Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

The Court Trial
The court battle that took place between June and September 1800 is
interesting, not least of all because the Grand Lodge of Scotland was noticeably
absent from any of the proceedings and new, extraordinary evidence was heard
that had had not been presented during the previous trial. John Andrew and
Robert Ramsay, the principal defendants, were charged with sedition and the
administration of unlawful oaths. Appendix 8 contains the Criminal Letters/His
Majesty’s Advocate/Against John Andrew and a list of the charges against
Ramsay and Andrew. The prosecution asserted that
219
Whereas it is humbly meant and complained to us by our Right Trust
Robert Dundas Esq. of Arniston our Advocate for our Interest upon John
Andrew Shoemaker in Maybole And some time Schoolmaster there And
Robert Ramsay Cartwright there That Albeit by the laws of this and of
every other well governed Realm, Sedition, As Also, the wickedly &
feloniously administering or causing to be administered unlawful oaths,
more especially when such oaths import an obligation not to reveal or
discover crimes which it is the duty of every good Citizen and Loyal
subject to divulge and bring to light; are crimes of a heinous nature and
Severely punishable Yet true it is and of Verity that the said John
Andrew and Robert Ramsay above complained on are both or one or
other of them guilty actors or art and part of the aforesaid Crime or
Crimes. In so far as under the Shew and pretence of a Meeting for
Masonry, Some time in the course of the year One thousand seven
hundred and Ninety Six, at Maybole parish of Maybole and County of
Ayr; along with others their associates, most of them from Ireland,
formed themselves into an illegal club or association Styling itself “The
Grand Assembly of Knights Templars” or bearing some such name;
which club or Association under pretence of initiating into the
Ceremonies of Masonry, did admit various persons as Members, and did
at said admission perform various ceremonies partly with a view to vilify
and undermine the established Religion, and partly to represent the
Constitution and Government of the Country As oppressive and
Tyrannical. 120
120 Robert Ramsay Declaration, 1800, JC 26/305 NAS. See Appendix 8 for a complete transcript
of the Robert Ramsay Declaration.