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Scottish Pilgrims at Breslau
(ca. 1470)
Among the documents marked "Criminal
Akten" in the Town-Library of Breslau, there is a folio-sheet, apparently
dating from the end of the XVth Century, which contains the confessions of
various Scotsmen in a trial that they had to undergo on the charge of
unlawful vagabondage, etc. The writer, a rather illiterate clerk it would
seem, says inter alia:
"Item Lorentz
Gren (Green) from Scotland, from
Edenburgh thirty miles off Dondy (Dundee) has come from Rome and has had
no shoes, and has been ill for three quarters of a year. Now he has found
countrymen here and a [friend] at Brünn has advised him to move to this
place and to buy pepper, worm-seed, white ginger for to take
it in brandy with a spoon. He left
Scotland 111 days before Michaelmas and has vowed a pilgrimage to Rome
when at sea in distress, and his father’s brother has written to from him
Dantzke, that he should come to him."
"Item
Thomas Sneider (?), also a Scot from
Dondy one mile out of a village called Boyschry (?) has left his country
on All-Souls’-Day and has long been ill and vowed a pilgrimage to Rome and
has been to Rome on Palm Sunday and has come here on the evening before
Whitsuntide. . . . He wishes to
go to Dantzke and thence towards Scotland."
"Item
Thomas Gybiscihen (Gibson) from Dondy,
the town, a sailor, and has vowed a pilgrimage to St James (di Compostella)
and fell ill on the journey, and has been begging and came here on account
of strife . . . hence to Dantzke
that he might return to Scotland."
"Item
Valterius of Dessen
(Dess in Aberdeen), and has not been to
Scotland for three years, has been at Dantzke, at Rome, at Meissen and had
been a pedlar and wants to go thence to Dantzke."
"Item Reichart
(Richard) of Wick, Kathnes
(Caithness) in Scotland, has been serving a gentleman called the Dyspan
and afterwards four years in the service of the Queen of Hungary."
"Item Hans Robartez (Roberts)
from a village called Stewen (?) and left Scotland about Michaelmas and
has vowed a pilgrimage to Rome during an illness and has now been at Rome
and has been begging on the way and has been at Meininge, hence to Dantzke,
from Dantzke to Scotland."
"Item Andrea Heynersson
(Henderson) from Edenburgh, is a tailor and left Scotland eleven years
ago and was at Rome during Lent, went there for the sake of adventure and
his trade, and has been begging his bread and when he got a penny, he
stuck to it."
"Item Simon of Dessart
(Dysart) is a linen-weaver and has been working at Swebissen (Schwiebus)
with one Peter Wolf and comes from Leipzig and has been working in the
sea-ports at Lupke (Lübeck), Hamburgk, and has also been begging for a
crust of bread; if he got a penny, he stuck to it."
The same is reported of Alexander
Kar from Haringthun (Haddington). At the close mention is made of:
Bartholomes Deyse
(?)
from Lyth (Leith) in Scotland, has been at Rome and at
St James and has been begging and did vow a pilgrimage during an illness,
a fever."
LETTER OF
JAMES VI (Febr. 22, 1625).
James R. Right trustie and
right well beloved Councillour, right trustie
and right well beloved cosins and
connsillouris. We greete you well. Whereas the grite number of young boyes
uncapable of service and destitute of meanis of liveing yearlie
transported out of that our kingdome to the East seas and speciallie to
the town of Dantzik and there manie tymes miserablie in grite numbers
dyeing in the streets have given quite scandall to the people of those
countreyis and laid one foull imputation on that our kingdome, to the
grite hinderance and detriment of those our subjects of the better, who
traffique in the saidis countreyis: it
is our pleasoure that by oppin
proclainatioun yee cause prohibite all maisters of shippis to transport
anie youthes of either sex to the said easterne countreyis bot such as
either salbe sent for by thair friendis dwelling there or then sall carrie
with thame sufficient meanis of meantenance
at least for ane yeare under the payne of fyfe
hundreth markis monie of that our kingdome toties quoties they sail offend
in that kind.
NEWMARKET,
22nd day of Feb.
1625.
LETTERS
FROM SCOTCH SETTLERS AT DANZIG AND ELSEWHERE.
Gabriel Maxwell, Dani.rkin, to Sir John Maxwell of
Follock.
31st
August
1635.
Richt honoriabile, after my very
humill dewtie remembrit, pleas now wilt that I am in good helth, presit
bie God, wising daylie from my hert the lyk of yow, and all youris. Pus
your worship, wit that I hef receivit my bor brief, quherin I thaink your
hounor most humilie for the good fafour and painis ye hell
takine concerning my bor brifl; pus your
hounor, caus on of your servandis resew Ire the birar, Johne Alcoirne, one
haime in takin off lowe. I prey your hounor to hold mie excusit off
the wirth of it, for off a trouth at this occatione I can hell nothing
that I can ofir in one takine off lowe to your hounor, becauis off
the wins (wan); and now, presit bie God, wie hell this wiek pice for
sertantie: it is proclamit hir in
the toune off Danniskeine and the King being in the toune in the myne tyme.
Not troubling your hounor fairder, bot commiting yow and all your afairis
to the protectione of the Almychtie God, I rest, your most humillie
cussing to be commandit,
G. M.’
Francis Craw to his family.
LOVING DEAR BROTHER
After wishing the love and peace of
God the Almighty to be with you and all my dear friends, I heartily
salute you accounting it a great mercy
that I have the occasion to show that I am in good health, wishing the
like with you and all friends. Dear Brother I took shipping at Aberdeen
the 29th of June and landed safely here at Dansick the I ith day of
August. We had exceeding good weather. I was not sick at all, bot the
first day I did vomit a little after which I had my stomach better than
ever I had at land and so remaining still here at Dansigk. Few or none of
the men stood in need of prentices, bot I engagded with one William
Abernethy from Aberdeen in Gordoven within 20 or 30 miles of Queensbrige (Kdnigsberg).
He came not here himself bot a friend of his ane Gilbert Ramsay coming
here from Queenbrig he desired him to find him a boy; so William Bissat to
whom I was recommended by Mr Andrew’s friends at Aberdeen told him that I
could not serve six or seven yeares as a boy bot if he would take me for
four yeares I should accept. So Mr Ramsay told he had commission for five
yeares and being a very honest man and a of Mr Bissat
I have referred the writing of
mine
indentor till he and my maister meet, he
promised to me to do as much upon my favour as upon his, so I cannot give
you an exact account of it bot the longest will be five yeares and with
the next occasion I shall give you a full account. But I expect a letter
from you with the first occasion from Leith which I hope you will not be
forgettfull to doe. You shall direct it to my servitor Will. Abernethy in
Gordonen to be left at William Frippold in Dansigk; you may show William
Quhite that his brother is ded. I have not yet heard of Mrs Wilkinson’s
brother, I take very well with this countrey and have my health as well as
ever I had, blessed be God. So presenting
my love and respect to you my dear mother, brothers and
sisters and to all my dear friends in Scotland
your loving and dear
brother
FRANCIS
CRAW.
DANSIGK, 12th
Aug. 1671—according to the Scotch
Almonaks here in Dansigk they reckon ten dayes before us so that this day
is the 22nd with them.
My cosin Patrick Lauder got a
maister in Poiland in a town called Warso with one Hog (1) whose brother
came with us from Aberdeen with whom I sent up my aunt’s letter to my
cosine, he is bound bot for three yeares at the people where he quartered.
John Cormack went to Polland, you may
show Mrs Fleming her nephew has got a maister.
I gave her letter to William Frizell with whom he quartered. Remember me
kindly to all friends at Aberdeen and to all Mr Cockburns family, to my
dear friends at Gordon and to all
friends in general.
(Addr.) For Mr
Patrick Craw
of Broughhead [Ruch head]
to be left at Mr Andrew Burns
of Waristoun who lives in Aberdeen a little above Mr Wrights house
on the south side of the gate.
2.
I
have received ane letter from you with ane
from my dear unkle the 23d Sept. 74 being the first I received from you,
partly glad to hear of your welfare with the rest of all my dear friends,
likewise grieved to hear of my dear mothers sickness; I
pray God he would preserve her, you and
all friends from all evill inconveniences both of body and soul; likewise
being grieved to hear of my dear aunts death, bot inwardly rejoycing
whereas I hope she is enjoying the everlasting joy and happiness in
heaven, to which I pray God would accept of me, and you all whensoever he
may be pleased to call any of us out of this world. Dear brother I
likewise received another letter from you 2d of June 1675 being the fourth
that you had written to me, wherein you refer all affaires to the bearer
my old sworn brother Alex. Home. It grieves me that I have not yet heard
neither more or less of him . . . . in this country, to the which I should
never have advised him. It is a great wrong parents doeth to their
childring to keep them beside them till they come almost to mans yeares so
that then they are ashamed to serve for boys especially in this countrey,
where all must learn two or three several! languages which it is hard for
any come to age to attain to, likewise to serve five or six yeares, the
recompense being bot about 20 or 30 dollars with ane suit of new clothes,
the trading degenerating, the contreys daily impoverishing by reason of
the long continued wars in every place, likewise you show me that you with
my friends have thought fitt to send over my brother David this summer,
wherefor now I pray God would bless him with all spirituall blessings and
mercies, wishing he may be more fortunate than I have been. Dear brother,
my advice should rather have been to have put him to any tradesman, having
once attained to the knowledge of any trade can be always able anywhere to
earn his bread, as for to serve here, nowadays few there are that comes to
any fortune, the proof of which I have already given. Many before my
coming here having served ten or twelve yeares re-mains in ane poor
condition, ‘severalls becomming souldiers, so that for my own part
although I have now served out I know not what hand to turn me to, having
no stock to begin withall. To come home and visitt you being in as poor a
condition as I came from thence would be a shame, for throughout this
whole countrey of Sprussia there is bot slight service to be had except it
be in Dansigk or Queensbrig where I was not fortunate to get service and
for to have passed to Polland being disswaded by many (although the farr
richer countrey) because of their great travellings and alwayes being in
hazard of their lives, being almost savage people for the most part
papistes, so for the present contenting myselfe with a little rather than
have been in continuall jeopardy, so hopping you will accept of these
imperfect lines in good part, written in haste with this bearer Mr
Chiesley (?) who came over here one harvest with ane Hamilton as I suppose
out of the west countrey who has here ane unkle serving in the wars under
the Duke of Brandenburg, he is come to great preferment being the last 2
yeares in the wars against the Frenches (?); his lady lives not far from
this toun a Dutch woman (i.e. German) and Lutherian, his nephew
remains with her till his unkles home comming. I never had the occasion to
come into discourse with Mr Chieslle till a little before his departure,
who did tell me he was acquainted with Mr Burnett and had been several!
times at his house in Waristoun, so hopping you will not be forgettfull to
write to me with all occasions, recommending my love and best respects to
you my dear mother, brothers and sisters and to all good friends wishing
the love and peace of God Alimightie to be with you all I remain your
loving brother
FRANCIS CRAW.
To be left at Robt. Hamiltons,
merchant in Edinburgh at the head of the lukkin booths.
MEMEL, June 23, 1675.
3.
LOVING DEAR BROTHER
I received a letter from you the
bypast year which was written 22nd August 76. I wrott to you several!
times the last yeare bot as yet I have not gotten a line from you, which
grieves me not a little. I have gotten three letters from my brother
David, one the last yeare in which he showed me he was in good health bat
there was a great pest thereabouts in the countrey. I have written to him
severall times, he would gladly hear from you. I hope you doe write to me
and also to him with every occasion, although they seldom come to our
hands. My brother David is not with Mr Inglis in Warso as he informed me,
bat with a Nicolay Gordon, dwelling in Vingroba not far from Warso of
which I informed you last yeare. So if you doe write to him, direct it to
him serving to the aforesaid man. He is bound to serve him six yeares. I
am sorry that he is at such a distance from me and also that ever he
should have come over to these countreyes, for he could have learned any
honest trade perfectly in six yeares time, which had been far better than
to serve here five or six years in which time they get little knowledge of
merchandizing. Prentises for the most part in all these countreyes are
honestly entertained in meat and cloaths bot when their times run out they
must serve for a very little fie (!) with which they can scarcely uphold
themselves in decent cloths and other necessaries. I have the by bypast
week ingagded with my maister, again to serve him till this time 12 months
for the value of Ioo pound Scotch. I would have gladly visited you, my
dear mother and all other good friends this year, bot seeing I have
ingagded for another year I hope God willing to visit you next year, for
ought I know if I remain in life and health; dear brother, let me know of
your condition and if my dear mother be in life and health with my loving
sisters and how all other good friends are, the certaintie of which would
be exceeding comfortable and refreshing to me to know. I have as yet heard
nothing of my dear comrade Allex Home which grieves me exceedingly. I have
bot no letter from my tinkle bot that which I got with yours four yeares
ago as he was in Scotland. I have got no letter from you that was dated
the last or this year. Let me know with the first occasion how the[e]
amber beads are bought in Scotland whither they be bought by the pound
weight or by string wayes and whither great or small be in greatest
esteem, and whither yellow or reddish be bought. If you find no
acquaintance to write to me this year, I entreat you forget not to write
to me the next spring when you write homeQ). I entreat you to try and if
you can find a sure occasion to send your letter to the town of Johnstone
to one James Barclay whose son lives a long time in Queensbridge and with
whom I was acquainted, or you can send your letter to the town of Dundee
to one John Fairweather, a skipper, who comes every year to Queensbridge.
He is for the present here and has brought letters to all the Scotsmen
hereabouts who are for the most part from there or thereabout. I send this
to you with him, inclosed in my comrades letter, one Robt Rollo who serves
here in this town, who writes to the aforesaid Barclay desiring him to
send the same to you which I hope he will doe if it come safely to his
hand. I entreat you again to send your letter for me to him who would
assuredly send them to me with the Dundee ships, for they are the first
Scotch ships that comes every year to this countrey. Let me know if you
have heard of my brother William since he past for Holland and if he be
alive and in what town of Holland he is in. Here comes several Holland
ships to this town every year so I could have written to him, if I knew
where he was. Let me know what my cousin Lauder trades with. Show me also
if you or Reston (?) knows where Allex. Home may be, and also how it is
with all our good friends, the presbyterians, for I have heard they have
been exceedingly persecuted. Now I wish the good God to bless you, my dear
mother and sisters with all spirituall and temporall blessings. Thus
recommending my love and altec-don to you, my dear and loving mother and
sisters and all other good friends. Longing exceedingly to hear of all
your welfare.
I rest your loving brother
FRANCIS CRAW.
MEMELL, 20th
July 1678.
4.
LOVING BROTHER
Having the occasion of this bearer,
Mr Skeen, I lett you know that I am in good health wishing the like to you
and all yours. He told me some years ago, being in this countrey that he
did see you as he came through Aitoun (?) and that ye was very kind to
him, and have written to you also with another friend more particularly
and showed you that I did receive your letter with one from my sister
Margaret, which was very acceptable to me, especially to hear that the
Lord has blest you both with the bonds of matrimony. I wish you both again
much joy and happiness. Dear brother, I showed you also that I would
gladly have visited you this summer bot I was ingagded again with my
maister for one year before I gott your letter, bot God willing the next
year I intend to visit you if it
please the Lord to preserve me in life and health. I
would have written to you also with our next neighbour one Peter Morisone
hot I was not at home as he past. I was in Memell at the Markitt. I would
have written often to you this year for there hath been many Scotch ships
here this year, bot I have travelled this whole summer, by reason my
maister has been very sicke. I am also to pass for Tilsit within two weeks
where we will keep markitt the matter of three weekes. Brother, my desire
to you is, if it
be in your power, to help me with a little stock, the
matter of too dollars of money or moneys worth which you could send over
with Alexander Home if he come over the next year to this countrey or with
some other sure occasion, if ye cannot advance
it, labour to get so
much or more from some good friends upon interest. I could bring with me
some little partie of lintt or other commodities that sells best in
Scotland, whereof I hope you will inform me, so that if I arrive safely, I
should restore the same, so that I might bot winn my expenses. Thus
recommending you to the protection of almighty God I rest presenting my
love and service to your help and bedfellow though unacquainted, to all my
sisters and there beloved, to Alex. Home and his beloved and to all other
friends.
I remain your loving brother
FRANCIS CRAW.
QUEENSBRIDGE, 4th Sept. 1681.
PATRICK GORDON AND
STERCOVIUS THE POLE
Patrick Gordon, the Scottish
"factor" at Danzig during the reign of James
VI, prosecuted at
the instigation of the King a certain Stercovius, a Pole, who after a
visit to Scotland had published a libel against the Scottish nation,
ostensibly because the inhabitants of some Scotch towns had laughed at the
Polish national costume in which he paraded the streets. He was put to
death, incredible as it may appear, in 1611. Under this date we read in
the Chronicle of Rastenburg, a small town in Poland: "John Stercovius
circulates a libel against the whole Scottish nation; on account of which
he was executed by the sword after a public recantation." King James was
not satisfied with this. We read in the same chronicle, under the date
15th of February 1612, that, at the request of His Majesty the King of
Great Britain, an order was issued, to send all copies of the libel still
extant to the magistrates, well wrapped up and sealed, and punishment was
threatened in case of disobedience.
There was a long epilogue to this
sad story in settling the question, who was to pay for the expense
incurred by Gordon in this prosecution. The Scotch inhabitants of Danzig
were first thought of, but finally the costs were divided between the
chief boroughs of Scotland.
Gordon himself was accused
afterwards for neglecting his duties as consul. |
