Decreet, 16 March 1697, Edinburgh

Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the sixteenth day of March Jaj vic nyntie seven years

A1697/3/241

Decreet

Decreit Lord Advocat Against provosts Kenedy and Binning and Baillie Brand

Anent the tuo severall Lybells or Letters of Complaint purchassed and raised before the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Both att the instance of Sir James Steuart, his Majesties Advocat for his highnes Intrest in the matter underwryten The one therof Against Alexander Brand merchand burges of Edinburgh Making Mention That wher by the Laues of this and all other well Governed realms Leesing Making and the Venting of Calumnies to the Slander hurt and prejudice of other persons speciallie the Calumniating and asperssing them with the base Crime of Bryberie To the betraying of their trust Is a Crime of a high nature and ought to be severely punished Lykeas by the Act of parliament James the Sixth parliament Eight Chapter one hundred and threttie four It is expressly statut that who soever utters slanders or speak untrue speeches To the reproach of his Majesties privy Councill which plainly Includes any persone to be of that number as a Councellor As appears by the Act James the sixth parliament Tuentieth Chapter nynth shall be punished as a Leesing maker Nevertheless It is of verity that Alexander Brand merchant burges of Edinburgh Shaking off all regaird to our authority and Laues and all due respect to the persons honoured by his Majestie to be of his privie Councill and to be Intrusted in other eminent trusts in his Government Hath presumed by a wryte produced under his hand or at least vented made use of and Given furth by him to reproach and slander most maliciously the persones afternamed In so farr as the said wryte Bears for the title Charges and Gratuities In procuring the additionall Fifteen hundred pounds sterling alloued in pairt of my (that is to say the said Alexanders) tack deuty of Orkney and Zetland which was the superplus of the price aggreed by the Lords And then falsly mentions sums of money or Hangings or other donatives Given to the Late Secretary Johnstoun The Marques of Tueeddale Late Lord High Chancelor The Duke of Queensberry then Late Lord Drumlangrig The Earle of Cassillis The Viscount of Teviott then Sir Thomas Livingstoun The Lord Bassill Hamilton and the Lord Raith and others As the said wryte Containing also the respective soumes alleadged given to them particularly Bears And of which wryte a Coppie was Given out with the said Lybell and held as here repeated Brevitatis causa And the principall putt in Sir Gilbert Eliot clerk of privie Councill his hands wher the said Alexander might have seen it In order to his defence at any tyme betuixt and the day of Compearance By which wryte or use making or venting therof and of the vile Lees and Calumnies therin contained The said Alexander is guiltie airt and pairt which being proven He ought to be punished In his persone and Goods by sentence of the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill according to his demerite To the example and terror of others to Committ and doe the Lyke in tyme coming And anent the Charge given to the said Alexander Brand Defender to have Compeared personallie att ane Certain day bygone Before the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Counsell To Have ansuered to the Grounds of the abovewryten Complaint And to Have heard and seen such order and Course taken theranent as the saids Lords should think Fitt under the paine of rebellion and putting them to the Horne with Certification etc as in the said principall Lybell or Letters of Complaint with the executiones therof at more Length is Contained And the other of the saids Lybells Against Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill Sir William Binning of Walifoord Late provosts of Edinburgh and the said Alexander Brand Late Baillie therof Making Mentione That wher by the Laues of this and all other uell Governed nations The Entering into Contracts and aggreements of doun right designe to defraud his Majestie and these Intrusted by him as to any part of the publick Revenue and for Giving of Buds or big brybes to Judges or magistrats and that Leesing making and venting of Calumnies To the slander hurt and prejudice of the noble men and persons of quality Especiallie Judges and privie Councellors And the Calumniating and asperssing them with the Base Cryme of Brybery to the betraying of their trust are Crimes of ane high nature and severly punishable And particularly by the hundred and fourtie Act parliament seventh James the Sixth It is statut That as all Judges Should doe true and equall Justice to the Leidges without any reuard or bud taking under the paine of tinsell of their honour Fame and degnity so it is provyded that if any persone Murmur the Judges and proves not the samen he shall be punished in sicklyke manner And shall pay ane payne arbitrail att the will of the King or his Councill for the Infaming of such persones And by the one Hundred and threttie fourth Act parliament Eight James the Sixth It is statut that whosoever utters slanders or untrue speeches to the reporach of the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill which Clearly Includes any persone honoured to be a privie Councelor as appears by the Nynth Act parliament tuentieth James the sixth shall be punished as Leesing makers And yet notwithstanding Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill Alexander Brand merchand burges of Edinburgh and Sir William Binning of Walifoord shaking off all respect and regaird to the Laues hes presumed to Committ and are guiltie of the forsaids Crimes In so farr as the said Alexander Brand Having Entered in a contract in the year Jaj vic nyntie three with the Tacksemen of his Majesties Customes by warrand of the Lords of his Majesties Thesaurie For the buying and bringing home Five thousand stand of armes For which he uas to have Five thousand pounds Sterling And the said Alexander Brand Having assumed and Comunicat the benefite of that Contract to Sir Thomas Kennedy and Sir William Binning They first entered into a base and unworthie Contryvance to defraud his Majestie as to the price of the saids armes For albeit by the Contract betuixt Alexander Brand and the Tacksemen he was only to have Tuenty shillings sterling for the price of the armes which was a very Great price yet by the Contract of Communication betuixt the saids Alexander Brand Sir Thomas Kennedy and Sir William Binning It is expressly provyded that in case the saids armes could not be bought at tuo dollors or therby the peice Then and in that case the said Alexander Brand was to buy none untill he wrote fullie to the Lords of his Majesties Thesaurie and gett their allouance to buy att a higher rate which the said Sir Thomas and Sir William were to Endeavour to procure And albeit ten shillings sterling of profite which they had by the Contract with the tacksemen upon the price of the armes was more then a sufficient Gayne being the one halfe of the other yet in order to the fraudolent eliciting from the Lords of his Majesties Thesaury a Greater soume for the armes then what was aggreed upon Alexander Brand wrytes to his pairtners here that the armes were dearer then was expected And that they Could not be furnished under tuenty six shillings the peice which amounted to fyfteen hundreth pounds sterling more then what was Contained in the first Contract And therfore desyres that application may be made to the saids Lords of Thesaurie for procuring a warrand to buy the armes at that rate And accordingly Sir Thomas Kennedy Gave in a petition to the saids Lords of Thesaury upon the forsaid false representatione And obtaines ane warrand for buying the armes at tuenty six shillings sterling the peice and to make the Contryvance more plausible And which yet was ane Argument of the Contryvance They represented to the saids Lords of Thesaurie that they are Content to referr to them the difference betuixt the rate and the pryce aggreed upon by them for the five thousand stand of armes And to the effect they might gett payment from the Lords of Thesaury of the said Fifteenth Hundreth pounds sterling They Enter into a most base and unworthie designe of Giving a brybe of tuo hundreth and sixtie Guynies to the Earls of Linlithgow and Broadalbane which is Instructed by a Contract amongst them By which they aggree that the said fifteenth Hundred pounds sterling is to be burdened with the expensses of the said tuo hundred and sixtie Guynies to the saids Earls of Linlithgow and Broadalbane besyds a Gratuitie to James Row who was to receave the armes and what free money ther was more was to be equallie divyded amongst them and albeit the saids Earls of Linlithgow and Broadalbane never receaved the saids tuo Hundreth and sixtie Guynies nor any part therof They being persons of that honour and Integritie that they were not Capable to be imposed upon that way as the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Alexander Brand and Sir William Binning does acknouledge yet notwithstanding the said Sir Thomas Kennedy had the Impudence as to raise a Lybell before the Admirall Court upon the forsaid Minute of aggreement Bearing the forsaid fifteen Hundreth pounds sterling to be burdened with the payment of the saids tuo hundreth and sixtie Guynies to the saids2 Earls then tuo of the Commissioners of the Thesaury and Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And publickly made use of the said minute to the Great reproach and slander of the saids tuo noble persones And the said Sir Thomas Kennedy did not rest here But ther being ane accompt drauen up by the said Alexander Brand intituled Charges and Gratuities In procuring the additionall five Hundreth pounds sterling allowed in part of his tack deuty of Orkney and Zetland And then most falsly mentions soumes of money hangings and other Donatives to have been given to the Duke of Queensberry then Lord Drumlangrig The Marques of Tueeddale then Lord High Chancelor The Earle of Cassills The Viscount of Teviott then Sir Thomas Livingstoun The Lord Bassile Hamilton Lord Raith The Late Secretary Johnstoun and severall others as the said Accompt Containing the respective soumes alleadged Given to them particularly bears And albeit the saids persones Complained upon doeth all of them acknouledge that the said Accompt and all the articles therof are absolutely false yet the said Sir Thomas Kennedy did publickly produce the said accompt before the Admirall Court att least produced the samen to the Judge and Clerk of the Admirality and other officers of the Court And did publickly shew it to severall persones and did maliciously vent the same to the Great reproach and slander of these noble persones off all which Crymes the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Alexander Brand and Sir William Binning are Guiltie as Actors airt and pairt And ought to be examplarly punished in their persons and goods to the terror of others to Committ the Lyke in tyme coming And anent the charge Given to the three fornamed defenders to have Compeared personally before the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill att ane Certain day bygone To have Ansuered to the Grounds of the abovewryten Complaint and to have Heard and seen such order and Course taken theranent as the saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill should think fitt under the paine of rebellion and putting him to the horne with Certificatione etc as in this Lybell or Letters of Complaint against the saids haill three Defenders with the executiones thereof att more Length is Contained The said first Lybell Against Baillie Brand only Being upon the tuenty third day of February last bypast Called in presence of the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And the said Sir James Steuart his Majesties Advocat, and Sir Patrick Home his Majesties Sollicitor Compearing personallie for his Majesties Interest in the said matter and the said Alexander Brand only defender in that Lybell Compearing also personallie with Sir David Thoirs Mr George Alexander and Mr James Hamilton his Advocats The Said Lybell and ansuers made therto for the defender And also a discharge by the defender to the Lord Marques of Tueeddale for his hangings And a declaration under Alexander Brand his oune hand upon oath Bearing that Secretary Johnstoun and Sir Thomas Livingstoun now Viscount of Teviott never Gott any money from the said Alexander upon the accompt of the Imported armes And another peaper viz a Coppie of the tripartite Contract betuixt the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Sir William Binning and Baillie Brand which was given in by the saids defenders against the said Sir Thomas at the Councill barr Being all read in presence of the saids Lords And the Lauyers on both sydes being heard The saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill admitted the said Lybell raised against Baillie Brand only to probation And severall of the witnesses Cited Having Compeared and made faith at the barr The saids Lords appointed a Committie to examine them And alloued a farder dilligence against such of the witnesses as were absent And In the meantyme ordained the said Alexander Brand to Give bond and find sufficient Cautione acted in the books of his Majesties privie Councill that he shall attend all the dyetts in the said proces aither before the Councill or its Committies in the said matter untill the said process be finally discust and determined And upon Granting this bond ordained the former bond granted to be Given up And the said Alexander Brand defender signed in presence of the Councill a peaper wherby he declares that the articles in the Accompt Lybelled are false and that the soumes in these articles were never Given by him to the persons named in the Accompt directly nor Indirectly which Committie Conforme to the reference made to them Having mett and examined diverse and sundrie famous witnesses who being all solemnly suorne Interrogat and examined upon their Great oathes Deponed and declared as their oaths and depositiones extant in proces Bears And the said Sir William Binning who was one of the uitnesses produced before the Committie tuo missive Letters direct by the said Alexander Brand to him to be Compared as to the wryte of these Letters with the wryt of the accompt Lybelled upon And the said Sir Thomas Kennedy who was another of the witnesses produced before the Committie another Coppie of the accompt Lybelled Both which he depones he had from Baillie Brand And The Said Lybell against Sir William Binning Sir Thomas Kennedy and Alexander Brand Being upon the nynth day of March Called in presence of the saids Lords of his Majesties Privie Councill And Sir Patrick Home his Majesties Sollicitor Compearing personallie for his Majesties Interest in the matter Lybelled and the saids haill three defenders Compearing also personallie with Mr Hugh and Mr David Dalrymples Mr William Aikman Mr David Forbes Mr John Murray Mr James Olyphant Mr Frances Grant and Mr James Hamilton their Advocats The Lybell and ansuers made therto for the severall Defenders with a petition for the said Alexander Brand being all read The saids Lords admitted the Lybell to the pursuars probation And declared they would hear the defenders Lauyers upon the relevancy Befor the advysing of the probation And the witnesses such as were present having made faith at the barr The saids Lords nominated and appointed a Committie to examine the witnesses And alloued farder dilligence by Caption against such of them as were absent And Recommended to his Majesties Advocat to Cause Cite the Earle of Lauderdale and Mr Hugh Dalrymple advocat as witnesses upon the Lybell or any other witnesses which his Lordship should think fitt and Granted dilligence for that effect Uhich Committie having accordingly mett They took and receaved the oathes and Depositiones of diverse and sundrie famous witnesses who being all solemnly suorne and examined In the said matter upon their Great oaths Deponed and declared as their oaths and depositiones extant in proces Bears William Riddell one of the witnesses the tyme of his deponing produced ane Instrument taken by him as nottar at Sir Thomas Kennedies instance against the said Baillie Brand mentioning the production of the tripartit contract James Nicolsone another witnes the tyme of his deposition produced a paper of defences which he deponed James Marshell as agent for Baillie Brand produced in his hand the tyme that Sir Thomas Kennedy was offering to suspend the Baillie and Mr Archbald Sinclar Admirall Deput another witnes in the tyme that he was deponing produced a deposition under baillie Brands hand wherby he declares upon oath that neither James Johnstoun, Secretary of State, nor Sir Thomas Livingstoun never gott any money from him upon the accompt of the armes or otheruise except the ordinary dues to servants for peapers And Sir Thomas Kennedy produced before the said Committie a subscryved double of the tripartit Contract above Lybelled on Item ane accompt by the deceast Earle of Linlithgow to Baillie Brand with the Baillies discharge wryten upon the end therof And this proces att the instance of his Majesties Advocat Against the saids three defenders Being that day againe Called in presence of the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And the said Sir James Steuart his Majesties Advocat and Sir Patrick Home his Majesties Sollicitor Compearing personallie for his Majesties Interest in the matter lybelled And the three forenamed defenders Compearing also personallie with Mrs Hugh and David Dalrymples Mr William Aikman Mr John Menzies Mr James Hamilton Mr David Forbes and Mr […] Kennedy their Advocats The Lybell and ansuers made therto by the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Sir William Binning and Baillie Brand defenders And Sir Thomas his ansuer to Baillie Brands petition (which was read at the first Calling hereof) And ane Information for Baillie Brand with a petition for his Majesties advocat Being all read in presence of the saids Lords And ane Accompt by the Lord Raith to the said Alexander Brand with ane discharge thereon of the date the fifth of october Jaj vic nyntie six under the said Alexander his oun hand Discharging the said accompt and all others preceeding Being produced And the Lauyers on both hands being fullie and at Length heard The Saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill Having Considered the depositiones of the witnesses taken in both processes with the tripartit Contract and aggreement accompts and haill wrytes produced They Find Bryberrie Contryved Confessed and stated by the saids three defenders their subscryved aggreement depositions taken and the defamation Lybelled sufficiently proven against them by the Accompts produced the said subscryved tripartit Contract and depositiones taken excepting Sir William Binning one of the defenders as to the defamation And the saids Lords Fynes the defenders in the soumes follouing Viz The said Sir Thomas Kennedy in the soume of Eight Hundred pounds sterling The said Sir William Binning in Three Hundred pounds sterling And the said Baillie Brand in fyve Hundreth pounds Sterling And ordaines the saids fynes to be payed to the Generall Receaver of his Majesties Croun rents for his Majesties use And Ordaines the defenders Instantly to make payment of their respective fynes or to Give bond and find Caution for payment therof betuixt and the first day of Aprile nixt to Come with a penaltie and Bearing annual rent after the terme of payment or otheruise ordaines them to be Carryed to the tolbooth of Edinburgh ther to be keeped prisoners ay and while they make payment of their respective fynes And upon payment of the provost Kennedy and provost Binning their respective fynes Alloues the Magistrats of Edinburgh and Keeper of their tolbooth to sett them att Libertie furth therof And ordaines the said Baillie Brand to remaine prisoner ay and while he find sufficient Cautione for his said fyne and Longer during the Councills pleasure And the saids Lords Declares this sentence to be but prejudice to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Thesaury or Lords of Exchequer to Consider what shall be done with the fifteen Hundreth pounds sterling of additionall price of the armes whither the same shall be alloued or not.

Att Edinburgh the sixteenth day of March Jaj vic nyntie seven years

A1697/3/241

Decreet

Decreit Lord Advocat Against provosts Kenedy and Binning and Baillie Brand

Anent the tuo severall Lybells or Letters of Complaint purchassed and raised before the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Both att the instance of Sir James Steuart, his Majesties Advocat for his highnes Intrest in the matter underwryten The one therof Against Alexander Brand merchand burges of Edinburgh Making Mention That wher by the Laues of this and all other well Governed realms Leesing Making and the Venting of Calumnies to the Slander hurt and prejudice of other persons speciallie the Calumniating and asperssing them with the base Crime of Bryberie To the betraying of their trust Is a Crime of a high nature and ought to be severely punished Lykeas by the Act of parliament James the Sixth parliament Eight Chapter one hundred and threttie four It is expressly statut that who soever utters slanders or speak untrue speeches To the reproach of his Majesties privy Councill which plainly Includes any persone to be of that number as a Councellor As appears by the Act James the sixth parliament Tuentieth Chapter nynth shall be punished as a Leesing maker Nevertheless It is of verity that Alexander Brand merchant burges of Edinburgh Shaking off all regaird to our authority and Laues and all due respect to the persons honoured by his Majestie to be of his privie Councill and to be Intrusted in other eminent trusts in his Government Hath presumed by a wryte produced under his hand or at least vented made use of and Given furth by him to reproach and slander most maliciously the persones afternamed In so farr as the said wryte Bears for the title Charges and Gratuities In procuring the additionall Fifteen hundred pounds sterling alloued in pairt of my (that is to say the said Alexanders) tack deuty of Orkney and Zetland which was the superplus of the price aggreed by the Lords And then falsly mentions sums of money or Hangings or other donatives Given to the Late Secretary Johnstoun The Marques of Tueeddale Late Lord High Chancelor The Duke of Queensberry then Late Lord Drumlangrig The Earle of Cassillis The Viscount of Teviott then Sir Thomas Livingstoun The Lord Bassill Hamilton and the Lord Raith and others As the said wryte Containing also the respective soumes alleadged given to them particularly Bears And of which wryte a Coppie was Given out with the said Lybell and held as here repeated Brevitatis causa And the principall putt in Sir Gilbert Eliot clerk of privie Councill his hands wher the said Alexander might have seen it In order to his defence at any tyme betuixt and the day of Compearance By which wryte or use making or venting therof and of the vile Lees and Calumnies therin contained The said Alexander is guiltie airt and pairt which being proven He ought to be punished In his persone and Goods by sentence of the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill according to his demerite To the example and terror of others to Committ and doe the Lyke in tyme coming And anent the Charge given to the said Alexander Brand Defender to have Compeared personallie att ane Certain day bygone Before the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Counsell To Have ansuered to the Grounds of the abovewryten Complaint And to Have heard and seen such order and Course taken theranent as the saids Lords should think Fitt under the paine of rebellion and putting them to the Horne with Certification etc as in the said principall Lybell or Letters of Complaint with the executiones therof at more Length is Contained And the other of the saids Lybells Against Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill Sir William Binning of Walifoord Late provosts of Edinburgh and the said Alexander Brand Late Baillie therof Making Mentione That wher by the Laues of this and all other uell Governed nations The Entering into Contracts and aggreements of doun right designe to defraud his Majestie and these Intrusted by him as to any part of the publick Revenue and for Giving of Buds or big brybes to Judges or magistrats and that Leesing making and venting of Calumnies To the slander hurt and prejudice of the noble men and persons of quality Especiallie Judges and privie Councellors And the Calumniating and asperssing them with the Base Cryme of Brybery to the betraying of their trust are Crimes of ane high nature and severly punishable And particularly by the hundred and fourtie Act parliament seventh James the Sixth It is statut That as all Judges Should doe true and equall Justice to the Leidges without any reuard or bud taking under the paine of tinsell of their honour Fame and degnity so it is provyded that if any persone Murmur the Judges and proves not the samen he shall be punished in sicklyke manner And shall pay ane payne arbitrail att the will of the King or his Councill for the Infaming of such persones And by the one Hundred and threttie fourth Act parliament Eight James the Sixth It is statut that whosoever utters slanders or untrue speeches to the reporach of the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill which Clearly Includes any persone honoured to be a privie Councelor as appears by the Nynth Act parliament tuentieth James the sixth shall be punished as Leesing makers And yet notwithstanding Sir Thomas Kennedy of Kirkhill Alexander Brand merchand burges of Edinburgh and Sir William Binning of Walifoord shaking off all respect and regaird to the Laues hes presumed to Committ and are guiltie of the forsaids Crimes In so farr as the said Alexander Brand Having Entered in a contract in the year Jaj vic nyntie three with the Tacksemen of his Majesties Customes by warrand of the Lords of his Majesties Thesaurie For the buying and bringing home Five thousand stand of armes For which he uas to have Five thousand pounds Sterling And the said Alexander Brand Having assumed and Comunicat the benefite of that Contract to Sir Thomas Kennedy and Sir William Binning They first entered into a base and unworthie Contryvance to defraud his Majestie as to the price of the saids armes For albeit by the Contract betuixt Alexander Brand and the Tacksemen he was only to have Tuenty shillings sterling for the price of the armes which was a very Great price yet by the Contract of Communication betuixt the saids Alexander Brand Sir Thomas Kennedy and Sir William Binning It is expressly provyded that in case the saids armes could not be bought at tuo dollors or therby the peice Then and in that case the said Alexander Brand was to buy none untill he wrote fullie to the Lords of his Majesties Thesaurie and gett their allouance to buy att a higher rate which the said Sir Thomas and Sir William were to Endeavour to procure And albeit ten shillings sterling of profite which they had by the Contract with the tacksemen upon the price of the armes was more then a sufficient Gayne being the one halfe of the other yet in order to the fraudolent eliciting from the Lords of his Majesties Thesaury a Greater soume for the armes then what was aggreed upon Alexander Brand wrytes to his pairtners here that the armes were dearer then was expected And that they Could not be furnished under tuenty six shillings the peice which amounted to fyfteen hundreth pounds sterling more then what was Contained in the first Contract And therfore desyres that application may be made to the saids Lords of Thesaurie for procuring a warrand to buy the armes at that rate And accordingly Sir Thomas Kennedy Gave in a petition to the saids Lords of Thesaury upon the forsaid false representatione And obtaines ane warrand for buying the armes at tuenty six shillings sterling the peice and to make the Contryvance more plausible And which yet was ane Argument of the Contryvance They represented to the saids Lords of Thesaurie that they are Content to referr to them the difference betuixt the rate and the pryce aggreed upon by them for the five thousand stand of armes And to the effect they might gett payment from the Lords of Thesaury of the said Fifteenth Hundreth pounds sterling They Enter into a most base and unworthie designe of Giving a brybe of tuo hundreth and sixtie Guynies to the Earls of Linlithgow and Broadalbane which is Instructed by a Contract amongst them By which they aggree that the said fifteenth Hundred pounds sterling is to be burdened with the expensses of the said tuo hundred and sixtie Guynies to the saids Earls of Linlithgow and Broadalbane besyds a Gratuitie to James Row who was to receave the armes and what free money ther was more was to be equallie divyded amongst them and albeit the saids Earls of Linlithgow and Broadalbane never receaved the saids tuo Hundreth and sixtie Guynies nor any part therof They being persons of that honour and Integritie that they were not Capable to be imposed upon that way as the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Alexander Brand and Sir William Binning does acknouledge yet notwithstanding the said Sir Thomas Kennedy had the Impudence as to raise a Lybell before the Admirall Court upon the forsaid Minute of aggreement Bearing the forsaid fifteen Hundreth pounds sterling to be burdened with the payment of the saids tuo hundreth and sixtie Guynies to the saids2 Earls then tuo of the Commissioners of the Thesaury and Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And publickly made use of the said minute to the Great reproach and slander of the saids tuo noble persones And the said Sir Thomas Kennedy did not rest here But ther being ane accompt drauen up by the said Alexander Brand intituled Charges and Gratuities In procuring the additionall five Hundreth pounds sterling allowed in part of his tack deuty of Orkney and Zetland And then most falsly mentions soumes of money hangings and other Donatives to have been given to the Duke of Queensberry then Lord Drumlangrig The Marques of Tueeddale then Lord High Chancelor The Earle of Cassills The Viscount of Teviott then Sir Thomas Livingstoun The Lord Bassile Hamilton Lord Raith The Late Secretary Johnstoun and severall others as the said Accompt Containing the respective soumes alleadged Given to them particularly bears And albeit the saids persones Complained upon doeth all of them acknouledge that the said Accompt and all the articles therof are absolutely false yet the said Sir Thomas Kennedy did publickly produce the said accompt before the Admirall Court att least produced the samen to the Judge and Clerk of the Admirality and other officers of the Court And did publickly shew it to severall persones and did maliciously vent the same to the Great reproach and slander of these noble persones off all which Crymes the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Alexander Brand and Sir William Binning are Guiltie as Actors airt and pairt And ought to be examplarly punished in their persons and goods to the terror of others to Committ the Lyke in tyme coming And anent the charge Given to the three fornamed defenders to have Compeared personally before the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill att ane Certain day bygone To have Ansuered to the Grounds of the abovewryten Complaint and to have Heard and seen such order and Course taken theranent as the saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill should think fitt under the paine of rebellion and putting him to the horne with Certificatione etc as in this Lybell or Letters of Complaint against the saids haill three Defenders with the executiones thereof att more Length is Contained The said first Lybell Against Baillie Brand only Being upon the tuenty third day of February last bypast Called in presence of the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And the said Sir James Steuart his Majesties Advocat, and Sir Patrick Home his Majesties Sollicitor Compearing personallie for his Majesties Interest in the said matter and the said Alexander Brand only defender in that Lybell Compearing also personallie with Sir David Thoirs Mr George Alexander and Mr James Hamilton his Advocats The Said Lybell and ansuers made therto for the defender And also a discharge by the defender to the Lord Marques of Tueeddale for his hangings And a declaration under Alexander Brand his oune hand upon oath Bearing that Secretary Johnstoun and Sir Thomas Livingstoun now Viscount of Teviott never Gott any money from the said Alexander upon the accompt of the Imported armes And another peaper viz a Coppie of the tripartite Contract betuixt the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Sir William Binning and Baillie Brand which was given in by the saids defenders against the said Sir Thomas at the Councill barr Being all read in presence of the saids Lords And the Lauyers on both sydes being heard The saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill admitted the said Lybell raised against Baillie Brand only to probation And severall of the witnesses Cited Having Compeared and made faith at the barr The saids Lords appointed a Committie to examine them And alloued a farder dilligence against such of the witnesses as were absent And In the meantyme ordained the said Alexander Brand to Give bond and find sufficient Cautione acted in the books of his Majesties privie Councill that he shall attend all the dyetts in the said proces aither before the Councill or its Committies in the said matter untill the said process be finally discust and determined And upon Granting this bond ordained the former bond granted to be Given up And the said Alexander Brand defender signed in presence of the Councill a peaper wherby he declares that the articles in the Accompt Lybelled are false and that the soumes in these articles were never Given by him to the persons named in the Accompt directly nor Indirectly which Committie Conforme to the reference made to them Having mett and examined diverse and sundrie famous witnesses who being all solemnly suorne Interrogat and examined upon their Great oathes Deponed and declared as their oaths and depositiones extant in proces Bears And the said Sir William Binning who was one of the uitnesses produced before the Committie tuo missive Letters direct by the said Alexander Brand to him to be Compared as to the wryte of these Letters with the wryt of the accompt Lybelled upon And the said Sir Thomas Kennedy who was another of the witnesses produced before the Committie another Coppie of the accompt Lybelled Both which he depones he had from Baillie Brand And The Said Lybell against Sir William Binning Sir Thomas Kennedy and Alexander Brand Being upon the nynth day of March Called in presence of the saids Lords of his Majesties Privie Councill And Sir Patrick Home his Majesties Sollicitor Compearing personallie for his Majesties Interest in the matter Lybelled and the saids haill three defenders Compearing also personallie with Mr Hugh and Mr David Dalrymples Mr William Aikman Mr David Forbes Mr John Murray Mr James Olyphant Mr Frances Grant and Mr James Hamilton their Advocats The Lybell and ansuers made therto for the severall Defenders with a petition for the said Alexander Brand being all read The saids Lords admitted the Lybell to the pursuars probation And declared they would hear the defenders Lauyers upon the relevancy Befor the advysing of the probation And the witnesses such as were present having made faith at the barr The saids Lords nominated and appointed a Committie to examine the witnesses And alloued farder dilligence by Caption against such of them as were absent And Recommended to his Majesties Advocat to Cause Cite the Earle of Lauderdale and Mr Hugh Dalrymple advocat as witnesses upon the Lybell or any other witnesses which his Lordship should think fitt and Granted dilligence for that effect Uhich Committie having accordingly mett They took and receaved the oathes and Depositiones of diverse and sundrie famous witnesses who being all solemnly suorne and examined In the said matter upon their Great oaths Deponed and declared as their oaths and depositiones extant in proces Bears William Riddell one of the witnesses the tyme of his deponing produced ane Instrument taken by him as nottar at Sir Thomas Kennedies instance against the said Baillie Brand mentioning the production of the tripartit contract James Nicolsone another witnes the tyme of his deposition produced a paper of defences which he deponed James Marshell as agent for Baillie Brand produced in his hand the tyme that Sir Thomas Kennedy was offering to suspend the Baillie and Mr Archbald Sinclar Admirall Deput another witnes in the tyme that he was deponing produced a deposition under baillie Brands hand wherby he declares upon oath that neither James Johnstoun, Secretary of State, nor Sir Thomas Livingstoun never gott any money from him upon the accompt of the armes or otheruise except the ordinary dues to servants for peapers And Sir Thomas Kennedy produced before the said Committie a subscryved double of the tripartit Contract above Lybelled on Item ane accompt by the deceast Earle of Linlithgow to Baillie Brand with the Baillies discharge wryten upon the end therof And this proces att the instance of his Majesties Advocat Against the saids three defenders Being that day againe Called in presence of the saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill And the said Sir James Steuart his Majesties Advocat and Sir Patrick Home his Majesties Sollicitor Compearing personallie for his Majesties Interest in the matter lybelled And the three forenamed defenders Compearing also personallie with Mrs Hugh and David Dalrymples Mr William Aikman Mr John Menzies Mr James Hamilton Mr David Forbes and Mr […] Kennedy their Advocats The Lybell and ansuers made therto by the said Sir Thomas Kennedy Sir William Binning and Baillie Brand defenders And Sir Thomas his ansuer to Baillie Brands petition (which was read at the first Calling hereof) And ane Information for Baillie Brand with a petition for his Majesties advocat Being all read in presence of the saids Lords And ane Accompt by the Lord Raith to the said Alexander Brand with ane discharge thereon of the date the fifth of october Jaj vic nyntie six under the said Alexander his oun hand Discharging the said accompt and all others preceeding Being produced And the Lauyers on both hands being fullie and at Length heard The Saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill Having Considered the depositiones of the witnesses taken in both processes with the tripartit Contract and aggreement accompts and haill wrytes produced They Find Bryberrie Contryved Confessed and stated by the saids three defenders their subscryved aggreement depositions taken and the defamation Lybelled sufficiently proven against them by the Accompts produced the said subscryved tripartit Contract and depositiones taken excepting Sir William Binning one of the defenders as to the defamation And the saids Lords Fynes the defenders in the soumes follouing Viz The said Sir Thomas Kennedy in the soume of Eight Hundred pounds sterling The said Sir William Binning in Three Hundred pounds sterling And the said Baillie Brand in fyve Hundreth pounds Sterling And ordaines the saids fynes to be payed to the Generall Receaver of his Majesties Croun rents for his Majesties use And Ordaines the defenders Instantly to make payment of their respective fynes or to Give bond and find Caution for payment therof betuixt and the first day of Aprile nixt to Come with a penaltie and Bearing annual rent after the terme of payment or otheruise ordaines them to be Carryed to the tolbooth of Edinburgh ther to be keeped prisoners ay and while they make payment of their respective fynes And upon payment of the provost Kennedy and provost Binning their respective fynes Alloues the Magistrats of Edinburgh and Keeper of their tolbooth to sett them att Libertie furth therof And ordaines the said Baillie Brand to remaine prisoner ay and while he find sufficient Cautione for his said fyne and Longer during the Councills pleasure And the saids Lords Declares this sentence to be but prejudice to the Lords Commissioners of his Majesties Thesaury or Lords of Exchequer to Consider what shall be done with the fifteen Hundreth pounds sterling of additionall price of the armes whither the same shall be alloued or not.

1. NRS, PC1/51, 144-52.

2. One word scored out here.

1. NRS, PC1/51, 144-52.

2. One word scored out here.