CO1/1/1
- Minute book of the Commissioners of Excise and supply, 05/12/1660 - 21/02/1678: "The Records of Excise, Sess, Taxations, and Contingencyes of Orknay". Includes:
Folio 2r
05/12/1660 Instructions for the Shire of Orkney to Hugh Craigie of Gairsay, their Commissioner for His Magesty's Parliament: - "that our Shyre be Vindicate from any Active Complyance with the Englishes during their Power so that nothing of Guilt can be Impute to our said Shyre more then to Others who gave any Passive Obedience to the then Usurped Authority…"
- that the present weakness and poverty of the shire be remonstrate
- "That our Shyre in all tyme coming…be only burdened with thair owne Proportion of Sess and not troubled with the Toune of Edinburgh their Sess".- to deal for a Commission of Justiciary to the J.P.s "for calling the witches and other criminall offenders to Condigne censure".
- to plead for Allowance of Montrose and his party their intromission with the Rents of the Bishopric Cropts 1648 and 1649 because done in tyme of war and by the pouer of the Sword".
Folio 14v
29/01/1662 Act empowering George Mowat, indweller in Kirkwall, to make and just the weights of the county to conform to Lord Morton's pundler in the New House in Kirkwall.
Folio 21r
09/10/1662 Supplication to the Parliament by the Gentlemen of Orkney and Zetland, reciting how they had maintained Montrose and his forces in 1649 and 1650, and seeking an indemnity upon the account of deficiency for these years.
Folio 21v
Memorandum and Instructions, to accompany the Supplication above.
Folio 28r
28/02/1663 Letter from William, Lord Morton, in Aberdeen, to the Commissioners, referring to his quarrels with Hugh Craigie, the late M.P., and recommending Sheriff Patrick Blair as his Successor.
Folio 36r
July 1663 Petition to Parliament by the inhabitants of Orkney and Zetland, reciting the circumstances which have led to their present distress, and asking to be "Releeved and Redresses of their Insuportable burdings and sufferings".
Folio 62v
30/11/1664 Supplication of Christian Russell, relict of umquile George Smith, late Collector of the Cess of Orkney, reciting that she is not in a Capacity to keep the public papers which were in her husband's possession and asking the Commissioner's to receive the papers from her.
Folio 66r-68v
1665 Copy orders, letters etc., concerning the levying of seamen, the furnishing of 100 foot soldiers, and the fortification of Zetland.
Folio 68v
17/06/1665 Copy of the Commission by James Duke of York, to Captain John Strachan, as agent for His Magesty's fleet in Orkney and Zetland.
Folio 70r
21/11/1665 Order by John Strachan to the Gentry of the County, that when any ship appears "That hath their Maintopsail Loard upon the Kaep and a wauff upon the Topmast shrewds and a English pennet upon the Misson topmasthead", they should send out their boats and pilots.
Folio 74r
19/04/1666 Letters (2) from Patrick Blair, Kirkwall, to the J.P.s of St Andrews, Deerness and Holm, and to the J.P.s of the several isles of Orkney, warning them of the danger of landings by the King's enemies, and instructing them to fire their warts and beacons and send notice to Kirkwall upon the first sign of a landing.
Folio 79r
31/07/1666 Proclamation of "ane free market and Fair keeped at this Toune of Kirkwall, upon Friday, the third of August instant, being St Ollawes Day".
Folio 80r
17/11/1666 Act in favour of Adolph Westerman merchant in Hamburg, against Patrick Craigie, merchant, anent #400 exacted from Adolph for excise for imported beer and strong water in 1659 and 1660.
Folio 82v
20/12/1666 Instructions for William Douglas of Egilsay and Arthur Buchanan of Sound, Commissioners for the Shire of Orkney and Zetland to the Convention of Estates - easing of the cess, exemption form the levies of semen and soldiers, ammunition for the defence of Kirkwall.
Folio 86r
17/01/1667 Letter from Arthur Buchanan of Sound, in Edinburgh, to the Sheriff and the Shire - reports the discussion in the Convention on the laying of the cess - duel between the Lord Lyon and Mr Ward in the High St of Edinburgh - references to "these Commotions in the West", and the exile and executions of prisoners.
Folio 87r
15/02/1667 Letter from the Earl of Rothes, the High Commissioner, to the Sheriff of Orkney, reporting that ships of war are preparing at Bergen, with the design to attempt Zetland and the garrison there - requires the Sheriff to send warning to the Governor with all possible speed, and to be ready if ships should land in Orkney.
Folio 87r
28/02/1667 Minutes of sederunt, discussing defence arrangements following receipt of the above letter - preparation of arms - Thomas Wilson. David Craigie and Patrick Craigie to be captains of the three companies of the town of Kirkwall, "And are hereby Ordained to take care by Turnns to sie the Rampiers and Battery at the Shore made up and fencible" - arrangements for the firing of warts and beacons.
Folio 88v
13/03/1667 Declaration that all covenants, leagues etc., are unlawful, in particular the National Covenant, and the Solemn League and Covenant.
Folio 118r
02/09/1669 Instructions for Patrick Blair of Littleblair, Sheriff of Orkney and Zetland, Commissioner for the shire of Orkney to this ensuing Parliament:
- that he mind to secure an Act in favour of the Udallers of Orkney and Zetland - if faced with new burdens with regard to the Militia, that he plead an exemption on the grounds that the shire quartered 1400 men for the marquis of Montrose for eight months in 1649 and 1650, and furnished 100 men for the garrison in Lerwick "in tyme of the Late troubles and Warre with the Hollender" - that he procure a warrant "for putting of Witches and Incestuous persons to a Traill".
Folio 121r
23/12/1669 Requisition to the brewers of ale and beer, distillers of aquavity, ventners of strong waters and brandy, within the town of Kirkwall and parish of St Ola, that they make entry of their sales, malt brewed etc.
Folio 138v
05/12/1671 Bond by John Groat in Widewall, and William Flett, merchant in South Ronaldsay to Captain Robert Irving, Collector, for the Excise of South Ronaldsay.
Folio 142v
1672 Copy documents relating to a levy of soldiers and seamen for His Majesty's Service and the transportation of the men to Leith or Burntisland per the Bush of Kirkwall, Harry Moncreiff, skipper.
Folio146v
04/05/1672 Ticket of Payment for making a gibbet for "the Kings Souldiers Runnawayes".
Folio 160r
05/08/1673 Supplication of John Brown, merchant in Stromness, reciting that five soldiers had been quartered upon his house for alleged non-payment of excise on beer brewed and sold by his wife, and setting out the damage the soldiers had done to his house and furnishings.
Folio 190v
24/07/1676 Receipts to Captain Robert Irving, Collector of the Shire of Orkney, for a month's pay, from Alexander Buchan, soldier in the Earl of Linlithgow's Company, John Dunbar, soldier in the Earl of Kelly's Company, Patrick Stewart and John Jordan, soldiers in Lord Huston's Company, and James Balvaird and William Sharp, soldiers in Captain Stewart's Company.
Folio 191v
03/08/1676 Intimation to the Commissioners Ballies and Heritors, to appear next day in St Magnus Church where they shall be attended by the foresaid Commissioners.
