A.D. 1411. ture was marked by the following inscription on the wall of the old church : 1424. "SIR ROBERT DAVIDSON, SLAIN AT HARLAW. When the nave of this fabric fell to ruins, about the year 1740, the remains of the body were discovered, with a small crimson cap covering the head.* The standard which the citizens carried to the field is preserved in the armoury of the town to the present day. After this event, tradition relates, that the chief magistrate of Aberdeen was interdicted, by an act of the town council, from leaving the city, in his public character, on any future occasion. In this year King James effected his release from captivity in England, having stipulated to pay L.40,000 sterling, for his maintenance and education, during the long period of his confinement in that country. For liquidating this debt, Aberdeen was one of the four royal boroughs associated in a bond to the King of England for the sum of 50,000 merks Scots. In order to guarantee the payment of this money, hostages were selected from the barons of the kingdom, and from the wealthiest burgesses, to remain as prisoners in England, until the condition of the bond should be accomplished. David Menzies, burgess of Aberdeen, whose estate was estimated at 200 merks annually, being one of the hostages, was ordered, among others, audax et obiit in bello de Harelaw et cum eo plures burgenses laudabiles invariabiles honestatibusq radicati omniq, probitate inovati quoru nomina propter tempis brevitatem et memorie errācia expremi non possunt, ut deceret in defensione ville et pro patrie libertate sub vexillo dni Alexandri Senescalli comitis Marrie Et sepultus dictus Robertus ante altare Sancte Anne in ecĉia parochiali predicta cujus anime miseratur Deus."-[Fol. 6.] * The author acquired this information some years ago from a respectable inhabitant, who, when a boy, had occasion to see the remains of the body among the ruins. + The boroughs were-Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Perth. Each of these granted a similar bond for the sum. The common seal of Aberdeen was of red wax, suspended from the bond, which was dated at Perth, 18th February, 1424.-[Rymer's Fædera, vol. x. p. 324, 325.] The sum was equal to L.640,332 10s. of modern Scottish money, in 1738; or L.53,361 10s. sterling. Abercromby, vol. ii. p. 266. others, to repair to England, where he remained under restraint for A.D. 1425. some time.* King James, on his arrival at Durham, on the 26th March, granted to these boroughs an ample indemnification from the consequences of this engagement, in the form of a bond, which is deposited in the archives of Aberdeen. † After the barbarous murder of this prince,‡ the affairs of the 1437. kingdom being in a distracted state, the community of Aberdeen judged it expedient, for its defence and protection, to court the patronage of Sir Alexander Irvine of Drum, who was a baron of considerable influence in the county. His residence was a few miles from the town, and his family had long been attached to the interests of the citizens. He was invested with the highest civil and military 1440. authority in the town, by the unanimous consent of the burgesses, under the title of captain and governor; which office he continued to hold October. * Mr. Menzies' annual estate would have been equal to L.213 8s. 104d. sterling money, in the year 1738. In his captivity he was attended by Thomas of Tillew, Priest; John Hadyngton, John Makke, Walter Fresell, Andrew Dalowe, and Davy Johnnesson, servants; who obtained permission from the King of England for that purpose.-[Rymer's Fæd. vol. x. p. 328. 338.] + "Jacobus dei grā Rex Scottorum omibus hominib' Clericis et Laicis Regni nostri notum facimus nos auctate nostra Regia teneri et tenore pncium firmiter et fideliter obligari dilectis t fidelib' nōis burgensis videlicet ppõitis t balliuis et comunitatib' quatuor burgorum regni ñri predtis de Edinburgth, Perth, Dunde, t Abirden ac eorum ħedib't successoribz ad obsūand ipost hedes suos t successores eorum quemlib' indempne` seu indempnes de solucõne quiquaginta millium marcaș pro qua suma soluenda serenissimo Principi henrico Regi Anglie pro ñra liberacone predti õpōiti t coietatest balliui quatuor burgor nostror ad mandatum nostrum sunt litteratorie obligati ad terminos inde concordatos, Et ad hoc faciendū ut premissum e sine exceptõe revocacone aut impedimēto quibuscuq Obligamus nos auctoritate ñre regie majestatis heredes ñros et successores reges Scocie firmiter t sine fraude pnciu p tenorem, insup promittim' t curabem? nos facere omes et singulos ppōitos et balliuos ac cõitates ceteror burgo regni nostri se heredes suos et successores sub suis coibs sigillis obligare in forma sufficienti prepõitis et balliuis dtof quatuor burgorum ad assis tend t adherendum eisd insolucõe dte sume pecnie in casum et eventum quib' pro ea distringantur siue eu solvat in toto t in pte et ad participēdu et contribuend cum eisd juxta vires in omi onere tā occasione pncipal solucõis prefate sume pečnie nō solute q suptuũ et expensar circa factum huioi obligacois jam factor t imposterum fiendor In cujus rei testimonium sigillum ñrm întib' jussimus apponi apud Dñelmia xxvi die Menf Marcii Anno Dñi millesimo quadragītesimo vicesimo quarto, et regni nostri XVIII.” King James was murdered, February 20, 1437, in the Carthusian Monastery of Perth, by Walter, Earl of Athol, his uncle; and other conspirators. A.D. 1440. hold two years.* This is the only instance of such an office having been created in the borough; for it does not appear to have been revived, even in the time of the Earl of Huntly, in the middle of the subsequent century, his Lordship, who became chief magistrate, being distinguished only by the title of provost. 1442. The anarchy and confusion which prevailed in the nation during the minority of James II. kept the community of Aberdeen in a state of constant alarm. Having no regular government to resort to for protection, it seemed to depend, in a great measure, upon its own internal resources. While the disorders in the country subsisted, the magistrates and council found it requisite to adopt the most effectual measures for the defence of the town. The citizens were commanded to take arms, and support the magistrates in their authority. The town was ordered to be fortified with walls; the ports were kept shut every night, and an armed patrole of thirty men was daily selected from the citizens, as a guard, to prevent surprise. † This alarm, however, appears to have soon subsided, and the citizens were, of course, released from this military duty. 1448. In the month of July, this year, King James made his first visit to the town. He was received by the magistrates with every mark of distinction due to their sovereign; and the citizens were zealous in manifesting their joy on the occasion. A present, under the denomination of a propine, was made to him, of two tons of Gascony wine, six lights of three stones of wax, and twelve half pounds of scorchets.§ 1455. His queen, in the month of January, this year, made a similar visit, and was received with equal marks of respect. A propine was presented to her, of 100 merks,|| in money; but such was the difficulty of procuring the means, that, to raise this sum, the magistrates devised the expedient of anticipating the revenues arising from the fishings, lands, and other property of the borough. These were ordered to be let by leases for a certain term.¶ The * Council Register, vol. iv. p. 211. 253. Council Register, vol. v. p. 731. Council Register, vol. v. 731. 790. + Ibid. vol. v. p. 660. 663. § Sweet-meats. Equal to L.64 10s. sterling. The supreme court of law being at this time ambulatory, was oc- A.D. 1457. casionally held in different parts of the kingdom. The parliament, in which the nomination of the judges was vested, appointed the high court of judicature, called the session, consisting of three clergymen, three barons, and three burgesses, without either salaries or perquisites, to sit, during the space of forty days, for the administration of the law, at Aberdeen. The judges were-the Bishop of Ross, the Abbot of Deer, and Mr. Walter Idel, for the clergy; the Earl of Errol, the Lord Glammis, and Lord Forbes, for the barons; John Fyfe, provost of Aberdeen, and Andrew Menzies and Walter Thomson, two of the burgesses, for the boroughs.* At this period, however, justice, in ordinary matters, was administered to the citizens by the provost and baillies, as judges in the courts of the borough; and appeals to higher tribunals were rarely attempted by the inhabitants. The nobles and barons, with a view to balance the influence of the crown, combined with each other in leagues of mutual defence, called bonds of man-rent. Associations of this kind were not uncommon; they were often concerted in time of peace, and became formidable engines, in the hands of the nobles, even against the throne. The Earl of Huntly, the most powerful chieftain in the north, influenced the magistrates and the community of Aberdeen to unite with him in a bond of this nature, under their secret seal. "On the one hand, 1462. his Lordship covenanted to defend the freedom, liberties, and infeftments of the town: and, on the other, they engaged to be faithful and sincere in their advice, if he should ask it; to keep his counsel, if he should desire it; and on his Lordship repairing to the town, with his attendants, whether few or many, they were to be protected." The magistrates and the community, however, had the prudence to enter a saving article, by which they reserved their allegiance to their sovereign, and the freedom of the borough. This covenant was to endure for ten years. † Not long after the formation of this league, his * Abercrombie, vol. ii. p. 372. + BOND OF MAN-RENT. "Be it made kend till all me be thir pat třes Us Aldma, Baillieis, Cōsale, and quite of ye burgh of Aberdene to be oblist till a noble and michtie Lorde Alex. Erle of Huntlie and Lorde of Baide A.D. 1463. his Lordship had occasion to call for their services. Since the death of King James II. who had fallen at the unfortunate siege of Roxburgh castle,* John, Lord of the Isles, and Earl of Ross; Donald Ballagh; and John de Isle, son and heir of the same Donald, had thrown off their allegiance to the crown of Scotland, and entered into a treaty with Edward IV. of England.† By the first article of this treaty, the Earl and his people engaged to become the subjects of Edward, and to support the King of England in his wars in Scotland, or against the Scots in Ireland. On the other hand, certain subsidies were stipulated to be paid to the Earl, and his confederates. Confiding in this treaty, they put themselves in arms, invaded the north of Scotland, surprised the castle of Inverness, and plundered the ad jacent nach i manere & fourme as eft folowis.-That is to say, for samekle as ye forsaid Lorde is oblist till us i mātenance and supplie to kepe us in oure fredomis and infeftmēt for certane termes as i ye forsaid Lords tres at lynth made till us ỹapon mar fullely is contenit, that we sal be lele and trew to ye forsaid Lorde Erle in counsale gif he asks us eft. oure wicf and knawlage, and kepe his counsale gif he charge us. And atour quhe it sal pless ye forsaid Lorde to cum to oure said burgh with few personis or mony, and to remai or pas quhen him liks, we sal at all oure gudely power ofsve & kepe him and his company within our said burgh lely and treuly, but fraude or gile, and gif ony wald inwade him within oure said burgh, to tak sik part with him i his defens as we wald do for ye defens of oure awyn persons; kepand our allegeans till oure soverane lorde ye king, and ye fredomis of oure said burgh, yir our tres till endur for al ye termes of ten yeres, fra ye day and date of ye making of thaime. In witnes of ye quhilk thing our secrete sele to thir oure tres is affixt at oure burgh of Aberdene forsaid ye xx day of Januare, ye yere of God Jm. CCCC. sexte and twa."[Council Register, vol. 5. p. 467.] * The King was killed by the bursting of a cannon, Aug. 3d, 1460. + Rymer's Fædera, vol. ii. p. 484. By this singular treaty, which was concluded at London, February 13th, 1462, Edward engaged to pay to the Earl of Ross a subsidy of 100 merks, in time of peace, and L.200 in time of war; to Donald, L.20 in time of peace, and L.40 in time of war; to John, the son of Donald, L.10 in time of peace, and L.20 in time of war: all sterling money, during their respective lives. It was further agreed, that, when the King of England, with the assistance of these allies, and of James, Earl of Douglas, had subdued the kingdom of Scotland, or the greatest part of it, he should grant all the countries beyond the Forth to the Earls of Ross and Douglas, and Donald Ballagh; to be equally divided among them, and held of the crown of England; that the Earl of Douglas should be restored to all his estates to the south of the Forth; and that if Edward made any peace or truce with the King of Scotland, his allies should be comprehended in it. The Earl of Douglas, as a reward for accomplishing this alliance, and for other services, was to receive from Edward an annual pension of L.500 during his life.-[Rymer's Fœdera, vol. ii. p. 487.] |