Decreet, 29 December 1698, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the fourtein day of Jwny J^aj vi^c nyntie eight yeirs

D1698/6/6

D1698/6/6¹

Act

Act Mr Colline Niccolsone

Anent the petitione given in to The Lords of his majesties privie Counsell be Mr Colline Niccollsone preacher of the gospell at Strathaven Shewing That wher ther Lordships petitioner being minister of the parochin of Kirkmichaell in Strathaven and upon his not readeing the proclamationes emitted by ther Lordships for owning his Majestie King William and not praying for him in express termes Ther Lordships were pleased to Suspend the petitioner from the publict exercise of the ministrie and deprived him of the benefice The petitioner craves Leave humblie to represent to ther Lordships that it was² out of noe dissaffectione to his majestie and his government that the petitioner did not read the proclamationes in due tyme and pray for his Majestie in express termes But the trweth is the parochin wherof the petitioner was minister being in The North Highlands wher the rebells then in armes did freqwently hawnt and resort and with all a great many of his parichiners being papists he durst not without hazard of his life at that tyme publictly own his majesties and the government and to evidence his affectione to the government in church and state soe soon as the petitioner had opportwnitie he gave testimony of his affectione to the government by applying to the Commissione of the generall assembly in the yeir J^aj vi^c nyntie four the petitioner did Supplicat them wherin he owned the government of the church the confessione of faith ratified by the parliament J^aj vi^c and nyntie and craved to be receaved into the ministrie upon which they recomended the petitioner to ther Lordships as appears by ane extract wnder ther clerks hands therwith prodwced Lykeas the petitioner applyed to Sir James Ogilvie principall secretarie of State and Shirreff principall of The Shyre of Banff within which his said parochin lyes and upon the fourth of September J^aj vi^c nyntie five Swore the alleadgeance and Signed the assureance befor him as appears by a testificat wnder his Lordships hand And albeit the petitioner hes thws given testimony of his affectione to the government and with a great daill of discouragement from many of his parochiners who are knowen papists been still preaching yet without ther Lordships grant him ther warrand he cannot gett the stipend for mentaineance of himself and his poor numerows small familie And therfore humbly craveing ther Lordships To Commisserat his conditione (who hes given testimony of his affectione to the government as said is and is still content to give all testimonies that Law requyres of his affectione to it) and to allow the petitioner the Stipend of the said parochin since he still preaches ther and to ordaine the heretors and others lyable in payment therof to make payment to the petitioner of the Stipends resting to him for the preceeding yeirs and dureing his Service As the said petitione bears Which petitone being this day read and considered be the saids Lords of his majesties privie Counsell with the wrytes mentioned therin and prodwced therwith They doe heirby allow to the petitioner the Stipend of the above kirk of Strathaven for the haill yeirs of God J^aj vi^c nyntie six and nyntie seven for a present subsistance to the petitioner and his familie And decernes and ordaines the petitioner to be readiely answered obeyed and payed of the saids two yeirs Stipend of the said Kirk by the heretors fewers wodsetters Liferenters titullars tacksemen of teinds tennents possessors and others Lyable in payment of the said Stipend And ordaines Letters of horning on fiftein dayes under the Signet of Cowncell to be direct at the petitioners instance against the heretors fewars wodsetters liferenters and others foirsaids lyable in payment of the saids two yeirs Stipend upon productione of a decreit of Localitie And in caice ther be non ordaines the heretors and others foirsaids to make payment of ther respective proportiones of the saids two yeirs Stipend according as they shall be decerned be decerned³ by the Judge ordinar