The Scottish Connection History & Culture
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ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 19:51 Page 132 THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION HISTORY & CULTURE is no evidence for this. The The transfer of the Bishopric issue was brought up many from Nidaros in Norway to times subsequently by St Andrews in 1472, and Denmark, but always reject- later the Reformation further ed by Scotland, which broke the connection with claimed that title had passed Norway. The presentation over due to the long period during the Cathedral's 800th of occupation and adminis- anniversary, by the Bishop tration from Edinburgh. The of Nidaros, of a Statue of St fact remains that the impig- Olav, shows that connec- noration has never been dis- tions remain, in spirit at Earl’s Palace, Birsay in the late 16th century charged and that the agree- least. Broad Street, Kirkwall about 1780 ment expressly states the Impignoration By the lat- was the "Annual" abolished, 1528, where the son of the would have surpassed intention that Denmark The oldest surviving rental ter part of the 13th century, and all the arrears due by previous Earl, another Kirkwall for architectural would do so. Thus the con- (ON riggarental, the runrig Norway was part of Scotland to Denmark can- William Sinclair, enlisted elegance, which sounds like stitutional position of the system of land division) Denmark, under King celled in the marriage settle- the help of the Lord of a polite exaggeration. islands remains unsettled to records date from Henry Sr Christian I. The annuity for ment, but also the young Caithness. The Caithness James' pilot, Lindsay, drew this day. Clair’s detailed survey of the Hebrides, the "Annual of princess was to bring a men were roundly defeated, up a detailed nautical chart 1492 and provide a fascinat- Norway", agreed at the dowry of 60,000 florins of but the feud was not and pilot of the islands for King James did not delay in ing insight into the pattern of treaty of Perth in 1266, had the Rhine. Since Denmark resolved. the first time. securing his position. In land tenure at the time. At not been paid by the Scots could only pay 10,000 at September 1470 he and Earl for about 200 years. After once, Orkney was to be held In 1567 the Scottish William Sinclair exchanged long, and at times acrimo- in pawn (sub firma hypothe- Parliament ruled that by excambion the lands of nious, negotiations, Charles ca et pignore) by the Orkney & Shetland should Ravenscraig in Fife for VII of France was asked to Scottish Crown until the bal- be subject to and enjoy their Kirkwall Castle and the arbitrate. He suggested a ance was paid. After a year 'own' Udal Law rather than Earldom lands held under Royal marriage between only 2,000 more was forth- Scots Law. In 1575-7 the the King (et toto jure ejus Margaret, daughter of King coming, so Shetland was Orkney Lawbook was pro- comitatus orchadie). Earl Armorial panel above Tankerness House doorway Christian of Denmark, and also pawned (impignorated) duced for the Scots Privy Sinclair however retained the future James III of on 20 May 1469. James V came to Orkney in Council, its last recorded his "conquest" lands in this time the traditional Udal Scotland. 1540, and was surprised to sighting. From now on Orkney, which he or his practices were giving way to Although it has been find that the islands were in Scottish influence gradually ancestors had acquired by something more like the rest The contract of marriage claimed that the right to a state of some civilisation. eroded the Udal Law, and purchase or other means of Scotland as the majority was finally agreed on 8 redeem the islands was dis- Indeed it was said that very the Old Norn language as over the years. of the land was now held September 1468. Not only charged at some time, there few 16th century towns Orkney was steadily assimi- either by the Scottish Crown Kirbister Loch, Orphir - site of the Battle of Summerdale is in the background In May 1471 the Act of or Scottish Church, and thus Earl’s Palace, Kirkwall, built about 1600, abandoned about 1720 Annexation to Scotland was most farmers were tenants. passed. The Bishopric in turn leased the Earldom Henry St Clair, was killed at lands, and in 1486 the Flodden in 1513, and was Corporation of the Royal succeeded by the locally- Burgh of Kirkwall was con- elected Sir William Sinclair stituted. Care of the of Warsetter, Sanday. Cathedral was handed to this Sinclair family feuding new body. A schoolmaster between the Caithness and was appointed and the Town Orkney family branches House now assumed impor- resulted in the Battle of tance for a time. Summerdale in Orphir in 132 133 ogb 3 collated.qxp 26/10/2005 19:51 Page 134 THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION HISTORY & CULTURE his disregard to his superi- ors, most notably his kins- Of Patrick Stewart “His pomp was so great, as he never went from SCOTTISH CONNECTION his castle to the kirk, nor abroad otherwise, without the convoy of TIMELINE I man, the King. The Stewarts fifty musketeers, and other gentlemen of convoy and guard. indulged in "land-grabbing", 1472 Earliest written rentals of And sichlike before dinner and supper, there were three trumpeters and gross abuse of Earldom land holdings; Bishopric trans- that sounded still till the meat of the first service was set at table, ferred from Nidaros to St powers of dubious legality, and sichlike the second service, and consequently, after the grace. Andrews 1486 Kirkwall Royal Charter but Patrick and his son He also had his ships directed to sea to intercept pirates and col- Robert were executed for 1489 Lord Henry Sinclair given lect tribute of foreign fishers that came yearly to these seas. tack of Orkney & Shetland rebellion, not oppression, in Whereby he made sic collection of great guns and other weapons of 1492 Oldest existing detailed 1615. Patrick was also the war, as no house, palace, nor castle, yea in all of Scotland were not rentals 1513 Henry Sinclair killed at first to instigate trials for furnished with the like. Flodden witchcraft in Orkney - which Quotation from “Historie and Life of King James the Sext” 1528 Battle of Summerdale a he predictably used as a Sinclair family feud means to expropriate the 1530 Earl of Moray granted feu Watergate and the Moosie Too’er, Kirkwall, in 1821 unfortunate person's proper- 1540 Visit by King James V lated into Scotland. Palace in Birsay in the 1570s 1557 English fleet attacks ty. Orkney in force and 1580s. In 1701 a 1557 Adam Bothwell bishop Orkney's nadir was reached Reverend John Brand visited Young Robert had travelled 1560 Reformation of Church in 1581, with the granting of and stated that "(The upper Noltland Castle started to Orkney in 1614, and with 1560s Major influx of Scottish title to the lands of Orkney floor) hath been prettily dec- the help of supporters took landowners and Shetland by Mary orated, the ceiling being all possession of the Castle, 1565 Robert Stewart granted Queen of Scots to her half- painted, and that for the Cathedral and Bishop’s Orkney & Shetland 1567 Parliament ratifies Norse brother, Robert Stewart. most part with schems hold- Palace. The Earl of The remains of Kirkwall Castle before removal in the 1860s Laws This ruthless, yet cultured ing forth scripture histories Caithness, George Sinclair, 1575 Robert disgraced - The individual, and his son, of Noah's flood, Christ's rid- volunteered to quash the Complaint of the People Patrick, imposed a harsh ing to Jerusalem etc.", but 1578 Returns to Orkney and rebellion. Many of Roberts oppresses landowners rule on the Orcadians which also that the palace was supporters were executed on 1580 Dutch herring fishery using ultimately spelt the end of becoming a ruin. In 1593 the spot, the Castle was Stronsay the Earldom. Traditionally Robert died, and the demolished and the 1593 Death of Robert, son it was he who destroyed the Earldom passed to his son, Patrick now Earl Cathedral was threatened 1590s Witchcraft tortures & trials Orkney and Shetland Patrick, nicknamed "Black with a similar fate. The begin Lawbooks. Patie". intercession of Bishop Law c.1600 Norse still everyday lan- guage, Earl’s Palace construction fortunately stopped this. started Using forced labour they Patrick Stewart was an arro- From this time on, the power 1608 Bishop Law arrives and Old houses at Houton, Orphir built palaces at Birsay, gant Scot who held of the Earl of Orkney was to complains to King James VI Kirkwall, and Scalloway in Orcadians and Orkney law be severely limited, and of the Stewarts, but all the was shipped to Bergen in 1610 Patrick charged with trea- Shetland. Earl Robert and custom in low esteem. same, the 17th and 18th cen- exchange for timber, contin- son and detained Orkney was to become an 1611 Privy Council passes meas- Stewart built the Earl's However his undoing was increasingly remote part of turies were hard for the ued for many years. Leith ures to abolish Orkney law Scotland, rather than a mini Orkney folk, with much and Shetland were also 1614 Attempted uprising by Noltland Castle, Westray was built for Gilbert Balfour about 1560 oppression from incoming important to the “merchant- Robert Stewart in Orkney power in its own right. 1615 Execution of Patrick & son, Scottish "landlords", most of lairds”, who were in a good Robert Stewart, Castle demol- From the 17th century on whose rights to the land they position to cash in on the ished but Cathedral saved Scots Law increasingly held were as dubious as series of “booms” which little was reinvested in their replaced the old ways, while those of the last two Sinclair were to characterise the estates.