Slaited but the most remarkable Edifices in it are the Cathedral Church and the Bishops Palace As for the Kings Castle it is new demolished but by the Ruins it appears to have been a strong and stately Fort and probably built by some of the Bishops of Orkney as would appear from a remarkable Stone set in the midst of the Wall which looks towards the street with a Bishops Miter and Arms engraven'd on it There is here a publick School for the Teaching of Grammar endowed with a competent Salary and at the North end of the Town is a place built by the English in Oliver's time Ditched about with a Breast-work and some other Fortifications on which they have some Cannon planted for the defence of the Harbour This Town had been erected into a Royal Burrough in the time of the Norwegians and Anno 1486 King James the Third gave them a Charter confirming their old Erection and Privileges specifying their antiquity and giving them power to hold Burrough Courts to incarcerate and arrest to make Laws and Ordinances and to elect their own Magistrates yearly for the right Government of the Town and to have a weekly Market on Tuesday and Friday and three Fairs in the Year one about Palm-Sunday the other at Lammas and the third at Martinmas each to continue three Days he moreover disponed over to them some Lands about the Town with the Customs and shore dues and the power of a Pitt and Gallows and all other privileges granted to any Royal Burrough within the Kingdom exeeming them from sending any Commissioners to Parliament unless their own necessities require it This Charter is dated at Edinburgh the last of March 1486 and in the Year 1536 February the 8th King James V. ratified the former Charter by a new Charter of Confirmation And in the Year 1661 King Charles II. after his Restoration ratified the former Charters at Whitehall May 25th whereupon the Parliament at Edinburgh August 22d 1670 confirm'd all by their Act yet with this special provision That what was granted to them by that Act might not prejudice the Interest of the Bishop of Orkney This Town is govern'd by a Provost Four Bailiffs and a Common Counsel as in other Royal Burroughs CHAP. VI. Of the ancient State of the Church of Orkney Of the Cathedral Church at Kirkwall Bishop Robert Reid 's erection of the Chapter Bishop Law 's Transaction with King James VI. THE Church of this Country as also that of Zetland was under the Government of one Bishop stil'd Bishop of Orkney and Zetland The Bishop's Revenue was great before but at present it will not amount to much more than Six hundred Pound Sterling and now the King's Exchequer considering how much that Country has of late been impoverished Farm it out for Four hundred Pound Sterling The Cathedral Church is St. Magnus's Church in Kirkwall it was founded as is thought by St. Magnus or rather by Rolland Earl of Orkney who founded it in memory of his Cozen St. Magnus See the double of the Manuscript in the 8th Chapter but it has been enlarged by some of the Pious Bishops of that See for Bishop Steward enlarged it to the East all above the Grees and Bishop Reid three Pillars to the West It 's as beautiful and stately a Structure as is in the Kingdom and perhaps by much the longest as it is now for I have measur'd it and by some Feet it is longer than that of St. Giles at Edinburgh it 's built cross-ways for the most part of Free-stone standing on Pillars all most curiously vaulted and the Steeple elevated to a great height in which is a set of as excellent and sweetly chim'd Bells as are in any Cathedral of the Kingdom In the Year 1670 the Pyramid of the Steeple being cover'd with Woâ—d was burn'd by Thunder but by the Care of Bishop Mackenzie and his Liberality and some other Charitable Persons it is again Repaired Besides the Cathedral there are one and thirty Churches more in this Country wherein Divine Service is celebrated as also a great many ancient Chapels above an hundred in number which shews that this Country was no less anciently than it is at present addicted to Devotion This Diocess had its several ancient Dignities and Privileges for a long time but these by the constant trouble this Country was in by the change of Masters being lessen'd and grown worse Bishop Robert Reid made a new Erection and Foundation of the Chapter viz. Seven Dignities whereof the first was a Provost or Dean to whom under the Bishop the Correction and oversight of the Canons Prebendaries and Chaplains was to belong He had alloted to him the Prebend of Holy Trinity and Vicarage of South-Ronalsha with the Maintenance of the Church of Burza 2. An Archdeacon who was to Govern the People according to the disposition of the canon-Canon-law and to him was allotted the Archdeacons ancient Rights the Vicarage of Birsa and Chaplainry of St. Ola within the Cathedral Church of Kirkwall together with the Maintainance of the Church of Hara 3. A Precentor who was to rule the Singers in the Quire in the elevation or depression of their Songs and to him was allotted the Prebend of Orphir and Vicarage of Stennis 4. A Chancellor who was to be learned in both Laws and bound to read in the Pontifical Law publickly in the Chapter to all that ought to be present and to look to the preserving and mending the Books of the Quire and Register and to keep the common Seal and Key of the Library to him was allotted the Prebend of St. Mary in Sanda and Vicarage of Sanda 5. A Treasurer who was to keep the Treasure of the Church and Sacred Vestments and to have a care of the Bread Wine Wax Oyland Lights for the Church to him was allotted the Rectory of St. Nicholas in Stronsa and Vicarage of Stronsa 6. A Subdean who was to supply the place of the Provost in his absence to him was allotted the Personage of Hoy and Vicarage of Waes 7. A Subchantor who was bound to Play on the Organs each Lord's Day and Festivals and to supply the place of the Chantor in his absence to him was allotted the Prebend of St. Colm Likewise he erected Seven other Canons and Prebendaries to wit 1. The Prebendary of Holy-cross to him was given the Personage of Crosskirk in Sanda he was to be a special keeper of Holy things under the Treasurer and was to take care of the Clock and Ringing of the Bells at Hours appointed and to take care that the Floor of the Church was cleanly swept 2. The Prebendary of St. Mary to whom was given the Chaplainry of St. Mary and Vicarage of Evie he was to have a care of the Roof and Windows of the Cathedral and to have them helped if need were 3. The Prebendary of St. Magnus to whom was allotted the Prebend of St. Magnus he was to be Confessor of the Housholds
bonis semper dextera larga tua est Nemo lupos melius sacris ab ovilibus arcet Ni Christi lanient diripiantque gregem 10. The Reformation being set afoot about this time there succeeded to him Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkney the first Reform'd Bishop of this Country and who continued long in his Bishoprick notwithstanding of the prejudice that the Church had then to that Order This Bishop was a Man of great employment and action it was he that Married the Earl of Bothwel then made Duke of Orkney with the Queen in the Palace of Holyrood-House To him Queen Mary when she had resigned the Crown gave a Procuration for the inaugurating the Prince her Son who accordingly on the 29th of July 1567 Crowned and Anointed him in the Church of Sterling And in the Year following when the Earl of Murray Regent was to go to England about the debate betwixt the King and his Mother who was detained Prisoner there This Bishop was one of those who by the Estates of the Kingdom were Commissioned to attend the Regent and assist him in that debate And afterwards at the desire of Queen Elizabeth Anno 1571 he with others were sent into England for the composing of some differences between the Kingdoms He made an exchange of the Bishoprick of Orkney with Robert Steward natural Son to King James the Fifth then Earl of Orkney for the Abbacy of Holyrood-House whereby it came to pass that the Bishop's Son afterwards was made Lord Holyrood-House Robert Steward being Earl of Orkney and also obtaining the Bishoprick of Orkney as is said by the exchange of the Abbacy of Holyrood-House which he before possessed he and his Son Earl Patrick who succeeded him uplifted the Rents of the Bishoprick as their own Hereditary Patrimony The Church of Orkney in the mean time according to the custom then received in Scotland being governed by a Superintendant with Episcopal Power to direct all Church Censures and Ordain Ministers 11. This Superintendant was Mr. James Annan at that time Minister of the Churches of Sanda and Westra But Anno 1606 King James the Sixth by consent of his Parliament and assembly of the Church having restored the Estates of Bishops in Scotland 12. James Law was made Bishop of Orkney and tho' for some time he was deprived of the Temporalities of his Bishoprick by the Oppression of Patreek Earl of Orkney yet after his death he enjoy'd them peaceably Considering the many and great Quarrels and Mischiefs that had always been between the former Earls and Bishops of Orkney and their several Vassals because their Lands did lie mixed thorough other therefore he made that Transaction and Contract with King James the Sixth of which in the last Chapter you have had an Account whereby the Bishoprick is separated from the Earldom and the Bishop is made sole Judge within his own bounds He was a Person who King James did much respect and often employ in several important Matters After his Election to the Bishoprick he was with some other Prelates sent for by the King to Court to advise with them about setling the State of the Church in Scotland And the next Year we find him presiding in the Convocation or Assembly at Linlithgow He had a chief hand in the Tryal of those Oppressions and Treasonable Acts for which Patrick Earl of Orkney was Executed After he had sat Bishop nine Years he was translated from this See to the Archbishoprick of Glasgow 13. To him succeded George Graham Bishop of Dumblane who sat Bishop of Orkney twenty three Years but in the Year 1638 at the Assembly at Glasgow he resign'd his Bishoprick 14. After Bishop Graham had been divested of the Bishoprick King Charles the First did promote Robert Barron Doctor and Professor of Divinity in the Marishal College of Aberdeen to the Bishoprick of this Country but he being forced to fly to Berwick he there died before his Consecration In the Interval of Presbytery the Rents of the Bishoprick were granted to the City of Edinburgh till the Year 1662. 15. In which Year Episcopacy being again restor'd Thomas St. Serf who seems to have his name from Servanus the first Bishop of Orkney commonly call'd St. Serf formerly Bishop of Galloway and the only old Bishop who was then alive was made Bishop of Orkney he liv'd two years after his Installment and died at Edinburgh 16. To him Anno 1664 succeeded Andrew Honyman Archdeacon of St. Andrews a Godly and Learned Prelate the Author of The Seasonable Case and Survey of Napthalie he repaired the Church of Sandwick and did many other works of Charity Anno 1669 being at Edinburgh and going into the Archbishop of St. Andrew's Coach with him he was shot thorough the Arm with a poisoned Ball which by the Phanaticks was designed for the Archbishop this so weakned him that he liv'd not many years after for he died in February 1676 in great peace and with great resignation contrary to what is asserted in a late scandalous Pamphlet as is ready to be attested if need were by several Gentlemen of untainted Reputation Witnesses when he died 17. To him succeeded Murdoch Mackenzie Bishop of Murray translated from that See to this Anno 1677 a most worthy Bishop and greatly beloved of all for his Hospitality Peaceableness Piety and prudent Government he did on his own Charges repair the Lady Church in Shapinsha He liv'd to a good Age being near an hundred Years and yet great was his vigour of Body and Vivacity of Judgment even to his Death but to the regret of all that knew him and the loss of the whole Country He died February 1688. 18. To him Anno 1688 succeeded Andrew Bruce formerly Bishop of Dunkeld He died last March CHAP. VIII The History of the first Plantation of the Isles of Orkney and of the ancient and present Possessors of them The Pights or Picts the first Possessors Of Belus and Ganus Kings of Orkney When it came to the Possession of the Kings of Scotland When the Norwegians got footing and when they were expell'd An Account of the Earls of Orkney Of the Sirname of Sinclar A double of an ancient Manuscript relating to the Affairs of Orkney wherein there is an Account of the first Possessors of that Country different from the former and a full Account of the Earls of Orkney till that time Of Bothwell Duke of Orkney Of the Earls of the Sirname of Steward and Douglass When this Country was again re-annex'd to the Crown Of the Stewardry The several ways how Orkney hath been a Honorary Title Of the Law-right-men and their Office THE first Planters and Possessors of this Country were the Pights as the generality of our Historians do affirm who call Orkney Antiquum Pictorum regnum There are yet in this Country several strange Antique Houses many of which are now overgrown with Earth which are still by the Inhabitants call'd Pights Houses and the Firth that runs betwixt this
of the Bishop Provost Canons and Chaplains and their Servants in the time of Easter and to administer the Eucharist to them The 4th Prebendary was to have the Chaplainry of St. John the Evangelist in the said Cathedral Church The 5th Prebendary was to have the Chaplainry of St. Lawrence The 6th was to have the Prebend of St. Katharine And the 7th Prebendary was to have the Prebend of St. Duthas To which seven Dignities and seven Prebendaries he moreover assigned and allotted besides the former Churches and Titles the Rents and Revenues of the Personages of St. Colm in Waes and Holy-cross in Westra as also the Vicarages of the Parish Churches of Sandwick and Stromnes with their pertinents for their daily Distributions Besides these he erected thirteen Chaplains to the first was allotted the Chaplainry of St. Peter and he was to be Master of the Grammar School To the second was allotted the Chaplainry of St. Augustin and he was to be Master of the Singing-School The third was to be Stellarius or the Bishop's Choirister The fourth the Provost Choirister The fifth the Archdeacons The sixth the Precentors The seventh the Chancellors The eighth the Treasurers The ninth the Subdeans The tenth the Prebendaries of Holy-cross The eleventh the Prebendaries of St. Mary The twelfth the Prebendaries of St. Katharine The thirteenth the Chaplains of Holy-cross Every one of these Choiristers were to have twenty four Meils of Corn and ten Merks of Money for their Stipend yearly besides their daily distributions which were to be raised from the Rents of the Vicarage of the Cathedral Church and from the foundation of Thomas Bishop of Orkney and of the twelve Pounds left by King James III. and King James IV. Kings of Scotland To these he added a Sacrist who was to ring the Bells and light the Lamps and carry in Water and Fire to the Church and to go before the Processions with a white Rod after the manner of a Beadle and for this he was to have the accustomed Revenue together with forty Shillings from the Bishop yearly He moreover ordained six Boys who were to be Taper-bearers and to sing the Responsories and Verses in the Choire as they were to be ordered by the Chanter Of which six Boys one was to be nominate and maintain'd by the Bishop the second by the Prebendary of St. Magnus the third by the Prebendary of St. John the fourth by the Prebendary of St. Lawrence the fifth by the Prebendary of St. Katharine the sixth by the Prebendary of St. Duthas And every one of them was to have besides their Maintenance twenty Shillings Scots a Year To every one of the foresaid Dignities Canons and Prebendaries he assigned certain Lands in Kirkwal for their Dwelling Houses The Charter of this erection is dated at Kirkwal October 28. Anno 1544 and in the following Year it was confirmed by another Charter granted by David Beaton Cardinal of St. Stephen in Mount Celio and Archbishop of St. Andrews having Authority so to do It is dated at Stirling the last of June and eleventh Year of Pope Paul the Third and confirm'd by Queen Mary at Edinburgh the last of April Anno Regni 13. In this condition the Church stood as long as Popery continued but the Reformation coming in and Robert Steward Earl of Orkney having obtain'd the Bishoprick from Bishop Bothwell in exchange for the Abbacy of Holyrood-house he became Lord of the whole Country and he and his Son Earl Patrick who succeeded him did in the Church what they pleas'd At last James Law being made Bishop of Orkney and the Earldom being united to the Crown by the death and forefaulture of the foresaid Patrick Earl of Orkney as we shall have occasion to speak more of in the 8th Chapter he with the consent of his Chapter made a Contract with King James VI. In which they resign to the King and his Successors all their Ecclesiastical Lands and Possessions with all Rights and Securities belonging thereto to be incorporated and united to the Crown especially by such as should be thought necessary to be united to it and the King gives back and dispones to the Bishop several Lands in the Parishes of Ham Orphir Stromnes Sandwick Shapinsha Waes Hoy St. Ola and of Evie Burra and Flotta to be a Patrimony to the Bishop and his Successors for ever disponing moreover to him and his Successors the Right of Patronage to present to all the Vicarages of Orkney and Zetland with power to them to present qualify'd Ministers as oft as any Church should vake Disponing also to them the heretable and perpetual Right and Jurisdiction of Sheriffship and Bailiffry within the Bishoprick and Patrimony thereof exeeming the Inhabitants and Vassals of the Bishoprick in all Causes Civil and Criminal from the Jurisdiction of the Sheriff or Steward of the Earldom As also he gave to the Bishop and his Successors the Commissariot of Orkney and Zetland with power to constitute and ordain Commissars or Chancellors Clerks and other Members of Court This contract was made Anno 1614 and in the Year following by an act of Platt dated at Edinburgh the 22d of November the several Dignities and Ministers both in the Bishoprick and Earldom were provided to particular Maintenances besides what they were in possession of before payable by the King and Bishop to the Ministers in their severl bounds respective And as it was agreed by that Contract and determin'd by that Act of Platt so are they provided for at this present CHAP. VII Of the Plantation of the Christian Faith in Orkney and of the Bishops thereof NIcephorus writing that Simon Zelotes after he had preached the Gospel in several other Kingdoms came at last ad occidentalem oceanum insulasque Britannicas by which Orkney must be especially understood and there Preached the Gospel Whatever truth may be in that yet it is certain That the Christian Faith was greatly promoted in this Country about the beginning of the Fifth Century Eugenius II. being then King of Scotland at which time Palladius being sent by Pope Celestin to Purge that Kingdom of the Heresie of Pelagius that had infected it He Instituted 1. Servanus call'd St. Serf in the Calender Bishop of Orkney that he might instruct the Inhabitants of these Isles in the Faith of Christ which Polyd. Virgil says he did very carefully He was a Man of Eminent Devotion and Piety and Master of the famous Kentigern whom he used to call Mongah which in the Norish Tongue signifieth Dear Friend which afterwards became the Name by which he was usually called From him there has been a continual Succession of Bishops in this Country but by reason of the many alterations that fell out in it and the loss of ancient Records his Successors for many years are not known yet in History we read of these that follow 2. William Bishop of Orkney who liv'd in the time of King Robert the Third 3. Thomas who liv'd in the