Order, 23 February 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuenty third Day of Februarij Jaj vjc and Nyntie tuo years

A1692/2/981

Order

A Tumult at Drumfreiss

The Lord Chancellour acquainted the Counsell That the proveist of Drumfreiss hade acquainted his Lordship he hade receaved a letter from that toun which he delyvered to his Lordship giveing accompt that upon sabboth the […] day of Februarij instant some persones in number about thretty did come in to that toun and Carryed furth of there oune houses and without the ports of the said toun tuo Ministers who were preachers befor prelacie wes abolished And after they hade detained them ane hour and taken a book from off each of them Let them depairt, And that in the Monday Morning these persones returned and airly in the Morning did burne one of these books at the Cross and affixed a paper upon the Croce wherof there wes ane Copie in the Letter and which wes also delyvered to My Lord Chancellour, And further his Lordships acquanted the Counsell that by ane Letter from the Shirreff deput of Air He is Informed that the forsaids persones did deall Indiscreetly and rudely with the tuo ministers and beat them And offered to the Counsells Consideratione what were fit to be done in this effair And his Lordship having told the Counsell that he hade appointed the proveist to wait on Least the Counsell should call for him The proveist was called for and being Interrogate upon the severall Circumstances of this dissorder Declared he knew no more then what wes in the Letter and paper delyvered by him to my Lord Chancellour Except that he is now Informed there wes but about sixteen persones in this dissorder and disturbance And that they are all mean countrey persones Liveing about four or fyve myles from Drumfreiss who dissouned both presbiterian and episcopall ministers And acknowledged none but Mr Houstoun And that the Letter which he delyvered to my Lord Chancellor bears that the bailzies called befor them, the tuo Ministers on the Monday forenoon after the rablle wes gone And examined them anent the books found upon them And whether they did at any tyme make use of them And they declared they have severall tymes made use of the service of Comon prayer book befor they preached The proveist being removed The Counsell did Conferr on this mater And it was agreed that the proveist should be called for And that my Lord Chancellour in name of the Counsell should signify to the proveist the Counsells sense of and dissaffection with the magistrates of Drumfreiss there negligence in this haill affair And advertise the proveist that the toun counsell be more Circumspect in Suppresing the Illegall actings of any persones or pairtyes and preventing all tumults or dissorders And in secureing the peace of the place And that there be no occasiones given of the Lyke disorders in tyme comeing and that all tumults or dissorders be Cautiously guairded againest and speedie course taken for suppressing the same effectuall If any shall happen And that the proveist be Appointed to cause keep ane Constant guaird of the Inhabitants of Drumfreiss both day and Night and particularly upon the Sabbath dayes and in tyme of divyne service for that effect And the proveist being Called for The Lord Chancellour did Intimate to him the Counsells pleasure and Comand as above sett doun

At Edinburgh 23 February 1692

A1692/2/981

Order

A tumult at Dumfries

[John Hay, earl of Tweeddale] The lord chancellor acquainted the council that the provost of Dumfries had acquainted his lordship he had received a letter from that town which he delivered to his lordship, giving account that upon sabbath the […] day of February instant some persons in number about thirty did come in to that town and carried forth of their own houses and without the ports of the said town two ministers who were preachers before prelacy was abolished, and, after they had detained them an hour and taken a book from off each of them, let them depart. And that in the Monday morning these persons returned and early in the morning did burn one of these books at the cross and affixed a paper upon the cross, whereof there was a copy in the letter, and which was also delivered to my lord chancellor. And further his lordship acquainted the council that by a letter from the sheriff depute of Ayr he is informed that the foresaid persons did deal indiscreetly and rudely with the two ministers and beat them, and offered to the council’s consideration what was fit to be done in this affair. And his lordship having told the council that he had appointed the provost to wait on lest the council should call for him. The provost was called for, and being interrogates upon the several circumstances of this disorder, declared he knew no more then what was in the letter and paper delivered by him to my lord chancellor, except that he is now informed there was but about sixteen persons in this disorder and disturbance, and that they are all mean country persons living about four or five miles from Dumfries who disowned both presbyterian and episcopal ministers and acknowledged none but Mr Houston. And that the letter which he delivered to my lord chancellor bears that the bailies called before them the two ministers on the Monday forenoon after the rabble was gone and examined them concerning the books found upon them and whether they did at any time make use of them, and they declared they have several times made use of the service of common prayer book before they preached. The provost being removed the council did confer on this mater, and it was agreed that the provost should be called for and that my lord chancellor, in name of the council, should signify to the provost the council’s sense of and dissatisfaction with the magistrates of Dumfries their negligence in this whole affair, and advertise the provost that the town council [should] be more circumspect in suppressing the illegal actions of any persons or parties and preventing all tumults or disorders, and in securing the peace of the place, and that there be no occasion given of the like disorders in time coming, and that all tumults or disorders be cautiously guarded against and speedy course taken for suppressing the same effectually if any shall happen, and that the provost be appointed to cause keep a constant guard of the inhabitants of Dumfries both day and night, and particularly upon the sabbath day and in time of divine service for that effect. And the provost being called for, the lord chancellor did intimate to him the council’s pleasure and command as above set down.

1. PC1/48, 70-71.

1. PC1/48, 70-71.