols and other firearms for the killing of hares, doves, ducks, drakes, partridges, and others: William Gibons at Mill of Cowie; William Gibons, younger there; John Cruikshanke, there; William Mowat in Trees; Allexander Wylie in Powbair; William Mowat in Rothnicke; Hugh Mowat at Mill of Mouthquheich; James Gordoune in Rothnicke; James Broune in Magray; Willian Falconer in Glithnoe; Alexander Mowat in Crosley. Hugh Mowat and James Gordoun also admitted having greyhounds for hunting hares. Each defendant was fined 10 pounds and they were all required to deliver their firearms to the Lairds, Colonel David and Robert Barclay immediately.

24th May, 1692: Robert Barclay of Urie and James Thomsone (bailie) presiding. Robert Barclay announced that, in accordance with the proclamation of the Council that the heritors, ministers and Kirk Sessions of the Kingdom are responsible for the poor within their parishes, the heritors of the parish of Fetteresso in accordance with the minister, elders and Kirk Session have agreed that each of them will maintain the poor within their lands. Badges will be issued to beggars travelling within the lands, allowing them to solicit alms. Robert Barclay therefore arranged for a peck and a half of meal to be provided weekly to Rachel Lightoune, blind woman, together with a servant to care for her; half a peck to be given to Alexander Burnet in Powbair for his children; badges to be given to Isobell Murray in Glithno, Marioun Ritchie there, two of the children of Alexander Burnet there, Margaret Boys in Magro, and George Mill at Mill of Montweich. Half a peck of meal shall be given to Margaret Lyell and her children. Licensed beggars were given a timetable telling them when and how much meal they could beg from the major tenants (first William Gibsone at Mill of Cowie (two and a half pecks of meal for one week), James Brown at Maigroe (two and a half pecks for one week), Janet Mowat in Powbair (five pecks for two weeks), and then to the Laird at mains of Urie (five pecks for two weeks), Balnagight (two and a half pecks), Glithno (two and a half pecks), Rothnike (five pecks), Crossley (two and a half pecks), Burnshaugh (two and a half pecks), Burnhaugh (two and a half pecks,Trees (two and a half pecks), Woodheade (two and a half pecks). This sequence will be maintained until the Council withdraws the order. Anyone deficient in their provision will be fined a double quantity.

Editors note: Peck = a dry measure equivalent to a quarter of a firlot

Firlot=measure of grain (quarter of a boll, or 4 pecks).

Boll=dry measure of 140 lbs avoirdupois.

Avoirdupois= a system of weights in which the lb. equals 16 oz.

Oz. (ounce) = look up your OWN dictionary!

And, moving to another part of the realm, cases from Glasgow, now reported by Gordon Johnson:

19th January 1574: James Anderson, miller, has three scabby horses; John Gemmell has one; Thomas Scott has one; and Thomas Will has one scabby horse. The above-named persons have been warned to appear at the next Burgh Court to confirm that they have now conformed to the statutes laid down about scab and fairsy [skin diseases]. The horses will be examined by Archibald Muir and Thomas Waterstone.

The same date: Marion Gardiner, daughter to Steven Gardiner; Janet Grahame, Janet Stewart, and Robert [name missing], butcher; have all been accused of being lepers. They are to be visited, and if found to be afflicted by leprosy, are to be secluded from the town to the hospital at the Bridgend.

13th August, 1574: Margaret Kinloch, servant to James Boyd, and Florence Cunningham, spouse of John Stirling, are both found in the wrong and convicted by the court. Margaret is guilty of injuring the said Florence, calling her a "priest's whore", before Whitsunday last; and the said Florence for the striking of the said Margaret on the back with her nevis [??], on the tenth of August, and sentence is given thereon.

21st October, 1575: John Benyng [Binning or Binnie] is found in the wrong for causing trouble to Marion Scott, spouse of Archibal Hamill, in striking her on the face and other parts of her body, on the 16th Septmber last, and for amends is ordained to come to the merchant cross on Monday next and there, upon his knees, ask God and her forgiveness.

24th December 1580: Hector Stewart, Andrew Bailie, David Hall and Colleen Campbell are found in the wrong and fined ten pounds per person, for contravening the statute of the wine in charging more than 42 pence per pint, and sentence given thereupon. The said David Hall protested, seeking a legal review of the case.