Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the tuenty day of Aprile J^aj vi^c nyntie seven years

A1697/4/34

A1697/4/34¹

Act

Act Mr Alexander Craig

Anent the petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill By Mr Alexander Craig minister of the gospell att the paroch of Unst in Zetland Sheuing That wher the petitioner Having been Minister at the said paroch for the space of tuenty years bygone And during all that tyme hath behaved himself soberly as became a Minister of the Gospell And since the happy revolution hath Carryed himself uith all duety and regaird to the government under his present Majestie King William And for testimony therof to his poeple He did Cheerfullie obey all such orders for keeping of publick fasts for the prosperity of his Majesties army And for praying for his sacred persone so soon as they Came to his hand in these remote Islands And uas aluayes willing and ready to Give all testimony of his fidelity and Loyaltie that the Law should require of him But ther being severall acts of parliament Requiring all Ministers to take the oath of alleadgance and signe the Assurance betuixt and Certain dayes therinmentioned As to which The petitioner Humbly represents to their Lordships that these Islands being the remotest part of his Majesties dominions and separat from any part ane Hundred Miles by sea Have now in the tyme of uarrs never been so Infested uith privateers and others of the Enemies shipps that therby the small Intercourse they formerly had hes been almost Intirely Interrupted wherby the petitioner and the rest of his Brethreen ther were depryved of having the Knouledge and benefite of the saids Laues In such due tyme as they Could give obedience therto And the petitioner doeth Ingenuously declare that the first nottice he gott of the forsaids Laues was upon the seventh or tenth of september J^aj vi^c nyntie five when Baillie Bran then steuart of orkney was sett ashoar in the said Island wher the petitioner Lives from a french man of warr who had taken him prisoner And the same morning the petitioner had the misfortune to have his house and goods pilladged and plundered and all the valuable goods furniture and cloathes he had taken from him by the french as is uell Knouen to the said Baillie Brand and nottour to the whole Countrey men wher he Lives By the reasone of which and the uant of any occasione upon the account of the uarr to transport the petitioner from the said Island to Dundie or orkney with whom alone the petitioners used to have Intercourse by Shipping He Could not mean himself sooner to their Lordships But now being Informed that their Lordships have been graciously pleased to repone some Ministers in the Isle of Sky and others at that remote distance He therfore presumes Humbly to Lay his caise before their Lordships And therfore Humbly Craving to the effect underwryten as the said petition Bears The saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill Having this day heard this petitione given in to them by the said Mr Alexander Craig read in their presence They alloued the petitioner to suear and signe the oath of alleadgance and signe the Assurance appointed to his Majestie and that in presence of Sir James Steuart his Majesties Advocat which before extracting heirof the petitioner hes doune And upon his suearing and signing as said The saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill have reponed and heirby repones the petitioner against the Certifications Contained in the acts of parliament In respect the petitioner before taking the saids oaths Hath Inacted himself in the books of privie Councill That he shall submitt himself In all things pertaining to his doctrine Life and office To the Jurisdiction and Censures of the presbyterian church of this Kingdome as now setled by Law.