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Frere : Visitation Articles 299
James's fair in the burgh of Forfar in 1671 contained in cross-charges by
and against William Gray of Hayston, claiming the office of constabulary.
He and the magistrates both claimed the right
to proclaim the fair. The
'
latter it
proclaimed both at the mercat crose of the said burgh and upon
the know called the Horseman's Know in the Muir of Forfar.' An
attempt to disperse the assembly led to an armed conflict of bodies of horse
and foot, with halberds, swords, muskets, guns, and pistols, after which
Gray went from the * muir in a most hostill triumphing and insulting
manner '
to proclaim the fair over again in his own name. Interesting
points of law and history were involved. On the one hand, the Gray
family had held the hereditary
offices of sheriff and constable with the castle
hill attached as a pertinent of the constabulary, and, on the other, the burgh
had had its whole burghal privileges confirmed by charter in 1669, includ-
'
ing the weekly mercat and yeerly fairs.' Gray prevailed ; Provost, bailies,
councillors, and others of the burgh party were fined and on the counter-
;
charge Gray and his company, including the sheriff-clerk of Forfar, were
assoilzied. Among the commissions of fire and sword granted in 1672
against outlawed Highlandmen is one against M'Leod of Assynt, and a host
of allied M'Leods, M'Neills, and other clansmen, whose offences included
that of *
intercomoning with the Neilsones alias the Slichten Abrach.'
such as the adventure of the Golden Salmond
Shipping incidents are many,
of Glasgow, partly owned by Provost Anderson, setting out on a maiden
by
which recalls the Sallee rover of Robinson Crusoe. Other Glasgow ships
mentioned are the Merchant, the Glasgow, the Rainbow, the David, and
the Dolphin. A staple export carried consisted of vagabonds and *
voyage to Cadiz and captured *
a Turkish man of warr near Salzie '
'
egyptians
under the then prevalent sentences of transportation to the American
plantations. Specific destinations of such cargoes are the Barbados, the
*
Caribbie Islands,' and Virginia.
But enough has been said to illustrate the wealth of interest there is in
these varied annals. Too little has been said in thanks to the editor for his
introductory analysis, which lucidly and with well-chosen illustrations
points out the prominent features of that time of ecclesiastical coercion,
of expanding commerce, and of steady decrease in domestic violence.
GEO. NEILSON.
VISITATION ARTICLES AND INJUNCTIONS OF THE PERIOD OF THE REFORMA-
TION. 3 vols. Edited by Walter Howard Frere, D.D. Alcuin Club
Collections XIV., XV., XVI. London : Longmans, Green & Co.
1910.
IT is probable that this work will be read only by those who already are
acquainted with the story of the religious changes that marked the sixteenth
century in England. Yet to such it persons will come as a revelation of a
great deal that is new and unexpected, and which could not be obtained
from
ordinary historical treatises. It sets forth, with the clearness peculiar
to original documents, the constant and manifold upheavals of the period.