Moodie book

The Moodie Book. 21
Colville at his awn house end." 1 On 12th November 1622, Francis Mudie
executed a charter in favour of William Sandison of Ayre of his five merk land
called Garson, &c. ; and, on the 18th July 1630, he, as " Francis Mudie of Breck-
ness, son of somewhile Adame Mudie, sometime of Breckness," was finally infeft
in the lands of Melsetter by George Graham, Bishop of Orkney, and is thereafter
in the sasines invariably styled " of Melsetter," having previously always been
designated as " of Breckness," although he appears in the land Court Book of the
Bishopric of Orkney as Francis Mudie of Breckness " for Melsetter," or " for his
lands of Melsetter," as early as January 16 19. 2 In that book he is also men-
tioned, under date 1632, as Francis Mudie of Melsetter, heir to his goodsire
(grandfather), Mr William Mudie of Breckness. The lands of Melsetter appear to
have been held partly by the Crown and partly by the Church. The Crown's
portion had been in possession of the Moodies for several generations, though
their possession even of that seems to have been a little insecure owing, no doubt,
to conflicting or overlapping grants to Robert Stewart or others. 3 It was the
Church's portion, which the family had long been trying to obtain possession of,
that Francis now finally secured from Bishop Graham. Probably the attraction
was that it lay just opposite Caithness, and near one of the two ferries thereto,
across the Pentland Firth. The next mention of him is on the 25th January
1634, when he executed a disposition in favour of his son, James, of all and
whole his lands, &c, and gave bond of relief to James, his said eldest son and
heir, who, as cautioner with him, had signed a bond to Bishop Graham for £1000
Scots. He somehow lost his estate of Breckness to this same Bishop Graham. 4
1 There are two amusing entries in the Registers of the Privy Council under 8th and 13th Feby.
1627. One Thomas Lindsay of Craill has stolen a ship in the harbour there and brought her to
Kirkwall. Sir J. Buchanan of Scotscraig, Sheriff of Orkney, in pursuance of a commission from the
Privy Council, makes a note of the vessel's gear, &c. , and puts her into safe keeping. These proceed-
ings are attested by Francis Mudie of Breckness amongst others, and Buchanan sent in the report so
attested to the Privy Council on 8th February. On the 13 th, however, he writes to explain that long
before he had received the King's Commission in the matter, the said ship had been " apprysit by
Francis Mudie of Brekues, ane gentleman of this cuntrey, for certain sowmes owing him by Thomas
Lindsay." What a nice little dilemma, and how the Council must have grinned at the explanation
as to Francis Mudie's personality! Hossack remarks, p. 131, " Some of Kirkwall's old time ships
had rather odd names. In 1631, Francis Mudie of Melsetter paid Thomas Lindsay of Craill 1000
merks for the bark ' Godsend.' "
2 See the " Court Book of the Bishopric of Orkney," 15th November 1614 to 26th July 1638, in
the Register House, Edinburgh.
3 The Privy Council Register of 11th July 1611 shows that Francis Mudie was in possession of
the house of Melsetter and actually living there at that date.
4 Capt. James Moodie writes to his uncle : — " Trafter, Francis, in anno 1628, grants several
bonds upon the lands of Breckness for the behoove of George Graham, then Bishop of Orkney ; but
the Bishop not being willing to appear, the bonds were in the name of another person." After stating
that the reversion of these lands was secured to Marion Crichton, wife of the Bishop, and his son, John
Graham, he concludes : — " The truth of the matter is, Francis Moodie was too great a libertine and
kept more concubines than was convenient, for wbich Bishop Graham of Orkney did summon him to
appear before him, but he not obeying, the Bishop threatened church censure. Francis, being willing
to preserve his pleasure, and well knowing the Bishop, it seems, made an offer of agreement which
was pleasing to the Bishop, for the -Reverend Prelate, like a good Pastor, willing to bear with
infirmities, allowed Francis to continue in the peaceable possession of his sins, in lieu of which the