Bishop of Caithness – Lands in Caithness & Sutherland

Bishopric of Caithness Estate

 

The bishopric of Caithness held enormous estates in Caithness and Sutherland. From its first endowment it is plain that the bishop was expected to play a major role in the politics and society of the far north – as well as its religion. The bishop needed lands and tenants to support that role.

 

Which lands? We have various references over the centuries and the following tables attempt to capture that data. We have two important texts from the thirteenth century and we also have a cluster of documents from the time of the Reformation which allow us to describe parts of the estate in great detail.

 

Firstly, there is a Constitution for the Chapter of Caithness (1223-1245) which gives us the ecclesiastical lands which were assigned to the bishop and the cathedral chapter. Some of the resources referred to are tiends or tithes of produce (1/10ths); others refer to ‘altarage’ dues; others still refer to churches, chapels (and their pertinents), and parishes. (For what ‘altarage’ might include see Dowden, The Medieval Church in Scotland, pp 137-8). With each church or chapel there were usually some lands assigned to its upkeep. Often, this might be a davach or half-davach but the evidence is sketchy. There were also crofts and tofts in Dornoch to help support the canons on a day-to-day basis. (See Two Ancient Records of the Bishopric of Caithness, from the Charter-Room at Dunrobin. Bannatyne Miscellany III, Edinburgh, 1855, pp 11-15, 17-21; W. Fraser, The Sutherland Book, Vol III – Charters, No 4, Edinburgh, 1892; OPS II, II pp 601-2).

 

Secondly, there is an agreement between the Bishop of Caithness and the Earl of Sutherland dated 1275. (See Two Ancient Records of the Bishopric of Caithness, from the Charter-Room at Dunrobin. Bannatyne Miscellany III, Edinburgh, 1855, pp 15-16, 21-24; W. Fraser, The Sutherland Book, Vol III – Charters, No 7, Edinburgh, 1892; OPS II, II pp 603-4).

 

Thirdly there is a charter, dated 1557, by Robert, Bishop of Caithness to John Earl of Sutherland, and Helen, his wife, of extensive lands in Caithness and Sutherland. There is much detail about the rents. (See W. Fraser, The Sutherland Book, Vol III – Charters, No 97, Edinburgh, 1892, pp xlii-xliii, 116-124).

 

Fourthly, there is a royal confirmation (RMS IV (1669) 1565) of a charter by Robert, bishop of Caithness, following a direction dated March 1563/4, concerning the entry of Alexander Gordoun, son and heir apparent of John, formerly earl of Sutherland, in lands which John held of the bishop. This details lands and rents in Sutherland and Caithness. RMS VI (2155) 1608 (on an original of 1607) is a very similar document, the printed version of which includes some minor but important extra material. Subamster is given as 1d, Tayclyb is named as a croft of Sithera, and Ernoch is named amongst the lands of Dornoch. (Is Ernoch a mistake for a name like Embo)?

 

Fifthly, we have a number of entries from the Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices which date to the period 1561-c.1565. These are to be found in J. Kirk, (ed.), The Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices, Oxford, 1995, pp 627-649. (The bishopric is detailed pp 627-9 but the parishes and chapter lands are scattered through the following pages).

 

These last three sets of documents treat of the same lands paying the same (or very similar) rents and give us more confidence in the overall validity of the data.

 

Other relevant documents include:

RMS II (1404) 1478 on original of 1455

RMS IV (2578) 1576 on original of 1560, (2965) 1579-80 on original of 1576, (2995) 1580 on original of 1561.

RMS V (277) 1581 on original of 1580, (1729) 1590, (1766) 1590 on original of 1587, (1977) 1591, (2078) 1592

RMS VI (2) 1593, (803) 1598, (1467) 1603 on original of 1600, (1729) 1606, (2155) 1608 (on an original of 1607)

RMS VIII (481) 1623 on original of 1622

RMS IX (1098) 1642

 

RSS VII (987) 1577

RSS VIII (1551) 1583

 

Retours (Sutherland) (2) 1605

Retours (Caithness) (6) 1605

 

Sutherland Book, Vol III, No’s 119, 120, 1591

Henderson, J., Caithness Family History, pp xxviii-xxix

 

The following 3 tables list the churches, church-lands and farms in the various documents describing the estate of the bishopric of Caithness.

 

Firstly, the constitution of the cathedral chapter – 1223-1245:

Office	Parish or Church	Garbal teinds	Altarage	Other lands	Extent or Comment
Bishop (+ Abbot of Scone) & rest of Chapter	14 parishes				To support bishop and chapter of 10 canons including bishop, abbot, 5 officials, 3 ordinary canons
Bishop	6 parishes (unnamed)				To support Bishop. See below.
Dean	Clun Church(Clyne)	Durnach Ethenboll	¼ of Durnach	Methandurnach + Toft & Croft in Durnach	Dornoch (civitatis) Embo (ville) (Meadhan or Mid-Dornoch?)
Precentor	Crech Church(Creich)	Promci Auelech Stradormeli Askesdale Rutheuerthar	¼ of Durnach	Huchterhinche apud Durnach + Toft & Croft in Durnach	Proncy Evelix Strathormlary (Dornoch parish) Astle Riarchar
Chancellor	Rothegorth Church (Rogart)	Scelleboll (12 davach estate)	¼ of Durnach	+ Toft & Croft in Durnach	Skelbo
Treasurer	Larg Church (Lairg)	Scitheboll Sywardhoch	¼ of Durnach	+ Toft & Croft in Durnach	Skibo & Cyderhall. (Except precentor’s garbal teinds of Stradormeli = Strathormlary)
To resident canons	Farr Church				Excepts teinds of Helgedall (Halladale). This was an incentive to reside.
Archdeacon	Bouer Church (Bower) Watne Church (Watten)			+ Toft & Croft in Durnach
Chancellor Treasurer Archdeacon				Pethgrudi 2 Herkhenys + common pasture of ‘civitatis’ of Durnach	Pitgrudy     Divided equally between them
Prebend of the Abbot of Scone	Kelduninach Church (Kildonan)			+ Toft & Croft in Durnach
3 remaining prebends	Olrich Church Donotf Church Cananesbi Church Scynend Church			+ Toft & Croft in Durnach each	Olrig Dunnet Canisbay Skinnet –  (all 4 churches in common).
To providing light and incense	Dyrnes Church				Durness
To bishop’s vicar in Cathedral Church		Thoreboll Kynald		20 acres at Durnach + Toft & Croft	Torboll, Dornoch Kinnauld, Dornoch

 

The 6 parishes belonging to the bishop are unnnamed but almost certainly comprised:

Kilmaly/Golspie, Loth, (Sutherland); Reay (part Sutherland, part Caithness); Thurso, Wick, Latheron (Caithness). This is evidenced by the fact that these 6 parishes are the ones whose garbal teinds (teind sheaves) went to the bishop in the data from the Books of Assumption given below.

 

There is some uncertainty about the parochial situation in the early 13^th century. OPS II, II p 601 fn 5 states:

“Lairg at that period included Edderachillis; Far included Tongue; and Skinnet included Halkirk and Spittal. Assynt, the only remaining parish, was probably not a distinct parish at the time”.

(I have doubts with regard to Edderachillis and Assynt. Both lie west of Druim Alban and I am not persuaded they were formally attached to either Creich or Lairg – which lie east. Assynt may not have been considered a part of the bishopric when it was first consituted. By 1455 it certainly was – see Assynt text file. The relationship between the parishes of Skinnet and Halkirk, and the ‘hospitality’ of Spittal, is largely unknown).

 

The next important document is the agreement, dated 1275, which seems to have settled a long argument between the bishop and earl about the ownership of certain lands. All were claimed by the bishop but a compromise was reached whereby the lands were split between the two parties. In total the bishop had claimed 33¾ davachs. After 1275 he retained 16½ davachs, and the earl was allocated 17¼. Of the lands that the bishop ‘lost’ several are mentioned in the table above in the context of the bishop and chapter receiving the teinds. These include Promci (Proncy), Auelech (Evelix), Askesdale (Astle), Rutheuerthar (Riarchar), Thoreboll (Torboll) and Kynald (Kynnauld). The fact that these lands are specifically mentioned suggests the bishop had at least some claim on them. If we add their values to what the bishop retained in 1275 we may reach a better idea of the extent of the bishop’s estate c. 1200. The totals are 16½ (retained 1275) + Proncy (3 davachs), Evelix (2 davachs), Astle (¾ davach), Riarchar (1 davach), Torboll (3 davachs), Kinnald (2 davachs) taking us to 28¼ davachs. It looks as if 1275 saw a successful, secular, raid on the Bishop’s estate. This may have had political support from the highest level.

 

1275:

Lands	Valuation	Claimed by	Allocated to	Parish	Comment
Scytheboll (Skibo)	6 davachs	Bishop	Bishop	Dornoch
Sytheraw (Sidera)	6 davachs	Bishop	Bishop	Dornoch	+ ferry
Miggewet (Migdale) Swerdisdale (Swordale) Creych (Creich)	2.5 davachs	Bishop	Bishop	Creich	+ fishing of Bunnach
Cuttheldawach	1 davach	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch
Mouimor	2 davachs	Bishop	Bishop	Clynw
Awelec	2 davachs	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch
Promsy	3 davachs	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch
Rowecherchar	1 davach	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch
Haskesdale	3 quarters	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch	= Astle
Hacchencossy	½ davach	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch	= Achosnich
Thorbolle	3 davachs	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch
Kynalde	2 davachs	Bishop	Earl	Dornoch
Largge	4 davachs	Bishop	Earl	Lairg
Total	33¾		16½ bishop 17¼ earl

 

The wealth of the bishopric is confirmed by entries in the Exchequer Rolls Vol I for 1328. On p 113 the receipts from the vacant seat are given as £133 6s 8d (200 merks). There were some expenses (listed on pp 114 & 116) but, in comparison, they were very small. The Earl of Sutherland got 50s (£2-10s (3¾m)) for looking after the bishopric for one term; 62s 4d (< 5m) was spent watching the castle at Scrabster and ‘Hermann’ got £8 (12m) for his service in the bishopric whilst it was in the king’s hands.

 

The next table compares the entries for the documents listed at points 3, 4, & 5 above. What is particularly important about these documents is that they give rentals. Rentals which are the same (or similar) give us added comfort that our data is correct.

 

SB = Sutherland Book Vol III; RMS = RMS IV (1669) 1565 based on an original of 1564; BA = Books of Assumption.

In the above entries, Skibo, Skelbo, Torboll etc refer to large estates of many davachs. In the table below the names just refer to the head farm from which the estate took its name.

For the sake of brevity I have not given all the spelling variants which occur in these documents.

Rental figures given are per annum. Under County: S = Sutherland, C = Caithness.

RM(2) = Rent details match between 2 separate documents. RM(3) = Rent details match between all 3 documents.

*indicates minor arithmetic difference.

Period covered = 1557-1565

Lands	SB No 97, 1557	RMS IV (1669) 1564	BA, 1561-5	Parish/County	Comment/Extent
Sutherland
West Skibo	Wester Skebo	Westir Skebo		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 12d/2 davachs
		Skebo-castell + Bramoirt called Estir-part de Skebo		Dornoch, S
		Dowcatland + brasina		Dornoch, S	Dovecot + alehouse
Cyderhall	Sythera	Sithera		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 12d/2 davachs
Cuthill/Ullestrie	Vllest	Wllest		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 6d/1 davach
Ardalie	Ardalles/Ardellis	Ardeles		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 6d/1 davach
	Ferretoun	Ferritoun		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 3d/½ davach
Davachfin	Dawatsin/Dawauchsin	Dawoichfyn		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 6d/1 davach
Drumdivan	Drumdewane	Drumdewan		Dornoch, S	RM(2) 6d/1 davach
Achvaich	Auchiveyauch/Auchoveyich + pendicles of:	Auchewaicht + pendicles of:		Dornoch, S	RM(2)
Achormlarie	Cuthegermolaye/Auchgormuta	Auchegormoley		Dornoch, S	RM(2)
	Auchenecolas/Auchenicholas	Auchenicolas		Dornoch, S	RM(2)
Skibo mill	Skebo mill	Skebo mill		Dornoch, S	RM(2)
Embo				Dornoch, S	2 davachs
	Palace of Dornoch	Palace of Dornoch		Dornoch, S
	Tofts and crofts in Dornoch	Crofts & tenements in Dornoch	Crofts & tenants in Dornoch	Dornoch, S.
Ernoch				Dornoch, S.	RMS VI (2155) 1608 (on original of 1607)
Caithness
Brims		13½d (Half-)Brymms	Brymis	Thurso, C.	RMS IV (2578) 1576 on original of 1560 RMS V (1766) 1590 on original of 1587 Half-Brymmes in (1607)
Thursetter				Thurso, C.	RMS IV (2578) 1576 on original of 1560 RMS V (1766) 1590 on original of 1587
Fors	Force	Fors + mill and salmon-fishery	Forss	Thurso, C.	RM(3)*
Baillie	Ballze	Bailye	Bailyie	Reay, C.	RM(3)*
Lythmoir		⅔ Lythtmoir	Twa pairt Lochmair	Thurso, C.	RM(2)*
Lyth			Lycht	Bower, C
Lythmoir		2d of ⅓ Lythtmoir	Tua penny land mair	Thurso, C	RM(2)*
⅓ Lyth				Bower, C	RMS VI (2) 1593
⅔ Lyth				Bower, C.	RMS IX (1098) 1642
1¼d in Kirk				Bower, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593 & RMS IX (1098) 1642
Oust		⅔ Owest	Twas pairt Albist	Thurso, C.	RM(2)*
Stemster	Stambuster/Stambustar	Stambustar	Stainunsteir	Reay, C.	RM(3)
Wick 10d	10d Weik	10d Weik	10d Weik	Wick, C.	RM(3)* RMS II (1404) 1478 on original of 1455 RMS VI (1467) 1603
Piper’s Croft, Wick				Wick, C.	RMS VI (1467) 1603
Tenement, Wick				Wick, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593
	Canzeouch Quyis/ Kennochquyis	Kennochquyis	Canis Quyis	Wick, C.	RM(3)*
	Bischopis Quyis	Bischopisquyis	Bischopis Quyis	Wick, C.	RM(3)*
N. Killimster	North Killummister/Kilimster	North-Kilmister	North Kilmster	Wick, C.	RM(3). 18d.
S. Killimster	South Killummister/ Kilimster	South Kilmister		Wick, C.	RM(2). 18d.
Winless	Mill of Wyndeles	Mill of Windeleis	Miln of Vindleis	Wick, C.	RM(3)
⅜d Myrelandnorne	3 octiuinis in Myreland Norne	3 octams in Myreland-nornie	3 ottounis in Netherland Norne	Wick, C.	RM(2)
½d Myrelandnorne				Wick, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593 & RMS IX (1098) 1642
3¼d Myrelandnorn				Wick, C.	RMS VI (1467) 1603 RMS VIII (481) 1623 on original of 1622
Lythmoir	Mill of Lyche/Lychmoir	Mill of Lytht[moir]	Mylne of Lychtmoir	Thurso, C.	RM(3)
Scrabster	9½d Scrabustar/Scrabuster	9½d Scrabistar	Strabusteir	Thurso, C.	RM(2)
	Crofts of Scrabustar	Crofts of Scrabistar	Crofts of Strabuster	Thurso, C.	RM(3)
Lie Wairdis & Langrig de Scrabister				Thurso, C.	RMS VI (2155) 1608 (on original of 1607)
	¼ of salmon fishing of River Thurso	¼ of salmon fishing of River Thurso	¼ of Watter of Thurseth	Thurso, C.	RM(3)
	Annuals of Thurso			Thurso, C.
			Barony of May*	Canisbay, C.	See below
May				Canisbay, C.	RMS VI (1467) 1603 RMS VIII (481) 1623 on original of 1622
Nesseter				Canisbay, C.	RMS VI (1467) 1603 RMS VIII (481) 1623 on original of 1622
Hollandmey				Canisbay, C.	RMS VI (1467) 1603 RMS VIII (481) 1623 on original of 1622
2d in Stroma				Canisbay, C.	RMS II (1404) 1478 on original of 1455 RMS VI (1467) 1603 RMS VIII (481) 1623 on original of 1622
2d in Olrik				Olrig, C.	RMS VI (1467) 1603
3d Ormelie				Thurso, C.	RSS VII (987) 1577
Sutherland
		The following are the components of the 15 davach barony £81 6s 8d (122m)	15 Davach barony of Ardurmes   £81 6s 8d (122m)	Durness, S.	RM(2)
Galdwell		Gauldwale		Durness, S.
Keoldale		Kualdale		Durness, S.
Cranagak		Crannega		Durness, S.
Borley		Borrole		Durness, S.
Slains		Slanis		Durness, S.
Oldshoremore		Aistlairmoir		Ex Durness, S.
Oldshorebeg		Estlarbeg		Ex Durness, S.
Sandwood		Sandwat
		Carragavife alias Carragarrow			Carragavis (1607)
					Carnagarrow (1607)
		Carramanicht
		R. Awingarroun			Now Rhiconich River
R. Sandwood		R. Sandwatt			R. Sandwood
Eilean Hoan		Island of Hoa		Durness, S.
Laxford		½ fishing of Laxfurde
		Fishery of Ardurnes		Durness, S.
		Fishery of the Cruves
		Garbal teinds of parish of Ardurnes		Durness, S.	Total income (rents etc) =  £81 6s 8d
Skail		Skaill	Skaill	Farr, S.	RM(2), Strathnaver
Ribigill = Regeboll		Regeboill	Regeboll	Tongue, S.	RM(2), Strathnaver
Caithness
Dorrery (1d)		Dorare	Dorare	Thurso, C.	RM(2), RMS II (1404) 1478 on original of 1455
Olgrinmore		Ulgraniemoir or Mekle Wlgranie		Halkirk, C.
Olgrinbeg		Ulgraniebeig	Lytill Ullagrahame	Halkirk, C.	RM(2)
1d Subamster in 1607. = Sibster, Halkirk		Subambustar	Subunster	Halkirk, C.	RM(2) RMS VI (2155) 1608 (on original of 1607)
Halkirk		Halkirk + mill	Halieerik	Halkirk, C.	RM(2)
Wester Dale		Westir-Dale	Wnsterdaill	Halkirk, C.	RM(2)
Easter Dale		Estir-Dale	Kisterdaill	Halkirk, C.	RM(2)
Tormsdale		Thormeskaith alias Thormesdale	Thornisdaill	Halkirk, C.	RM(2)
		Miremichaelis	Mereinethalis		RM(2)
Durran		Diren	Derane	Olrig, C.	RM(2)
Alterwall		Alterwall	Atterdaill/Alterwaill	Bower, C.	RM(2), RMS II (1404) 1478 on original of 1455
Stanstill		3½d Stanstell 2½d Stanstell	Stansall	Bower, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593 & RMS IX (1098) 1642
Trala & Tinga				Bower, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593
Lie Beillis & Medosched				Bower, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593
½ Bulsett				Bower, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593
Hestycrow				Bower, C.	RMS VI (2) 1593
					Total = £475 12s 10d
Sutherland
Kilmallie Kirktoun		Kilmale-Kirktoun + pendicle called Auchnachaill	Kilmallie, Kirktoun	Kilmallie, S	Auchnacalzie (1607)
Rogart-more		Rogartmoir + mill & alehouse	Reard	Rogart, S.
Swordale			Stoirdaill	Creich, S.
Migdale			Nygdaill	Creich, S.
Little Creich			Lytill Creicht	Creich, S.
Teinds/Offices
			Teind sheaves Reay	Reay, C.
			Teind sheaves Thursoche	Thurso, C.
			Teind sheaves Weik	Wick, C.
			Teind sheaves Lothrin	Latheron, C.
			Teind sheaves Loth	Loth, S.
			Teind sheaves Kilmaly	Kilmallie, S.
			Parsonage & Vicarage of Kildonan 80m	Kildonan, S.
			Parsonage & Vicarage of Assynt 60m	Assynt, S.
			Parsonage & Vicarage of Farr 80m	Farr, S.
			Deanery of Caithness 10c. bere + 40m for vicarage of Kirktoun of Clyne &	Clyne, S.
			Denes feild (Auchindean)	Dornoch, S.
			Chantory of Caithness £100	Creich, S.
			+ 40s for the Chantouris feild	Dornoch, S.
			Treasurership of Caithness 3½ c. bere + 100m.	Lairg, S.
			+ 40s for the Thesaureris feild	Dornoch, S.
			Chancellory of Caithness 6 c. bere + 100m	Rogart, S.
			+ 40s for the Chancellaris feild	Dornoch, S.	= Pitgrudy
			Archdeaconry (‘archdenrie’) of Caithness – teind sheaves of Bower & Watten. 2 different rentals: £55 18s 8d, 27c. 11b.  OR 240m		‘archdene, his corporall landis’: Scarneclati with Larillis, Galthie Feild, Cloak & Camster = 18d (Above all Bower, C.)
			Vicarages of Bower & Watten £40	Bower, C. Watten, C.
			Parsonage (175m, 17c. bere) & Vicarage (20m+) of Canisbay	Canisbay, C.
			Parsonage & Vicarage of Olrig £134 9s	Olrig, C.
			Vicarage of Thurso (£16)	Thurso, C.	p 631 and p 648
			Halkirk & Skinnet (8c. bere)	Halkirk, C.	‘called the common kirks of Cathnes’
			Parsonage of Spittal £80	Halkirk, C.	Part of Halkirk?
			Vicarage of Wick £40	Wick, C.
			Vicarage of Reay £20	Reay, C. & S,
			Vicarage of Latheron £40	Latheron, C.

 

This table is of ecclesiastical lands that were not part of the bishopric

			Chaplainry of St Andrew (15m)	Golspie, S.	Golspie
			Chaplainry of Helmsdale (30m)	Loth, S.	St John’s, Loth
			Chaplainry of Clyne (15m)	Clyne, S.	To Moray cathedral
			Chaplainry of Kinnald	Dornoch, S.	OPS II, II p 622

 

* Barony of May

PSAS 11 (1875): John Stuart, ‘Articles by Robert, Bishop of Caithness’, … AD 1549, starts with an address to the Earl of Caithness whom the bishop refers to as ‘his wassall [vassal] and tennent of the baronie of May’. See also RMS VI (1467) 1603, on original of 1600.

 

For Skibo Castle see also RMS II (1404) 1478 on original of 1455.

 

The Cathedral dignitaries were supported by parishes elsewhere but they also seem to have had plots of ground in Dornoch to maintain them whilst in residence. So we know of ‘fields’ in Dornoch parish belonging to the Chancellor, Treasurer, Chanter, Dean and Archdean. We know the first three rented at 40s p.a. c. 1561. Since Achinchanter was 3d in 1623 it is probable Achintreasurer and Pitgrudy had the same value. See, for example, RMS V (1729) 1590.

 

Originally a Norse stronghold, Caithness was gradually encroached upon by Gaelic speakers from the south and west. The issue of linguistic division was a source of comment over the centuries. The church was not immune to this. Clerics had to be able to speak the language of their congregations:

Caithness and Sutherland Records Vol I, Part VI, London, 1912, p 154, 1366, John Wasil prepared to resign canonry of Caithness ‘especially as he is ignorant for the most part of the language of the people of that part’.

 

 

PSAS 11 (1875) pp 87-102: John Stuart, ‘Articles by Robert, Bishop of Caithness, against George, Earl of Caithness’, … AD 1549.

 

This is a valuable source concerning a dispute between the Bishop of Caithness and the Earl of Caithness. The Bishop makes 9 accusations of wrongdoing against the Earl. To each the Earl makes a reply and in turn the Bishop offers a further response or ‘confutation’. At this distance it is difficult to weigh merit, not least because the Bishop always has the last word! Some further detail is available in Pitcairn’s ‘Ancient Criminal Trials in Scotland’ Vol 1 Parts I (pp 149, 222) & II (pp 337, 394-5). We may deduce the following:

 

There was ‘sanctuary’ at the Kirk of Wick, in the parish of Watten, and at the kirk of Farr. It also appears there were ‘field chapellis’ (field chapels) in Farr – which, it is implied, the Earl had burned. We know of a great many chapels scattered through the Highlands so the phrase ‘field chapellis’ gives us an idea of their status. They were of lesser importance than parish churches and appear not to have offered sanctuary, but for the widely dispersed rural population they made religious observance accessible. In a huge Highland parish such as Farr travelling to the parish church could be a major undertaking.

 

The last article or allegation concerns the judicial execution of some men who had been taken out of a ‘gyrd’ (girth or garth). In the Bishop’s ‘confutation’ it appears that the ‘gyrth’ was that of ‘Saint Magnus’ which suggests Spittal in Halkirk parish. What was the difference between a ‘gyrd’ and the sanctuary provided by a normal parish church? A girth was probably more formal with (at least) 4 girth crosses marking the boundary at the 4 cardinal points. The parish churches of Caithness each provided sanctuary. The girth of Halkirk was bigger. It was situated near to the ancient place of assembly on Spittal Hill. The area of the girth may well have been big enough to accommodate herds of livestock. There was also a ‘gyrth’ at Tain in Ross – ALI No 29 (pp 45-6) 1439.

 

The Earl had the ‘steding of Substerwyk’ (‘steading of Sibster Wick’ – so called to distinguish it from other Sibsters such as that in Halkirk).

‘Vestmistar’ is mentioned in the context of Watten. This is the Westbuster which is now lost to the map.

 

The Bishop was upset by the Earl’s ‘brekking of sanctuarie’ or ‘violatione of sanctuarii’. Goods had been taken from the church of Farr including ‘the chalice chrissumstok [chrism-vessel for the holy oil] Eucharest [the pyx or container for the consecrated bread] and ornamentis of the altaris’. The Bishop wanted the Earl to make ‘Johne Sutherland in Barredale [Berriedale] restoir the messe buik [mass-book, missal] of the kirk of Far, and utheris [other] Cathenes men the ornamentis of the altar thairof’.

 

The Earl had helped himself to corn from Deran (Durran in Olrig parish). The Earl had also withheld ‘the few male of byrsbanis myln’ (feu mail [feu duty] of Brisbane’s mill);

broken down the mill of ‘Ormelye’ (Ormlie in Thurso parish);

stopped the ‘bigging of ane myll in litill Wlgrame pertenyng to the said reverend fader, inuist withhalding of ane strath of gyrss and ane watter fisching callit sleacht pertenying to the said toun’ (stopped the building of a mill in Olgrinbeg [Halkirk parish] pertaining to the said reverend father, unjustly withholding a strath of grass and a river fishing called Sleacht pertaining to the said toun [i.e. Olgrinbeg]);

[Sleach Water lies west of Loch More – into which it drains. Evidently this was the shieling for Olgrinbeg – and the Earl had usurped it];

‘certane landis reft maisterfullie fra the tennentis of Deran and Vyk be the said Erle and his tenentis’, (certain lands torn masterfully from the tenants of Durran and Wick by the said Earl and his tenants);

‘and ane mert tane fra ane puir man in Stamistar and ettin be the said Erle in Brawle’ (and a mert [cow] taken from a poor man in Stemster and eaten by the said Earl in Brawll).