10 s. vni. JULY 20, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.
43
give explanation. His defence was that he had been engaged in the "Utter house" for the "haill weike," and on the Saturday, which was the day for "the sermone of preparatioun," he was to be examined as a witness, and could not attend the same,
"quhairupoun he awaittit frome tua of the clock till sax or the cloke at nycht, and being thairby distractit frome the service of preparatioune, he could not be prepairit to communicate upoun the morne thairefter. And tuitching his going to ane uther kirk to communicat, he flatlie denyit the same, afferming constantlie that he keipt his house that foirnoone, and that he come to the afternoones sermone, and that he satt in the ordinair plaice with the remanent Lordis of the Sessioun."
Such evidence could not be neglected, and the report to the King stated that, "finding no verificatioun of the informatioun gevin," they could not proceed further, but
"remittit the same to your Majestie's princelie consideratioun, humblie beseiking your Majestic not to tak in evill pairt the said Sir James his not communicatting the day forsaid, quhilk proceidit not upoun wilfull contempt or disobedience, bot upon the just and necessair occaisioun foirsaid."
The prayer of the petition impressed the royal conscience, and though, upon the first information supplied, "we haid verrie grite caus of suspitioun and pregnant presumptionis aganst him," this report cleared him of any contempt or disobedience, so that royal dignity was satisfied, and "we reteine a goode oppinioun of him." Thus did Sir James, so to speak, thole his assize.
At the time of the Act of Union the privileges of the Court were protected in these terms:—
"That the Court of Session or College of Justice do, after the Union, and notwithstanding thereof, remain in all time coming within Scotland as it is now constituted by the laws of that kingdom, and with the same Authority and Privilidges as before the Unione."
In 1707 there was added to the duties of the Court the oversight of the regulations as to the "plantation of Kirks" and valuation of teinds. They had to determine as to any augmentation of stipends, disjunction of large parishes, erection of new churches, and such items as pertained to ecclesiastical matters. This extra work laid upon their shoulders was an opening whereby an augmentation of their own salaries might be effected. The opportunity was taken, and on the request coming up before the Privy Council, they, on the recommendation of the Lord President of Council, humbly recommended to her Majesty that some further provision should be made for her judicial servants.
Since those days continual progress in the machinery of justice has been made, but the stern, unbending determination of those lords who refused to bow to the insinuating bribery of the Court is still a force to be reckoned with, and in all the divisions the first essential principle is justice—"for the poore as for the grite ones."
MALDON RECORDS AND THE DRAMA.
(See 10 S. vii. 181, 342, 422.)
The following notes conclude my excerpts from the Maldon records:—
1581. To my l. Mountjoye's players, 5s.
To my l. Bartlett his playres, 3s 4d.
To the erle of Oxenford his playres, 10s.
1586. 2s. from certein musicions to have Mr. Bayliffs' goodwill to pleye in the towne upon the fayre daye.
Gifts[1] and rewards to noblemen's players, pursuivants, &c., 4l. 15s. 7d.
1594. 15 April, ther was payed vnto the Chamberlyns 2s. 6d., for a fyne assessed vpon William Gillman, for that he, in the open market, cryed a playe at the appoyntment of certen players, without Mr. Bayliffs' appoyntment, to the great reproche of the towne.
1597. 5s. to the earle of Derbie his players.
10s. to other players at another tyme.
1598. 10s. in rewards unto the Queen's majestie's players.
1599. 10s. given to the Queen's maiestie's players this yeare.
1603. 15s. to the King's players this year.
1611. 20s. to our gracious Prince his playres.
10s. to our gracious Queue her players comyng to this town this yere.
1612. 20s. unto our gracious Quene her plaires comyng to this towne this yeare.
20s. given to the plaires of the right noble princes Lady Elizabeth likewise coming to this towne this year.
1613. 10s. given to the plaires of the right noble princess Elizabeth comyng to this towne this year.
13s. 4d. given to the Children of the Master of the Revells likewise comyng to this towne this year.
1614. 20s. to the enterlude plaiers of our right noble Prince Charles comyng to this towne this yeare.
1615. 10s. given to the Prince's plaiers comyng to this towne this yeare.
10s. given to the Quene's maiestie's plaiers, called the Children, comyng likewise this yeare to this towne.
10s. given to another companie of her maiestie's players comyng to this towne this yeare.
1616. 22s. given to the Prince his players this yeare comyng to this towne.
22s. given this yeare to the Quene's grace's players.
20s. given to the Countie Palentine his players this yeare.
- ↑ Unhappily the chamberlains now give only sum total under this head, without details.
