NRS, GD248/594/6 – Seafield Papers, 1698-1713

GD248/594/6/2

1705

[Petition of] Henry Keagle and others of Captain Greens crew 1705

N/a

Asked for a reprieve of the sentence against them so that they could make peace with God. At the bottom of the page it records some requests from spouses of the crew.

(18 March) same as above

1. Yester qualified himself as privy councillor.

2. HM acquainted PC that there were several people imprisoned (noblemen and gentlemen) – ‘suspected persons’ – and that more were on their way the next day. Council delayed their examination until more from the country were brought in so they could all be examined together. Leven to take paroles and see to it that they appear before PC when called. [These are the individuals who were proceeded against for treason or treasonable practices which was transmitted to Leven – GD26/7/128].

3. Letter from the magistrates of Aberdeen regarding a ship on their coast. This issue was declared not be threatening since it transpired it was a ship with a government squadron on it.

(20 March)

Same as above

1. Upon death of the lord president of session’s wife, the PC allowed Belhaven liberty for the time being but he was ordered to return when called.

2. Leven was allowed to open any letters which are seized and directed to the suspected persons he had apprehended and to transmit them to Goodtrees.

3. Goodtrees told PC he had several letters from people well affected to the government in the shire of Ayr.

23 March 1708 (am)

Minutes of council

Earl of Rothes, Earl of Haddington, Earl of Dalhousie, Earl of Leven, Earl of Northesk, Earl of Forfar, Earl of Dunmore, Earl of Ruglen, Earl of Cromarty, Earl of Balcarres, Earl of Islay, Earl of Roseberry, Lord Polwarth, Lord Register, Lord Minto, Lord Yester, Lord Haddo, Lord Carmichael, Lord Forbes, Lord Ross, Lord Advocate, Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Arnieston, Lord Anstruther, Lord Cessnock, Lord Forglen, Lord Grange, Provost of Edinburgh, Sir Robert Sinclair.

1. Forbes reported on the letters from Athol, but nobody who was questioned seemed to know anything about them or at least they feign ignorance.

2. Leven acquainted the PC that Admiral Baker had landed at Teignmouth from Ostend with ‘land forces’ and 20 men of war. Also told PC that William Bruce of Kinross had arrived in town and consigned himself to chambers [see treason warrants below].

3. Clerk to write to the magistrates of Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, and Inverness to tell them about the landing of the forces under Baker.

4. Leven ordered to commit Duke of Gordon to confinement as before.

5. Clerk told PC he had some orders from sheriff depute of Dumfries against earl of Nithsdale, Brown of Bishopton, and Grierson of Lagg [treason trials].

6. PC orders the bonds of caution given to the chiefs of highland clans from 1704 to be looked out, which was accordingly done.

7. Committee named to meet with lord advocate to come to an agreement on what was to be done about the highland clans who had not compeered.

8. Petition from ensign Sinclair to transport some prisoners. Remitted to lord advocate to do as he saw fit.

Adjourned till 4pm that day.

GD248/594/6/6

24-25 March 1708

Journalls of Councell 24th & 25th March 1708

(24 March)

Earl of Rothes, Earl of Haddington, Earl of Leven, Earl of Northesk, Earl of Balcarres, Earl of Forfar, Earl of Ruglen, Earl of Cromarty, Earl of Rosberry, Earl of Islay, Lord Yester, Lord Haddo, Lord Carmichael, Lord Ross, Lord Register, Lord Advocate, Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Anstruther, Lord Cessnock, Lord Minto, Lord Forglen, Lord Grange, Sir Robert Sinclair, Sir Robert Dickson.

1. Goodtrees elected praeses.

2. Leven reported on some intelligence from the north and said that they had reported much the same as the Dundee magistrate regarding 3 French ships lying in the Spey.

3. Leven reported that George Binge was to sail north with the first favourable wind and station himself briefly in the Cromarty firth before returning.

4. Committee named to deal with highland clans ordered to meet at 4pm in Goodtrees’ lodgings. They were to compile a memorial to send to Queen Anne reporting out their policies against the highland clans and other disaffected people and to ask her advice on how to proceed. Looks to have castles and other places delivered to PC and to negotiate the clansmen’s surrender.

5. Robert Forbes (PC clerk) reported that he had searched the baffs of Strathclock and found nothing but clothes.

6. Leven reported that he had been commanded by Anne to bring in several people for ‘treasonable practices agt the Government’. These people (Seaforth, Traquair, Murray, Kilsyth, Sinclair, Belhaven and Bruce of Kinross) were all to be committed prisoners in Edinburgh castle.

7. Committee named to examine these people (above) ‘anent the Intended Invasion’.

8. PC Clerk (Forbes) allowed to remove from PC tomorrow to attend his cousin’s funeral.

Adjourned until tomorrow at 11am.

GD248/594/6/7

26-27 March 1708

Minutes of council

(26 March)

Earl of Lothian, Earl of Crawford, Earl of Rothes, Earl of Haddington, Earl of Dalhousie, Earl of Leven, Earl of Balcarres, Earl of Forfar, Earl of Cromarty, Earl of Islay, Lord Forbes, Lord Ross, Lord Register, Lord Advocate, Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Anstruther, Lord Cessnock, Lord Minto, Lord Forglen, Lord Grange, Sir Robert Sinclair, Provost of Edinburgh.

1. Goodtrees praeses.

2. Clerk (Forbes) told PC he had received from Aberdeen magistrates their orders to apprehend earls of Errol and Marischal as well as Major General Buchan.

3. Justice clerk told PC of letters from laird of Luss about his absence. Council recommended Luss to attend as they would not send more orders.

4. Report of committee anent Gordon and other prisoners. Goodtrees ordered to transmit this to the secretary of state.

5. Ross told the board about a letter from Kilmarnock about levying 50 or 60 men for 40 days. Lord advocate ordered to thank them and they were to wait on further orders from government as they were not needed at that time.

6. Sheriff depute of Argyll ordered to call out fencible men.

7. PC placed Campbell of Glendarule in tolbooth for ‘bad practices agt the government’.

8. PC heard of several people from France ‘who lurked here’. Ordered Edinburgh magistrates to close the port, to search for these people and other disaffected people.

Adjourned until tomorrow at 11am.

GD248/594/6/8

1698

‘Memoriall For The Right Honorable The Viscount of Seafield Lord President of the parliament of Scotland 1698′

N/a

• This memorial concerns the convention of royal burghs which was held at Edinburgh in November and Aberdeen in July.

• It makes 7 points in total. These are all concerning some irregularities in these conventions and that some burghs were not told of its meeting and thus were not able to attend and some other issues including one about voting, for instance, on the second page.

GD248/594/6/10

1705

‘Petitione for Thomas Hammond & Comp[any] 1705′

N/a

Since the criminal proceedings against the crew of the ship and the investigations of its cargo were finished, they asked for the council to deliver all the books, records, accounts, etc. which had been seized and used in the council’s investigations into the crew. This was because the owners had no present account of who or what was on board specifically nor what the seamen were owed as wages, etc. The records were to be handed to the company’s factor in Edinburgh, one Patrick Stewart, merchant in Edinburgh. They asked for the clerk to the admiralty to deliver them to him.

GD248/594/6/12

undated

‘Memorandum’

N/a

It commends the present parliament for having ‘wrestled throw manie difficulties’. But it also adds that ‘there is yet danger in the conclusione to be advertid’.

GD248/594/6/14

undated

Address from some of the members of the Convention of Royal Burghs in favour of Sir Alexander Cuming of Coulter.

N/a

Addressed to Argyll (High commissioner) sand Seafield (Chancellor). The letter reported ‘That for Several years by past Our Staple Trade to the Low-Countries has been ruin’d and destroyed, Her Majesty’s Subjects Merchants Factors and Skippers have been harassed and oppressed by the Negligence, Impudence, and Mismanagement of Sr Andrew Kennedy and his son the late Conservators’. The convention had received many complaints about these individuals both from Campvere and others. The Convention found that Anne had caused to remove him from office and have him replaced by Air Alexander Cuming of Coulter, but were surprised to find out that on the anniversary of this supposed appointment it had not been carried out.

GD248/594/6/16

undated

Mr Verners Memorial

N/a

Petition from Benjamin Verner, resident in Edinburgh (addressed to Seafield) who had been brough to penury at the revolution and therefore asked for some subsistence money.

GD248/594/6/18

undated

Information for Baylie Steward: ‘Information anent the process raised befor the Lords of Her Majisties privial Counsell be John Chalmbers againest Baylie Steuard’

N/a

• The bailie was found guilty of wrongous imprisonment of a burgess, and fined £1,000 Scots, plus 50 merks for each day Chalmers remained in prison.

• Provost of Edinburgh was to present the issue to the PC.

• Unclear what the resolution of this was.

GD248/594/6/20

1713

Copy minutes of town councils of burghs of Cullen, Elgin, Banff, Kintore and Inverurie anent election of a member of parliament. 1713.

N/a