Bannatyne Club > Criminal trials in Scotland, from A.D. M.CCCC.LXXXVIII to A.D. M.DC.XXIV, embracing the entire reigns of James IV. and V., Mary Queen of Scots and James VI > Volume 3

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384 APPENDIX.
To tliese notices, the following additional information may be annexed.
V. Mr Robert Ross of Craigie, above mentioned, seems, from entries in the Kirk Session Re-
cords of Perth, to have been reduced to a state of the utmost poverty and destitution. Mr James
Scott, in his Extracts from these Records, has the following melancholy entry : — ' On the 21st of
November, 1G20, Andrew Hoss, in name of 3Ir Robert Hoss, sometime of Craigie, his brother, pro-
duced before the Session the said 3Ir Robert's Supplication, showing his present misery, and divers
diseases wherewith he is vexed, craving support. Three pounds were taken out of the Thesaury and
delivered to the said Andrew, to give this brother.' '
The Editor has not been fortunate enough to obtain any material information regarding the personal
history of 3Ir Thomas Ross. From his own Depositions,^ however, it is abundantly clear, that be
must have endured great privations while in England. In that document he actually asserts, in the
most solemn manner, that he was driven, by his desperate circumstances, to adopt the unhappy step
which ultimately proved the cause of his destruction, in the vain hope, that the wit and talent he had
thus exhibited in so bad a cause, would not only plead his apology with the King and Court, but
become the means of his future advancement. Mr Scott merely remarks, as in reference to this mat-
ter, that ' it appears, from a Supplication to the [Kirk] Session, a considerable time before, that Mr
Thomas Ross had been a long time in the Prison of Edinburgh.'
In conclusion of the disagieeable subject, it is only necessary to add one other entry, from the Kirk
Session Records of Perth. It is pleasant to remark, that that charitable body had all along acted in
the kindest manner towards this truly unfortunate family; and farther, that they appear to have been
actuated by the same pious feelings, in numerous other cases of a similariy distressing description. —
' Jan. 9, 1621. Mr John Guthry, Minister, reported, that he had given thirty shillings, which he had
received from the Tiiesaury, to Andrew Ross, to bear liis expenses, when he passed to tlie visitation of
\_his brother^ umquhil Mr Thomas Ross, before his execution.'^
The Editor has failed in tracing the period when Ross was admitted a Master of Arts, and at what
University, although he was politely assisted in his enquiries by the Reverend Dr Lee, who gave
hira access to the Rolls of the Universities of St Andrews and Glasgow. He fears lie has already
encroached too much on the limits of this work, and now leaves the reader to di-aw his conclusions as
to the usage and cruel fate of the unfortunate ISlr Thomas Ross.]
I. Lettek, the King to the Privy Council of Scotland, with injiructions
t^o t, 5-^, as to Mr Thomas Rojh.^ [Sine data.']
RiGHTE truftie and righte welbeloued cofen and counfellour, and truftie and welbeloued counfel-
lour, WEE greete yow well. Wee fende yow here enrlofed, a Libelle, (written by a villanous caytifFe,
or rather nionfler, of our owne contrie,) wiiiche, in time of Dilputations at Oxforde, was affixed
vpon a gate of one of the Colleges, as Theses to haue bene difputed : And a fcholler, iiauing taken
doune and red the firll fix lines, (not daring to be confcious to him felfe of reading furder of fuch
purpos,) prefentlie caried to the Vice Chancellour ; who, fufpecting wlio mighte be the penner,
fente for him ; and hauing gotten his Confession, that not onlie he was the author, but likewife, that
be wolde maintayne all to be trew which he had fette doune therein, the Vice Cliancellour difcreetelie
and dewtifuUie committed him clofTe priloner to the Caflle of Oxforde, and fente the Libelle to vs,
that \\'ee mighte declare cure pleafour, bothe concerning it and the author. Whiche, his difcreete
cariage, hath, in our iugeraent, deferued to be, by a Letter of thankes frome our wholle Counselle,
' Mr James Scott, Minister at Perth's Extracts from the Kirk Session Records of Perth, II., 8, &c. ^ See
this Appendix, p. 588, &c. ' Sculfs Extracts from Kirk Session Records of Perth, II., 8. ' From the
Original draught, preserved amongst the Denmi/lne Papers, Adv. Library. It is carefully corrected, and interlined
in many places.