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1. Kinneil and the Fort on Inchkeith: Carriden
Man, Keeper of Haven of Bo'ness, 1565: Saltmaking an Early
Industry: Regulations as to Salt Export—2. Protective Measures
Concerning Plague: The Mercat Cross, Kinneil: Opposition from
Linlithgow—3. The Royal Visit of 1617—4. Attempt to Evade
Customs: Restrictions Regarding Coal Exportation: The Troubles
of Roger Duncanson, Coalmaster—5. Threatened Invasion by
Spain—6. Plague Precautions of 1635: A Bellicose Gentleman—7.
Regulation of Coal Supply and Charges : An Echo of Commonwealth:
A Re-edified Kirk Seat—8. Extraordinary Rioting at Caldwall of
Grange—9. Peremptory Measures Anent Plague—10. Linlithgow
Magistrates in Trouble—11. The "Clenging" of Goods and Vessels :
Letters of Marque: The Old Roadways of Borrowstounness.
I.
The Privy
Council of Scotland was practically the executive body of the
Scots Parliament. It was a very excellent institution, as its
Acts and minute-books show. The scope of its business embraced
nearly every kind of question—civil, criminal, and
administrative. Particular attention was paid to measures to
preserve the peace, and to regulations for preventing the
country from being infested by plague and pestilence. The
registers of this important Council naturally contain much of
historical value concerning all parts of Scotland. There are
many things of very considerable local interest. Instead of
giving the local complaints and supplications in all their
quaint detail, we now refer to them in short narratives, and
only give the original phrasing when specially interesting.
On 22nd June, 1549,1 the Council Ordered Kinneil
(no word yet of Bo'ness), as one of "the borrowis on the sydes
of Forth and great tonnes and throuchfares that lyis within tua
myles to the coist of the samen," to send its quota of men to
assist in building a fort on Inchkeith for resisting the old
enemies of England. It appears the number of "pioneers," as they
were termed, needed to assist in the work was 400, and that they
were to get 2s. per day (Scots).
We find the first reference to Bo'ness on 19th
October, 1565.1 It
indicates the beginning of life at the port. On this date the
Council appointed Patrick Cruming of Carriddin "keeper of the
haven of Borrowistounness, and all the bounds betwixt the same
and Blakness for watching the passage of any of the enemies of
their Majesties." This
gentleman's name we have also noticed in connection with the
ownership of certain land in Wester Carriden. He is there
designed as "Patrick Crumbie in Carriden, first janitor to the
then Queen's Majesty."
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
both shores of the Firth of Forth were studded with salt pans,
and a big export trade was developed. Locally there are
references to Kinneil pans, or the Duke's pans, situated in the
vicinity of the present slaughter-house at Corbiehall; to the
Grange pans —the pans connected with Grange estate; to Bonhard
pans— connected apparently with the estate of Bonhard, but
situated on the Carriden shore near the present tollhouse; and
to Caris pans, evidently the pans on Carriden estate, situated a
few hundred yards to the east of the present Burnfoot.
The local and other saltmasters had for some time
prior to 13th October, 1573, exported
very largely. So much so that the lieges could only procure what
salt they desired for home use at a ridiculously high price.
They complained to the Council, and an order was pronounced
prohibiting the export of salt for three years. The panmasters
then complained that they could not live if the export were
altogether stopped.
and they offered to supply the natives with what
salt they required at 8s. the boll, if liberty was granted them
to export the rest. This was agreed to by the Council.
Fulfilment of the agreement was delayed by the panmasters of
Culross, Kinneil, and some other places. On this being reported,
the Lords ordained proclamation to these panmasters to be made
in the neighbouring towns of Stirling and Linlithgow, ordaining
them to sell, and the lieges to buy the said salt at not more
than 8s. the boll—the former to open their cellars and girnels
to that effect at once, otherwise their lordships would force
them, or, as it is put, "make open doors."
It would appear that the saltmasters resented the
order, and honoured it more in the breach than in the
observance, because on 20th September2 of
the next year, the Lords ordained that their proclamation be
again made, and among other places, at the Mercat Cross of
Borrowstounness.
The salt exportation question was again brought
up during the administration of Regent Morton. The panmasters of
Borrowstounness, Culross, and Fordell, on 10th January, 1574-5,3humbly
offered the Regent and Council that of every going pan in these
places three bolls of salt, Kirkcaldy measure, would be
delivered to such person as should have the commission of the
Council to receive the same at 10s. the boll under a penalty of
three bolls for each boll wanting. This was to continue till
25th February, and such salt was for the service of the country.
A few days later an order was pronounced directing the
panmasters of "Barrestounes" and others to compear before the
Council and receive their commissions for furnishing and
disposing of their salt.
II.
On 20th September, 1580, proclamation
was to be made at, among other places, "the Mercat Crose of
Kynneill," against the landing of the passengers of a
plague-infected ship which had arrived in the Firth of Forth.
We find evidence, on 29th September, 1601,5 of
what we think is the first of several very natural attempts on
the part of the royal burgh of Linlithgow to prevent the seaport
of Bo'ness from developing into a rival of the county town, and
particularly of its seaport of Blackness.
On this date a complaint was tabled by the
Provost, Bailies, Council, and community of Linlithgow against
the town of Borrowstounness. A Signature, the narrative states,
had been presented to His Majesty in name of James, Earl of
Arran,6and John Marquis of
Hamilton, his tutor, for erecting the town of Borrowstounness,
alleged by the complainers to be within a mile of the port of
Blackness, into a burgh of barony, and his Highness had
subscribed the same. The signature granted to Borrowstounness,
among other privileges, the liberties of "ane frie port of
packing, peilling, lossing, laidning, and selling of staple
wairis, sic as skynis, hydis, woll, wyne, wax, and all uther
kynd of merchandice and wairis usit to be sould and bocht within
any burgh Regale within this realm, with all customes and
ankerages belonging to a port and heaven of a frie burgh." This,
Linlithgow pleaded, was to the ''grite wrak and decay of thair
burgh end heaven (Blackness) quhilk is biggit and repairit be
thame for saiftie of schipis and boittis upoun thair grit
expensses." The provost and bailies of Linlithgow appeared
personally, and the signature was produced. The lords ordained
it to be expede through the Register and Seals till the pursuers
be warned and heard to the contrary.
What resulted does not appear to be recorded.
Apparently Borrowstounness was made a port, notwithstanding the
protest, for we find that on 27th April, 1602, the Privy Council
discharged it from being a port along with numerous other places
because of the smuggling that went on.
The year 1617 was a busy and exciting one for the
Privy Council. That year James VI. visited Scotland for the
first time after leaving to ascend the throne of England in
1603. Nowadays, with railways, royal trains, and motor cars, a
royal tour in Scotland causes little or no upheaval in the daily
round of the people. In these days it was the very opposite. The
visit took place in June, and comprised a fortnight's hunting in
the north of Scotland, chiefly in the Kingdom of Fife, a stay of
a week or two at Holyrood, and among other places visits to
Stirling, Perth, and St. Andrews. We are concerned here only
with the journey from Holyrood to Stirling. The chief work of
the Privy Council was that of making arrangements for the
carriage of His Majesty's luggage, including a great quantity of
silver plate for the use of His Majesty during his stay in
Scotland. Meeting after meeting was held, and the reports of
these detail the preparations in the different sheriffdoms
concerned justices also appointed two general constables for the
whole sheriffdom, "quho sal be answerable to the Maister of the
cariage that the constablis in the particular parrocheis
foirsaidis sail haif the horsse of the parrocheis in reddynes at
the tymes and placeis to be appointed."
The special constables and number of horses from
our district are referred to thus—"That is to say, in the
parrochynnis of Kynneill and Carribdin quhair Richard Bryce,
Officiair of Kynneill; James Wilsoun, Officiair in Carribdin,
David Galbraith, in Kynneill; and Johnne Hendersoun, in Murehous,
ar Constablis, fourescoir horsse."
A part of the luggage was to be lifted at "Haliruidhous"
upon Saturday, 28th June, and to be carried from there to
Stirling, and the remainder was to be taken upon Monday, the
last day of June. The parishes were all to obey their special
constables; and they in turn were to answer and obey the two
general constables for the whole shire. The parishes and
constables jointly were directed to "caus the nomber of horsse
abone written, sufficientlie providit with all furnitour
necessair fer cariage, to be send in dew and laughfull tyme the
saidis dayis about the brek of daye to the pallice of
Haliruidhous and thair to lift his Majestie's cariage and to
carye the same thairfra to the said burgh of Striviling."
Payment was to be made to the owners of the
horses; but if any failed to appear as appointed, there was to
be a fine of ''sax pundis for everie horsse that salbe absent,
and warding of the ownaris for the space of ane month."
Particulars of the great receptions accorded the
King on this occasion in Leith, Edinburgh, and elsewhere, with
copies of the speeches and poems delivered will be found in the
Edinburgh volume of 1618 called "The Muses Welcome" William
Drummond, of Hawthornden, wrote one of the poems for the
occasion in ryhvming heroics" entitled "Forth Feasting: A
panegyricke to the King." It is put first in the volume among
all the literary relics of the King's visit. Subjoined are a few
of the opening lines. The river Forth is supposed to be speaking
them—
Anne, Duchess of Hamilton. {Photographed
by permission from a painting in Hamilton Palace.)
What blustering noise now interrupts my sleep?
What echoing shouts thus cleave my crystal deep,
And call me hence from out my watery Court?
What melody, what sounds of joy and sport,
Be these here hailed from every neighbor Spring?
With what wild rumours all the mountains ring,
Which in unusual pomp on tiptoes stand,
And full of wonder overlook the land?
Whence come these glittering throngs, these meteors bright,
These golden people set unto my sight?
It should be noted in connection with this Royal
visit that James, second Marquis of Hamilton, and proprietor and
superior of Kinneil and Bo'ness, took a prominent part in it,
being in attendance on the King the whole time. He was then a
young man, and held in high esteem by his Sovereign. On the
King's southward journey the Marquis entertained him for two
days at Hamilton Palace.
IY.
On 14th December, 1620, the
Council disposed of complaint at the instance of the King's
Advocate against Gabriel Rankine, younger, John Johnstoun,
William Damahoy, and Gilbert Lothiane, all merchant burgesses of
Edinburgh. They were charged with having by themselves or their
factors packed a great quantity of merchant gear in trunks and
coffers at a port in Flanders. They there found a Flemish ship
coming to this country for coals, and resolved " to mak thair
advantage of that occasiouiie and to send hame thair guidis in
the said ship thinking thairby that trunkis, kistis, and
cofferis wald be concealed and that they would releive
thamselffis of his Majesteis Customes." The goods were taken on
board, and on the ship arriving at "Barristounnes" the
"searchers" and "customaris" in attendance there desired the
merchants to make a lawful entry of their gear and to open their
trunks and coffers in order that the goods "might have been
sighted and some course and ordour tane for the assureance of
his Majesteis customes." The defenders, however, not only
refused to do so, but quietly removed their cargo, and so
defrauded His Majesty of his customs. Gabriel and Gilbert
appeared personally before the Council, and the former was found
guilty and ordered into the ward in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh.
Gilbert was assoilzied on his own oath of verity, and the two
absent defenders were denounced rebels.
A proclamation was made by the Council on 29th
November, 1621,8 for
remedy of the sufferings of the lieges owing to the extreme
scarcity of coal or other fuel, and ordained that the owners of
coal-heughs on both sides of the water of Forth should let the
lieges be first served with coal expeditiously and at the old
prices before the foreign dealers frequenting the Forth for coal
should be served therewith. Notwithstanding this, we find that
on 12th February, 1622, they had before them the complaint of
George Mairtyne, George Harper, John Law, James Gib, elder, and
David Hirrene, all of Borrowstounness, against Roger Duncanson,
tacksman and owner of the coal and coal-heugh of Borrowstounness,
for having ignored the above proclamation. They narrated that,
having gone to Duncanson, " and earnestly desired him to sell
them their lading of coals at the ordinary price and measure, he
not only wrongouslie refusit to do the same and preferrit
strangeris unto thame, but he highted the pryce of his coillis
ane mark upoun the chalder and hes maid ane grite chang and
alteratioun in his measure diminishing the same verrie far."
Patrick Glen (not before named) appearing personally for himself
and the other pursuers, and the defender being also present, the
lords found the complaint not sufficiently proved and assoilzied
the defender.
On 27th February, 1623, the
same Roger Duncanson, designed merchant-burgess of Edinburgh,
complained that on 24th October last, as
he was riding from Leith to Bo'ness alone and unarmed, about the
business of his coal-heughs, John
Houston followed him from Leith on horseback,
and having overtaken him at Ecclymure, drew his whinger to kill
him. Duncanson took the whinger from him, and then Houston
struck him with his "nieve" and a stick. Houston swore he did
nothing of the kind, and was acquitted.
Again we find a petiton by Roger Duncanson, in
which he narrates that he for many years at great expense
erected and maintained works for keeping out the water, in so
much that by the daily attention required the revenue had never
exceeded the outlay. That when at last he hoped to have found
some profit, David Kerse and Archibald Liddell " pierced a
strong wall and bulwork " he had erected for keeping out the
water, which thus gaining entrance had drowned nine of the best
heads of the heugh. For long he could make no discovery of those
who did the mischief. In course of time, however, information
came out, and Kerse, fearing lest one Mungo Adie would give
evidence against him, made an attack upon him (Adie) with a
whinger in the petitioner's chamber "on a Sabbath night at ten
o'clock two days ago, and has since lain in wait for him with a
sword." He craved the citation of Kerse and Liddell, and this
was ordered to be done. There is no record of the result of the
complaint.
V .
On 17th June, 1623,11 the
Council desired proclamation to be made at the Mercat Cross of
Borrowstounness •against throwing ballast into the Forth above
Queensferry indiscriminately. Eight years later proclamation was
again ordered to be made at, among other places, "the mercat
croce of Borowstounnesse" to the same effect.
A minute of date 1st April, 1625,12 runs—"It
has pleasit God to visite the toune of Borrowstounes with some
little infection of the contagious seeknes of the pest, whilk
(in respect of the confused multitude of poore people within the
same) may haif some forder growth and progress" Therefore Sir
John Hamilton, of Grange, and Mr. Alexander Hamilton, of
Kinglass, are appointed special justices within the said town
and parishes of Kinneil and Carriden to take measures to prevent
its spreading. They are empowered to hold Courts and punish
transgressors of their Acts.
It was reported to the Council on 4th October,
1625,13 that
a Dunkirk barque, pretending to be a Hollander come for coals,
was then lying about Caribden, and had been along the whole
coast of the Forth on both sides plumbing the water. Commission
was therefore given to Sir John Hamilton, of Grange, and
Alexander Bruce to seize the ship and send the skipper to
Edinburgh for examination.
On 11th July, 1626, owing
to a threatened invasion by Spain, the burghs on the Firth,
including Borrowstounness, were ordered to send commissioners to
confer with the Council and to say what they were prepared to do
in the manning of a navy for defence of the coasts. The
commissioners compeared on 25th July, and stated that they could
not do anything. Owing to the long peace the best of their ships
were either sold or absent on voyages, nothing but small,
unarmed barques remaining. As for the sailors, the most of them
belonged to Fife and were at the fishing in the Isles. They
would not return till September. In connection with the same
matter the bailies of Bo'ness were, on 23rd August,15ordered
to send six mariners out of this town towards the Scottish
contingent for H.M. Navy. By 20th September they
had not done so, and the Council ordered a charge of horning to
be directed against them to do it.
The Council had news, on 14th November, 1626,17 of
a "Flemis" ship in Leith harbour which was said to have
contained implements for making counterfeit coin. These, it was
reported, had now been transferred to another " Flemis " ship
lying about Caribden with the view to being taken out of the
kingdom. Order was then given to H.M. Customs at Caribden to
board that ship and make search for these implements, and if
found to send them to the Council.
In the report afterwards18 made
the ship was given out to be a Holland ship driven back by
contrary winds. Search had been duly carried out, but nothing
found.
Relative to another royal visit to Linlithgow and
Stirling —that of Charles I. in 1633—we find the Council as
usual made all arrangements for the conveyance of His Majesty's
baggage. These were similar to those made in 1617, only now we
find "carts and wains" stipulated for in addition to horses. The
local order ran—"For the Parishes of Kinneil and Caribden, James
Gib, in Kinneill Kers, Richard Bryce, officer of Kinneill, and
Thomas Napier, officer of Caribdin ar appointed Constablis and
ar to provide from the inhabitants eighty horses with carts and
wains."
VI.
The low countries being infected with the plague,
the Council, on 29th September, 1635,19 proceeded
to take means for preventing ships from thence entering Scottish
ports till they were known to be clean. The committee appointed
by the Council to see their orders carried out in
Borrowstounness and Caribden were Sir John Hamilton of Grange,
James Hamilton, his eldest son, Walter Cornwall of Bonhard,
William Drummond of Rickartoun, Thomas Dalyell of Binns, Mr.
Alexander Hamilton of Kinglass, John Hamilton, Chamberlain of
Kinneil, the Provost and Bailies of Linlithgow, and Sir John
Hamilton, Younger of Bargaine.
Some Holland ships having gone up the Firth, on
4th November, towards
Caribden to discharge their cargoes and get coals, the Lords
ordain that the goods in the ship of which George Henderson is
skipper and those in the other Flemish ships shall be returned
therein to the low countries. They, however, allowed John Maill
and his wife and all other native passengers to come ashore and
bring their kists and clothes with them, where they are to be 4
closed up and sett apart in loodges to abide there tryall for
the space of "sax weeks." The Lords further directed the
magistrates of Linlithgow and Borrowstounness to provide lodges
for them, and '' to see thame handle thair kists and cloathes
and to be cleanged." The said passengers were not to violate the
orders of the magistrates on pain of death. Coals were to be
supplied to the ships, but the carriers to the ships' sides were
not to enter the ships.
On 12th November, 1635,21 Alexander
Downie, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, explained to the Council
he had some tarred tackling in a ship of Rotterdam, lying at
Borrowstoune, to which the Council had given permission to
receive coals. Downie urged the tackling was not a thing likely
to carry infection, and craved delivery of it. The Lords
remitted the matter to the discretion of the local
Commissioners.
Report was made on 7th June, 1636,22 concerning
one Alexander Park, merchant burgess of Linlithgow. He five
weeks before had loaded a ship with grain at Rotterdam which
eight days ago had arrived at Borrowstounness. The ship was free
from sickness, but the Commissioners refused to allow the grain
to be unloaded. It was heating, and would soon spoil, and Park
supplicated the Council's permission to land it. The Lords
permitted the ship's company and such workmen as the magistrates
of Linlithgow should think fit to discharge the cargo and store
the grain in some lofts and other convenient places at Blackness
or Caribdin to preserve it from spoiling. The ship's company and
workmen were to remain apart by themselves with the grain till
such time as the magistrates should prescribe their trial.
John Gordon of Innermerkie was charged, on 8th
September, to "betake
himself" to prison at Blackness. It was complained of him that
he frequented public places openly, and in particular it was
said "he repairs publicly to Borrowstounness market and fairs
wearing his hagbut and pistols."
On 19th April, 1642,24Thomas
Mure, merchant in Edinburgh, complained that "certain goods and
spicery" with iron ware which he had shipped at Amsterdam in
Robert Mitchell's ship of Bo'ness had been with said ship put
under arrest, and he craved delivery. The Lords directed
delivery to be given on his finding caution to the arresters.
VII.
On 19th October, 1643,25 a
committee was appointed for visiting the whole coal-heughs of
Linlithgowshire to determine the amount to be supplied by each
for the use of the shire. Sir William Dick of Braid declared his
willingness to supply from the coal of Caribdin his just
proportion. He was then lessee of the coalfield.
General complaint made, on 9th November, by
two burghs against the coalmasters for exporting their coal,
insufficiently supplying the country, and keeping the price too
high. Charge was given the coalmasters to answer. The Lords
fixed the prices at which the coal was to be sold at the
different places, "and the chalder of coals at Caribdin, Grange,
Bonhard, and Borrowstoun, quhilk is the double of Alloway
measure to be sold at six pounds, and the land laid, being ane
measure of ane water boll at six shillings." (The Alloa chalder
is £3. Sir George Preston of Valliefield's measure is more than
double that of Bo'ness, and four and a half times that of Alloa,
and he is to charge £12 the chalder.)
Oliver Cromwell's chief agent in Scotland was
General Monk. He and some of his colleagues were rewarded, or
rewarded themselves, with the lands of several of those nobles
whose estates the Protector had been pleased to declare
forfeited to the Commonwealth. An echo of this period was heard
on 16th February, 1665, when
the Duke of Hamilton presented to the Council a report on behalf
of the Commissioners who had some time previously been appointed
"to consider the claims of such persons as were forfeited by the
late usurpers." They had considered, among others, the claims
made by Duchess Anne and himself for relief from certain
payments of interest and annual rents which were demanded from
them by several persons, but which, owing to the seizure of
their estates for eight years in the time of the Commonwealth
(from which estates these sums were due), they did not consider
they should be called upon to pay. The Commissioners agreed with
them, and reported accordingly. The Duke and Duchess were heavy
sufferers in that time, and, among others, Kinneil and its
belongings, coal, salt, &c., were seized by General Monk, who
would not relinquish them until he got payment therefor. The
whole furniture of Kinneil House was carried off by the English.
The Council, on 16th January, 1662,28 had
to deal with a night attack at Kinneil Church. That day Sir John
Fletcher, Knight, His Majesty's Advocate, and Mr. William
Crauford, portioner of Kinneill, complained against David
Murray, farmer in Borrowstoun; David Murray, younger, his son;
James Hardy, maltman, there; George Mitchell, smith, there;
George Mitchell, younger, his son, there; Archibald Gib, farmer,
there; Alexander Hardy, younger, farmer, there; James Brown,
coalier, there; James Hardy, weaver in Borrowstoun; and Janet
Aitkinheid, there. Crauford and his predecessors had been in
peaceful possession of a seat in the Parish Church of Kinneil
past all memory of man. The complaint narrates that the seat had
lately been "re-edified " by him, and that he had continued to
possess same until the above defenders " having casten off all
fear of God and reverence and respect to His Majesty's authority
and laws on . . .
January instant entered the said kirk in a
violent and tumultuarie maner under silence and cloud of night,
being armed with swords, staffes, axes, and such lyke weapons,
resolving to have the lyfe of any person that should offer to
resist them, and most violentlie and unwarrantablie with axes
and other instruments of purpose prepared, destroyed and cutted
the said dask all in pieces."
Parties being cited, and the complainer
compearing, but none of the defenders, the Lords ordained the
latter to be put to the horn and escheated.
VIII.
On 8th April, 1668, the
Lords had to deal with two very serious complaints.
The complainers were Dame Christian Forrester,
Lady Grange, widow of Sir James Hamilton of Grange, and Mr. John
Wauch, minister of Borrestounnesse, "now her spouse." Mr. Wauch
was the first minister of Bo'ness after it was disjoined from
Kinneil. Evidently he had been a widower, with a family, when he
espoused Lady Grange. The two, at any rate, conceived a vigorous
destructive policy for " redding things up " at the Caldwall.
The complaint states that the predecessors and authors of the
complainers had beyond the memory of man been in possession of
the lands and barony of Grange, coal heughs thereof, sinks,
watergangs, and levels of the same, and particularly "of ane
levell wrought diverse years ago by Sir George and Elexander
Bruces, tacksmen of the coall of Grange, and the Lairds of
Grange runing throw that pairt of the said lands called the
Caldwall." And that on a certain recent date James Riddell,
merchant, indweller in Leith, and present tacksman of the coal
works of Kinglassie, "without any warrand or order of law
accompanyed with Hendrie Measson, his oversman; Thomas Measson,
William Measson, Alexander Whyt, Thomas Brown, Thomas Cairns,
Arthur Cairns, Alexander Cairns, and Andrew Patoun, coal-heughers;
Alexander Henderson, his coall grieve; John Harvie, cairter;
William Ker in the Nesse, and diverse others, their complices,
all boddin and provydit with spades, shovels, and other
materialls, did in ane tumultuary maner come to the ground of
the said lands of Grange called the Caldwall, and by force and
violence entered to the digging and casting up of the said
levell; off which ryott and oppression the said Lady Grange
haveing gotten notice she accompanied with some few servants,
haveing in ane peaceable maner gone to the place and offered to
make interruption, the fornamed persons did most cruelly assault
them and beat and stroak some of her servants to the effusion of
ther blood and perill and hazard of ther lyves," and for which
they craved the offenders ought to be punished.
There was a counter complaint at the instance of
the said James Riddell, who is designed as merchant in Leith,
and heritable proprietor of the lands, coal, and saltworks of
Kinglassie, which gives another version of the disturbance. He
and his authors since the year 1638 had been in peaceable
possession of "ane levell and water passage throw the lands of
Grange frae Munsholl coall to the sea, conform to ane right and
disposition made by umquhile Sir James Hamiltoun of Grange, with
consent of Dame Christian Forrester, his spous, and Alexander
Bruce of Alva, to John Hamiltoun of Kinglassie, his author,
dated the 8th of April, 1638, off wh. water course k level the
said John Hamiltoun, his author, continued in peaceable
possession untill the year 1650; that the said coall works were
destroyed, ruined, and drowned by the English; att which tyme
he, being unable of himself to recover the saids coall works,
did engadge the said complainer to erect & sett up the same
agayn; & the said compleaner, out of affection to the mantinance
of trade, haveing erected agayne the said coall works with great
trouble & in draneing of water, setting doune of sinks, running
of levells & water courses maintaining the wayes & passages &
enjynes belonging thereto, expended above the soume of
fourescore thousand merkes; & conforme to the forsaid
disposition, haveing entered to <fe continued in possession of
the forsaid levell thei twelve years past being the only mean
wherby the said coall may be dryed & made profitable without
stop or interruption, till about Lambus last Mr. Johne Wauch,
present spouse to the said Dame Christian Forrester, Lady
Grange, out of meer malice and envye, without any warrand or
order of law, did att his owne hand stop & dame up the said
levell & water course. Against which violence the said
compleaner then protested & took instruments. And now in the
spring season the said compleaner, with some of his servants, in
a peaceable maner being goeing about the clearing of the said
water passage, without fear of any hazard or prejudice, true it
is that upon the twentie-eight of March last bypast the persons
underwritten, viz., the said Dame Christian Forrester, Sara
Wauch, in Grange Place; Rachel! Wauch, Issobell Wauch, Margaret
Baillie, Henrieta Baillie, Andrew Allan, in Grangepans; Johne
Johnson, bellman; Johne Love, officer; Robert Adam, in Kinneill;
Johne Pollock, coal hewer to Grange; Thomas Davie, James Cairns,
Robert Wilson, Johne Browne, the barne; James Robinson and John
Mutter, coal hewers, there; Robert Mitchell, footman to Mr. John
Wauch; Matthew Riddock, William Dishington, James Anderson,
Alexander Cowie, Johne Boyd and Johne Patoun, salters; Isobell
Wyllie, Christian Gibson, wyf to Johne Campble; Margaret
Drysdaill, Agnes Dick, coall bearers; Margaret Ritchie, salt
bearer; Robert Baillie, Salter; Catherin Miller, wyf to Edward
Hodg, coall bearer; and Agnas Davie, wyf to John Porteous, of
the specially causing, sending, hunding out, and direction of
the said Mr. John Wauch, all boddin in fear of wear, airmed with
swords, staffs, stones, battons, and other weapons invasive, did
in ane violent and hostile manner fall upon the said compleaner
(Riddell) and his servants, and gave them many bauch and blae
stroaks to the perill and hazard of thir lyves and effusion of
their blood in great quantity, by which rable and multitud of
wicked and insolent persons they were necessitate to flee for
safetie, who, notwithstanding of the violence done to the saids
compleaners, a great multitud of them, and especially fyve or
sex woman of the said Mr. Johne Wauch, his family, did persew
them most cruely and unchristianly, and trew att them above the
number of fyve hundreth stones to the great hazard of ther lyves,
and by God's providence very narrowlie escaped, as instruments
taken upon the civill behaviour and cariage of the said
compleaner and his servants and of the forsaid insolence and
violence produced bears. By which bangstry and oppression not
only is the said compleaner in hazard to be ruined in his
private fortune and estate, the publick trade and commerce
greatlie prejudged, and the customs bullion and other publick
dueties impaired, bot above the number of fyve hundreth poor
persons, who, these twelve years bypast have had ther only
lyvlihead by the saids works, are in hazard to be starved and
famished. Wherefor in all justice, equity, and reason the said
Mr. Johne Wauch ought not onlie be decerned to make and keep
open the said levell in all tyme comeing to the effect that the
said compleaner may have the use and benefite thereof for
draining of his saids coallworks as he has formerlie been in
possession conforme to his just rights, and to make payment to
him of the damage sustained by him throw the said oppression,
bot otherwayes exemplary punished in his person and goods to the
terror of others to committ and doe the lyke in tyme comeing."
Charge having been given to both parties, and both compearing
personally, the Lords, having heard the complaints and answers,
granted commission to the Earls of Linlithgow and Kincairdin, "
with thair first conveiniency to visite the levell in debate and
to hear both parties thereanent; and, if they find cause, with
power to examine witnesses upon oath for clearing the whole
mater lybelled, and to endeavour to agree the pairties, or
otherwayes to report the next Councill day."
The Commissioners had presumably managed to
"agree the pairties," for the minutes contain no further
reference to the matter.
IX.
The plague raged with so great virulence in
Holland, and the trade of this kingdom with that country was so
great that the Council had once more to take the strictest
precautions by the issue of peremptory orders and proclamations
to prevent the disease being carried to this country. The
following entries give us some idea of how these measures were
carried out locally.
On 22nd December, 1663,30 the
Lords were informed that, notwithstanding their orders
prohibiting ships from Holland entering any of the harbours or
ports of Scotland until they had lain in quarantine for forty
days, several ships, after being debarred from entering the
harbours of Queensferry and Borrowstounness, had landed at
Grange and other places betwixt the said two ports to the
endangering of the country. Therefore the Lords gave "warrand,
power, and command to the magistrattes of Linlithgow and
Queensferrie, and to my Lord Duke Hamilton and his baylie of
Kinneil, or any of them, to debar and stop the entry of all
shipes, or landing of persons and goods from Holland at any
place betwixt the saids two ports of Queensferrie and
Borrowstounnesse."
On 2nd February, 1664, they
considered a petition byAndro Burnsyd, John Dumore, and Robert
Allan, shipmasters in Borrowstounness; Thomas Fleming, Edward
Hodge, and Andro Duncan, shipmasters in Grangpannes, craving for
a relaxation of the prohibition. In support they stated that
upon information from Sir William Davidson, Conservatour in
Holland, and Mr. John Hog, Minister at Rotterdam, together with
his elders, the plague was much arrested in Amsterdam, and that
there was no infection for the present in Rotterdam. The Lords
in this case ordained that the quarantine should only be "Threttie
dayes after they come to the porte." The magistrates of
Linlithgow and Queensferry and the Duke of Hamilton's bailie
were to see the quarantine punctually observed " by making of
the said shipmasters and their company keip themselves within
ship boord in the road, setting of watches for that purpose, and
preser ving of such other orders as they should think
expedient."
The Lords gave warrant and command on 16th
February, 1664,32 to
the magistrates of Queensferry, the Laird of Grange, and the
Duke's bailie, or any of them, to arrest several Dutch skippers,
whose names are not given, for refusing obedience to the orders,
and, as the complaint asserts, had "landed at Cuff about Pannes,
and doe at their pleasure goe abroad in severall places of the
countrey." When seized they were to be "Shutt up and keipt close
" until the forty days' quarantine expired, "and in the meantyme
the saills and roes to be taken from their mastes."
On 23rd February, 1664,33 Major
Robert Hamilton, the Duke's bailie, reported that John Umphra
(Humphrey), skipper in Borrowstounness, had asked permission to
store his goods in cellars till the quarantine expired, and as
he (the bailie) could not comply until he had warrant for so
doing from the Council he craved accordingly. The Major was
authorised to allow the skipper "to liver his goods and put them
in sellars by themselves till the expiry of the time of trial,"
and the Earl of Linlithgow was recommended to see this done.
Information was supplied the Council on 14th
July, 1664,34that two Dutch
ships and other two ships, one belonging to one Duncan and the
other to one Weightman, were loading goods contrary to the
orders prescribed by the Acts of Council, "and doe most
contumaciously refuse to be hindered or stopped by those having
power from the Councill." The Council therefore commanded and
ordained the ships to go out of the harbour and port of
Borrowstounness within forty-eight hours, after intimation, "and
if they disobey and remove not within the said space the lords
doe give warrand and command to Major Hamilton, the Lord Duke
Hamiltounnes baylie, to fyre and burn the saids shipes."
The Lords were also informed that same day that
five ships had lately arrived at Grangepans or Borrowstounness,
and were there loading contrary to the orders of Council. These
were also commanded and ordained "to goe to sea and remove from
these places within twenty-four hours after intimation; and in
case they doe not give obedience, the said lords gives warrant
and command to the Lord Duke Hamiltoun's baylie to sett fyre to
the shipes and burn them."
X
The Lords of the Privy Council, on 17th August,
1664,35ordained that "Gavin
Marshall, merchand in Linlithgow, be sett at liberty out of the
Tolbuith of Borrowstounnesse, and recommended Major Hamiltoun,
the Lord Duke Hamiltoune's baylie, to take sufficient caution
for the appearance of the said Gavin before the Councill upon
Tuesday nixt under the pains of ane hundredth lib. stg." A
feasible explanation of the cause of Marshall's imprisonment is
furnished at the sederunt of the Council a fortnight later—6th
September36—when Robert
Mill, bailie of Linlithgow, Alexander Mill, and Gavin Marshall,
bailies there, and Hamiltoun of Grange, were all summoned to
appear to answer for loading a Dutch ship with coal in
contravention of the Council's order. These persons appeared,
also Major Robert Hamiltoun, bailie of Kinneil, to whom the
execution of the orders of the Council were entrusted. The Lords
found that the said Alexander and Robert Mills and Gavin
Marshall had transgressed, as they well knew, of the orders of
the Council. They, therefore, ordained them to enter the
Tolbooth of Edinburgh as prisoners during their Lordships'
pleasure, and to pay 200 merks to the said Major Hamiltoun for
the charges and expense he had been put to in the execution of
the Council's orders. The contravention in this case was all the
more flagrant and inexcusable inasmuch as the bailies of
Linlithgow were, as we have seen, among the special
Commissioners appointed by the Council to see that their orders
for the prevention of the plague were duly carried out.
On 3rd November, 1664,37 Major
Robert Hamilton petitioned the Council for guidance "anent thrie
severall ships lately come from Holland & Zealand, and driven in
upon the port of Borrowstounesse by the stresse of weather." A
petition, in name of the three skippers, George Cassills,
Alexander Drysdale, and Thomas Knox, and also in name of several
merchants and the owners thereof, "desiring a warrant for coming
ashore and livering the goods in the said ships," seems also to
have been presented at the same time. The Council remitted this
to the Earl of Linlithgow, Lord Bellenden, Lord Lie, and Sir
Robert Murray, with power to them or any two of them to call the
parties interested before them, "and to hear if they can offer
any proposalls anent the livering of the saids shipes and
landing of the persons therein, which may secure the country
from danger, and to make report to the Councill."
A week after the report of above special
committee was given in as follows:—"As to the said Geo. Cassills'
ship, she may be allowed to land, and both the persons and goods
may be putt in Sir Walter Seatoun's houses and girnells in
Borrowstounness, or such houses in the said place as he shall
appoint, where they may be keipt through the space prescryved by
the Councill's Act by a guard of souldiers consisting of such a
number as the Lord Commissioner His Grace shall appoint; and in
the meantime both the ship and goods may be clenged (cleansed)
by clengers, and the magistrates of Edinburgh may appoint some
honest man to sie that the said clengers doe their duety; and as
to the charges of keiping of the guard and clenging of the ship
it is our opinion that the same be proportioned betwixt the
merchands and skippers and owners, at the sight of Sir Walter
Seatoun and the Dean of Guild of Edinburgh, and that the
merchands pay the whole charges for clenging of the goods. And,
as for the two ships belonging to Alexr. Drysdale and Thomas
Knox, it is our opinion that the men may come ashore and be kept
through the ordinar tyme in such houses as Ma jour Hamilton
shall provyd for them by a guard of souldiers to be maintained
upon the charges of the merchands, skippers, and owners, which
charges may be proportioned in maner above sett down.
"As for the goods—being only iron and barrells of
ayle— the same may be clenged by being pott in the sea for the
space of thrie tydes, which Ma jour Hamilton may be appointed to
sie done accordingly."
The Council approved of this report, and ordained
that the suggestions made therein be carried out, with this
addition, that such of the goods as could not be cleansed, be
burned and destroyed; and that after the cleansing of the goods
the whole persons on board—passengers and others—be kept till
they abide the ordinary trial or quarantine of forty days.
Further, the Council made another remit to the Reporting
Committee, this time " to call before them the magistrates of
Edinburgh, and advise them seriously to have great care in
cleansing the said goods."
XI.
On 22nd December, 1664,38 Robert
Allan, skipper in Borrowstounness, supplicated the Council, and
explained that he had lately come from Rotterdam "in ane small
heuker belonging to Thomas Burnet, in Aberdeen, wherewith there
is ane Glasgow merchand only, ane towmaker, with his wyfe and
chyld and some merchand goods, such as iron, meather, and the
lyk whereof there can be no hazard of infection, neither is
there any suspition at Rotterdam, the pestilence there being, by
the mercy of God, nearly wholly gone." He therefore desired
warrant to set the passengers and goods ashore. The Lords
granted same, Major Hamilton, as usual, to provide houses for
the goods and persons, and see the goods cleansed, and set
guards at the petitioners' expense.
The same year we find the Council ordering the
Earl of Linlithgow to levy men to meet the wants of the Royal
Navy— "Six men out of Cuffaboutpannes and Grange, and
thirty-four men out of Borrowstounness."
The Lords considered supplication, on 7th
February, 1665,39by James
Peacock, skipper of the good ship called the "Love of Enster";
Robert Craufurd, merchant of Linlithgow, and the rest of the
merchants, owners of the goods in the said ship. The petition
explained that on 15th December last the said James Peacock
"sett sail from Rotterdam, and throw ane great tempest of storm
was constrained to goe in to Skaerburgh, in England, where he
continued the space of thrie weikes, or thairby, not having the
occasion or opportunity of fair wind and weather. Thereafter he
removed, and upon the eleventh of January last he arryved at
Borrowstounnesse, where the ship hath ever since lyen, not
entered or disloadened be reason of ane late proclamation." The
petitioners craved that, as the ship was altogether free from
any hazard of infection, she might be permitted to enter and
unload. The Lords granted licence to unload the vessel, and to
the Collector of Custom or his deputes to receive an entry
thereof and goods therein.
About same date Thomas Burnett, merchant of
Aberdeen, and Robert Allan, skipper, explained that they had
lately come to the port of Borrowstounness about their lawful
affairs with a little vessel belonging to them. They further
explained that it was their intention " to goe back to Aberdeen
and some other necessar places," but that they were detained by
Major Hamiltoun upon pretext of the late Act of Council, even
although they had offered caution conform to the tenor of the
said Act. Liberty was craved to sail. It was granted— Hamilton
to see that sufficient caution was received.
On 12th July, 1666,40 the
Council directed Commissions for "privat men of warr " against
the French King, King of Denmark, and States of the United
Provinces in favour of Captain Jon Black, of the "Thistle";
Captain Alexander Allan,
of the "Christian," of Borrowstounness; and
Captain Jon Brown, of the "Lamb."
Blackness Castle.
(From a pen and ink sketch by the late John
Paris, Bo'ness, taken from an old print of the Castle looking
west.)
The following interesting supplication concerning
the old roadways of Borrowstounness was submitted to a meeting
of the Privy Council on 19th November, 1668,41 by
Robert Hamilton, chamberlain to William and Anna, Duke and
Duchess of Hamilton, at Kinneil:—"There is within the lands and
barony of Kinneill a high common way and passage from
Borrowstounes towards Linlithgow and Borrowstoune, and those
wayes, southward; and from Borrowstounes to Kinneill, westward,
which of necessitie must be calsayed for the ease and
accommodation of horse and others comeing and goeing there
throw, otherwayes the samen, being so deep, will become
altogether impassible, wh. will heavilie tend to the hurt and
prejudice of the inhabitants within the said lands and baronie."
Crave was made for the imposition of a custom or tax, "seing
that the calsayeing of the said highwayes will be ane
considerable expense and charge wh. the inhabitants of the said
baronie are not able to undergoe and bear altogether." The
Lords, on consideration thereof, granted warrant to the
petitioner, and those having commission from him, "to exact for
each loadned horse, each head of cattle, and everie ten sheip
four pennies, and for everie loadned cairt eight pennies Scots
money wh. shall happen to pass or repass from Borrowstounes to
Borrowstoun, Kinneill, or Linlithgow, the wayes forsaids, and
that during the space of fyve yeirs following the date of this
presents." |
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