Order, 15 March 1704, Edinburgh

Procedure, 19 December 1704, Edinburgh

Edinburgh The Fyfteen day of March Jaj vijc and Four years

A1704/3/161

Order

Order to the Clerks of Councill To prepair and bring into the Councill a Commission for trying and Judgeing Elspeth Archbald and Christian Main

Anent The petition given in and presented To The Lords of Her Majesties privy Councill By The Magistrats and Toun Councill of Aberdain Shewing That where there being two women presently lying in the prison of Aberdain for muthering of ther owen children The one Called Elspeth Archbald in the parochine of Banchry and the other Christian Main in the parochine of Aberdour The first wherof his been a considerable whyle in prison and boeth have made severall confessions of their horrid Crimes and being soe poor and indigent that trewly they are become a burden upon the Toun And seeing that these guilty of such crimes have not been in use to be tryed by the Judge ordinar upon the place without awarrand from their Lordships and that ther is a difficulty to obleidge Gentlemen in the Country when nominat upon such a Commission To accept and undertake the same And Therfore humbly creaving There Lordships To grant warrant and Commission To Andrew Frazer of Kinmundy and George Keith of Clackria sherriff Deputs of Aberdain and the Eldest Baillie of the said Burgh or any two of them To sit and Judge in the forsaid matter And to doe every thing requisit theranent As the said petition Bears. The Lords of Her Majesties privy Councill Haveing Considered the above petition Given into them By the Magistrats and Toun Councill of Aberdain And the samen Being read in there presence The saids Lords of Her Majesties privy Councill Doe heirby appoint the Clerks of Councill To prepair and bring in to the Councill nixt Councill day Ane Commission for Judgeing and trying of Elspeth Archbald in the paroch of Banchry and Christian Main in the paroch of Aberdour prisoners within the Tolbuith for murdering of their owen Children.

Edinburgh The Fyfteen day of March Jaj vijc and Four years

A1704/3/161

Order

Order to the Clerks of Councill To prepair and bring into the Councill a Commission for trying and Judgeing Elspeth Archbald and Christian Main

Anent The petition given in and presented To The Lords of Her Majesties privy Councill By The Magistrats and Toun Councill of Aberdain Shewing That where there being two women presently lying in the prison of Aberdain for muthering of ther owen children The one Called Elspeth Archbald in the parochine of Banchry and the other Christian Main in the parochine of Aberdour The first wherof his been a considerable whyle in prison and boeth have made severall confessions of their horrid Crimes and being soe poor and indigent that trewly they are become a burden upon the Toun And seeing that these guilty of such crimes have not been in use to be tryed by the Judge ordinar upon the place without awarrand from their Lordships and that ther is a difficulty to obleidge Gentlemen in the Country when nominat upon such a Commission To accept and undertake the same And Therfore humbly creaving There Lordships To grant warrant and Commission To Andrew Frazer of Kinmundy and George Keith of Clackria sherriff Deputs of Aberdain and the Eldest Baillie of the said Burgh or any two of them To sit and Judge in the forsaid matter And to doe every thing requisit theranent As the said petition Bears. The Lords of Her Majesties privy Councill Haveing Considered the above petition Given into them By the Magistrats and Toun Councill of Aberdain And the samen Being read in there presence The saids Lords of Her Majesties privy Councill Doe heirby appoint the Clerks of Councill To prepair and bring in to the Councill nixt Councill day Ane Commission for Judgeing and trying of Elspeth Archbald in the paroch of Banchry and Christian Main in the paroch of Aberdour prisoners within the Tolbuith for murdering of their owen Children.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 192.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 192.