An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Gaidheal > Volumes 44--45, January 1949--December 1950

or Coroner was to arrest and to secure the
goods of a person accused or convicted.
The crimes dealt with in these records were
mostly thefts and robberies, often with violence
and housebreaking, the stealing of cattle and
horses being most frequent. There were also
murders, especially child-murders. Punish¬
ments were severe. The penalty of death was
inflicted for robbery, and many of those con¬
victed paid the penalty at the gallow tree at
Inveraray. Other punishments included boring
the tongue with a hot iron, branding the palms
of the hands, and money fines.
The statutes were severe and the criminal
law was rigorously administered. So far from
the Highlands being “ a law unto themselves ”
until the latter part of the 18th century, justice
was administered, in Argyllshire at any rate,
as strictly as in Edinburgh.
The only case of witchcraft in these records
is that of Janet McNicoll, Rothesay, w.ho was
accused of “ the abominable crime of witch¬
craft,“meeting and consulting with the
devil ” at a certain place “ upon the shore of
Rothesay ’’ and consorting with other witches,
of whom, four were executed in 1662. Janet,
however, broke out of the tolbodth of Rothesay
and fled to the Lowlands where she remained
in Kilmarnock and other places for twelve
years, “ always under an evil fame both at
home and abroad.” Being re-arrested in 1673
she was found guilty and condemned “to be
taken and strangled to the death and her body
to be burnt at the gallows of Rothesay.”
In 1677 an Archibald Campbell “caused
build and erect ane dask and seatt ” in the
kirk of “ Kilvicocharmick in Knapdaill,” but
on the 3rd of June, be:ng a Sabbath day,
Neil Campbell of Knap entered the church
and, in presence of the congregation
immediately before divine service, “ most
barbarously, wickedly, and maliciously without
any ground or provocation teared and pulled
down the most part of the said dask,”
in spite of the remonstrance of several
gentleman and elders, and further he abused
one of the said elders and struck him over the
head with a piece of board which he had torn
from the said “ dask ” and also struck him
with his hands and feet. Neil was fined and
ordered to find caution and “ to satisfy the
minister and elders of the parish for the scandal
on the sabbath day.”
On Sundav, 11th July. 1675. in the church of
Kilmichael-Glassarv (“Glastrie ”), after the
Rev. Archibald MacCallum had ended h:s
sermons and administration of the sacrament
of baptism, Duncan Mellvernock and Archi¬
bald Campbell laid hands on tihe m’nister “ b'-
taking him by the breast, tossing him to and
fro, commanding and forcing him to return
to the church to baptise ane child to the said
Duncan Mcllvernock.” Duncan was fined one
hundred pounds Scots.
In June, 1675, there is an indictment against
a large number of Macleans, of Brolas,
Ardgour, Kinlochaline, Ardnacross, Aros,
Lochbuie, Torloisk, etc., accusing them of
assembling “armed, men with swords, hag-
butts, pistolls, duiks and other weaponst ”
in April bypast at Kinlochnakeall, to the
number of three or four hundred men, which
they summoned by sending through the Isle
of Mull, Morven and other places “ fyre
croses for convocating of the country people
in arms.” Other assemblies of armed men
gathered in Glenforsa and at Carnbulg. All
of these were declared outlaws and fugitives
and were “ put to the horn.”
Dr. Cameron deserves thanks for the labour
he has expended on these records and for
this further contribution he has made to the
materials for the study of Highland history.
Scots Year Book
The Scots Year Book, 1949-50, edited by
T. Atholl Robertson (142 pp., 2s. or, bv post,
2s. 3d.).
Mr. Robertson is to be congratulated on the
publication of the forty-fourth issue of this
indispensable little book, the first1 issue of
which appeared in 1905. Here are lists of
the Scottish and Highland and Gaelic societies
which are to be found in every part of the
world. There are fuller notices of many of
these societies, with something about their
history and activities. There are also book-
reviews and many interesting news paragraphs.
Every Scot interested in Scotland and “ the
Scots of the dispersion ” should have a copy
of this book. Any Scot going abroad should
regard a copy of it as just as important as
his passport.
About the Weather
Weather News Front is a bi-monthly news¬
letter on the weather, written by David
Bowen and illustrated by Edward Ardizzone.
Its aim is “ to show how the weather affects
our everyday lives, occupations, and sports.”
The annual subscription is 5s. post free.
Application should be made to David Bowen,
BCM/Weather, London, W.C.l. The first
number — January-February 1950 — includes
several intetesting features.
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