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For the latest news from Scotland see our ScotNews feed at:
https://electricscotland.com/scotnews.htm
Electric Scotland News
William Arbuthnot
Died 7th October 2021 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London from Advanced Parkinson’s Disease.
My husband had Parkinson’s Disease for 23 years.
He was an incredible fighter and never ever suggested any aspect of self pity or complaint in the way he lived with his illness, quite the opposite. He was someone who just sought a solution to whatever he had set his mind to.
His children Lucy, Harry, Jack and I will miss him very much.
Louise Lady Arbuthnot of Kittybrewster
--------
See the news stories below for the story of a new Edinburgh to London train service which competes directly with the low cost airline offerings. "New London to Edinburgh rail service begins".
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland and world news stories that can affect Scotland and as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines it becomes a good resource. I might also add that in a number of newspapers you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish which I do myself from time to time.
SCIENTISTS have reportedly made a major step forward in the fight against COVID-19 after discovering a highly potent antibody that can eliminate the virus
The stunning breakthrough was made by researchers at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/scien...-step-pandemic
Brexit Britain leads economy fightback as Rolls-Royce makes revolutionary engine pledge
But Mr East has vowed that all of Rolls-Royce’s Trent family engines, which propel many of the world’s planes, will be able to run purely on sustainable fuel by 2023.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/scien...climate-change
An underwater mystery on Canada's coast
Tens of thousands of wooden stakes poking up from British Columbia's shoreline have smashed a long-held stereotype of Canada's First Nation people.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...-canadas-coast
Story of no ordinary township emerges as history of Highland glen uncovered
A lost Highland township emptied during the Clearances is much bigger and older than first thought and may have been a bustling trading centre for hundreds of years.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-an...overed-3418224
Brexit Britain strikes historic £210m deal with Rolls-Royce to create nuclear reactors
BREXIT Britain is set to see its emissions slashed as the Government is poised to make a landmark deal with Rolls-Royce to fund a fleet of nuclear mini-reactors
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/scien...climate-change
Nicola Sturgeon’s dereliction of duty exposed - damning figures lay bare decade of decay
ALMOST 1,000 public or grant-aided schools in Scotland have not been inspected for a decade or more, figures reveal.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...olyrood-latest
Brexit Britain leading world as JCB invests £100million into new hydrogen engine
A team of 100 engineers is already working on the new development. A further 50 more engineers will be recruited as JCB targets the end of 2022 for the first machines to be available for sale to customers.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/15...-boris-johnson
Trudeau visits First Nation to apologise after holiday snub
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met indigenous leaders two weeks after he took a seaside holiday on a day meant to honour residential schools survivors and victims.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58961940
Ardeer could cement our place in a more modern Britain
In any case, the first country to achieve the big breakthroughs in fusion research grandfathers that research base in its country. The USA led the way with nuclear power, Japan leads in automobile research, the Swiss in high end antibody production. The UK hosting the fusion breakthrough would be a game-changer for energy on Earth.
Read more at:
https://thinkscotland.org/2021/10/ar...odern-britain/
Opening Remarks - Frankfurt Book Fair
Canada's Governal-General gives opening talk.
Read more at:
https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2021...furt-book-fair
Global Britain shouldn’t forget about its own back yard
While much of the recent focus in British foreign policy has been on the Indo-Pacific, Liz Truss has been quiety cementing Britain's alliances in central and eastern Europe. These will prove useful not only in wranglings over the Northern Ireland Protocol, but in the global battle to defend liberal democratic values.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/global-britain-shoul...own-back-yard/
Erdogan And Boris Johnson: A New Global Power Duo?
As Turkey fears the EU closing ranks over defense, Turkish President Erdogan is looking to Boris Johnson as a post-Brexit ally, especially as Angela Merkel steps aside. This could undermine the deal where Ankara limits refugee entry into Europe, and other dossiers too.
Read more at:
https://worldcrunch.com/world-affair...-mean-for-nato
All our lost children
Our investigation into mental health care for young Scots prompted ministerial pledges of reform so what happened? It got worse.
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/all-ou...roken-promises
UK and New Zealand strike free trade deal
Britain and New Zealand have reached agreement in principle on a free trade deal designed to reduce tariffs, improve services trade, and take London one step closer to membership in a broader trans-Pacific trade agreement.
Read more at:
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...al-2021-10-21/
Energy efficiency could boost economy and jobs
Making homes and buildings energy efficient is a win-win for people and the planet. Homes with well-insulated walls and windows need to burn less gas in a boiler to keep warm, reducing household greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills.
Read more at:
https://sceptical.scot/2021/10/energ...nomy-and-jobs/
New London to Edinburgh rail service begins
A new train operator says it wants to offer an alternative to cheap flights with a new London to Edinburgh service.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-58992509
The remote British island hoping to see more visitors
Alasdair and Gill Maclean say they felt a bit guilty having spent much of the past year happily living on a beautiful, tropical island, untouched by Covid-19. The English couple had been sailing around the world prior to the start of the pandemic, when they arrived at the British Overseas Territory island of St Helena, in the middle of the south Atlantic.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58966376
The Scottish town stranded in England
Nine hundred years ago, the Yorkshire town of Doncaster was given to Scotland and never returned. Or so a quirk of history claims.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...ded-in-england
Nasa's Moon-ship is attached to SLS megarocket
Nasa's next-generation spaceship has been lifted onto the rocket that will take astronauts to the Moon this year or in early 2022.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58993527
Climate change and farming
The Fraser of Allander Institute will be discussing key economic issues surrounding climate change and climate change policies. It will also be highlighting a range of research related to COP26, from academic papers to pieces of commissioned research.
Read more at:
https://sceptical.scot/2021/10/clima...e-and-farming/
Electric Canadian
Thoughts on a Sunday morning - the 17th day of October 2021
By the Rev. Nola Crewe
You can watch this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...f-october-2021
Women of Red River
Being a book written from the Recollections of Women surviving from the Red River Era by W. J. Healy (1923) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ofredriver.pdf
Metis Association & Saskatchewan Newsletter
November 1965 (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...slettersas.pdf
The Metis
Colonization, Culture, Change and the Saskatchewan Rebellion of 1885 by Robert J. Devrone (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...metiesask1.pdf
Alberta Government Initiatives
Of Significance to Metis People (1984) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...mentmetis2.pdf
The Battle of Batoché
By Darcy John Bouchard (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...C3%A9-2020.pdf
Electric Scotland
Beth's Video Talks
Beth has another video for you for October 20th 2021 - Start your genealogy at home
You can watch this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
Sunderland Maritime Heritage
Letter from Nick Simpson
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...sunderland.htm
Scenes in Hawaii
Or Life in the Sandwich Islands by M. Forsyth Grant (1888) (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ichislands.pdf
Alexander Hume
An Early Poet-Pastor of Logie and His Intimates Sir William Alexander and John Shearer by R. Menzies Fergusson (1899) (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...xanderhume.pdf
Killer’s of The Flower Moon filming
An article by Donna Flood which you can read at:
https://electricscotland.com/history.../journal97.htm
A Guide to Blair Castle, Perthshire, Scotland
Added a video from YouTube to our Blair Castle page at:
https://electricscotland.com/travel/...air_castle.htm
The Battle of Glenshiel
An article by C. Sanford Terry from the Scottish Historical Review (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history..._glenshiel.pdf
The Records of a Scottish Cloth Manufactory at New Mills, Haddingtonshire 1681-1703
Edited from the Original Manuscripts, with Introduction and Notes, by W. R. 5COTT, M.A., D.Phil., Litt.D. (1905). Found an excellent article about this book so added a page to hold it and added a link to the book at the foot.
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history/records/cloth.htm
Story
A Restoration Duel
IN August, 1660, James, second Earl of Southesk, killed the Master of Gray in a duel. Of the dispute which led to it the following account is given by a contemporary diarist.
‘Eftir the Kinges Majesteis return from Breda, quhilk wes upone the 25 day of Maij 1660 yeiris, and eftir his restoration to his thrie kingdomes and dominionnes, diveris and sindry persones, alsweill nobles, gentrie, as utheris, repairit to his Majestic, being than at Lundon, for offices, places, and preferment ; quha, being mony in number, and his Majestie not being able to satisfie all, thair did arryfe great hartbirninges, animositie, and envy among thame, everieane contendand aganes utheris for preference. And among these and utheris seikaris, thair did arryse contention betuix the Erle of Southesk and the Maister of Gray, for the schirrefehip of Forfar; and in that contention, they drew to parteis and provoked utheris to duellis, in the quhilk, the Erle of Southesk did kill the Maister of Gray upone this syde of Lundon.’—Nicoll's Diary (cd. 1836), p. 300.
Of the two combatants Gray appears to have been most deserving of the King’s favour. He was the son of William Gray of Pittendrum, ‘the most successful merchant in Edinburgh of his day,’ had married Hume, Mistress of Gray, daughter of Andrew, seventh Lord Gray, and had commanded a regiment in the army of Charles II. during 1650-51. James, second Earl of Southesk, who succeeded to his father’s title in 1658, had, as Lord James Carnegie, accepted the proposed union of Scotland and England, and had been one of the representatives chosen to carry it into effect (Douglas, Peerage of Scotland, ed. Wood, ii. Fraser, History of the Carnegies, Earls of Southesk, i. 140; Terry, The Cromwellian Union, pp. 47, 183). This acquiescence in the establishment of the English government must have stood in Southesk’s way when it was compared with the steady loyalty of his rival.
The duel took place near London in August, 1660 (Lamont's Diary, ed. 1831, p. 126). No account of it is to be found in the newspapers of the time, but a contemporary ballad, preserved in Anthony Wood’s collection in the Bodleian Library, supplies a detailed narrative of the incident (Wood, 401. f. 100).
An unmatchable Combate betwixt Sir William . . . and the Earl of Southatt. Being a true relation how this b . . . E. of Southatt murthered Sir William Gray, Son to the Right Ho . . . the Lord Gray, which news is sad to the Nacion of Scotland, and how the . . . waites for trial for the same. Tune of, Sir George Wharton.
My heart doth bleed to tell the wo
or chance of grief that late befel
At Biglesworth in Bedfordshire,
as I to you for truth will tell,
There was two valliant Noble men,
that very rashly fell at words,
And nothing could appease their wraths
till they betook them to their Swords.
The one was called Sir William Gray,
the good Lord Gray his Son and Heir,
The other Sir James as they him call,
or Earl of Southeist as I hear,
It seems their quarrel they began,
within the house of Parliament,
And till this Earl had kild Sir Gray,
he could not rest nor be contend,
About Religion they out fell,
the Earl he was a Presbyteir,
Sir William did his ways deny,
he being a Loyall Cavelier,
For our late King as I am told,
in Scotland often kept his court,
At the house of Sir William Gray,
he and his Nobles did their resort.
And for his true obedience then,
as I do wrightly understand
He made was the chiefest Governor,
in the Northern part of fair Scotland
It seems the Earl of Southeist calld,
did kill Sir William for this thing,
Because he Governor was made,
and much advanced by the King.
This Earl was governor before,
out of Commission late was thrown,
Even by this present Government,
so that he could not call 't his own,
And good Sir Gray put in his place,
and truth it brought him into thrall,
For through that cruel bloody Earl,
his rise was causer of his fall.
You see the bloody minds of those,
which lately had the Sword in hand,
And if they had it so again,
they quickly would confound the Land
For to find opportunity
this wicked Earl he did invent,
How he might Murther Noble Gray,
for truth it was his full intent.
The second part, to the same tune
Within the house of Parliament,
the Earl fell out with Noble Gray
But yet before they did depart,
they loving friends then went away,
It was not krown the Earl did ow,
the least ill will at that same time
To noble Gray or unto his,
or any of his Royall line.
They rod together thirty Miles,
to Beglisworth from Landon town,
And in the way was no distast
until they sat there at the Crown.
They supped together too that night,
as peacefully as man could do,
But yet a sudden accidance
betime the morning did insue,
The Earl he rose ith mom betime,
with mischief harbored in his brest,
He came into the Chamber where,
sir William Gray, he lay at rest,
And call’d Sir Gray to go with him,
unto the Fields to take the Ayr,
And he God wot not thinking ill,
did with him to the Fields repair,
Like to a Lamb that went to dy,
not thinking death to be so near,
Even so befel the same ye see,
to noble Gray as doth appear.
He left his man abed that morn,
because he came in late at night,
Desiring them to let him lye,
till he returned back with the Knight,
His bedfellow and Kindsman too,
went as a second in the place,
If that the Earl should offer him,
any abuse or eke disgrace.
He did no sooner come in field,
but both the seconds and the Earl,
Do plot contrive against Sir Gray,
his courage purpose! to queal,
The Earl began the quarrel then,
and noble Gray did so outdare,
And said he was a better man,
then all the Grays in Scotland were.
And said to him come fight with me,
thou cowardise which art no man,
Which forced Valiant Gray to take,
his glitering Sword within his hand,
And so the battle fierce began,
and Noble Gray he plaid his part,
But yet at length unhappily,
the Earl he thrust him to the heart,
This being done they dragd him too
a stinking ditch which there was by,
And robbed him of his Jewels rich,
and then they presently did fly,
Unto the Crown whereas their coach,
stood ready for their safe convay,
But by a man it was found out,
which did them presently betray.
When they was took they did them search
whereas they found them full of gold,
A golden watch and ring which cost,
five hundred pounds his man thus told.
They had them to the Justice straight,
and he did send them to the Gaol,
Whereas they wait for trial now,
I think there’s no man will them bail.
And thus I will conclude my song,
I wish all Traytors to beware,
And not to murder as they do,
lest they fall in the hang-man’s snare.
London, Printed for John Andrews at the White-Lyon neer Py-corner.
Though it is impossible to test the truth of the story, there can be no doubt that the ballad represents the version current at the time. For according to the list of printers and publishers of ballads, contained in the Catalogue of Lord Crawford's Collection of Ballads, p. 535, John Andrews was in business from 1655 to 1666. The ballad is not in Lord Crawford’s collection nor in the Roxburghe Ballads.
C. H. Firth.
END.
And that's it for this week and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
https://electricscotland.com/scotnews.htm
Electric Scotland News
William Arbuthnot
Died 7th October 2021 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London from Advanced Parkinson’s Disease.
My husband had Parkinson’s Disease for 23 years.
He was an incredible fighter and never ever suggested any aspect of self pity or complaint in the way he lived with his illness, quite the opposite. He was someone who just sought a solution to whatever he had set his mind to.
His children Lucy, Harry, Jack and I will miss him very much.
Louise Lady Arbuthnot of Kittybrewster
--------
See the news stories below for the story of a new Edinburgh to London train service which competes directly with the low cost airline offerings. "New London to Edinburgh rail service begins".
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland and world news stories that can affect Scotland and as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines it becomes a good resource. I might also add that in a number of newspapers you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish which I do myself from time to time.
SCIENTISTS have reportedly made a major step forward in the fight against COVID-19 after discovering a highly potent antibody that can eliminate the virus
The stunning breakthrough was made by researchers at the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/scien...-step-pandemic
Brexit Britain leads economy fightback as Rolls-Royce makes revolutionary engine pledge
But Mr East has vowed that all of Rolls-Royce’s Trent family engines, which propel many of the world’s planes, will be able to run purely on sustainable fuel by 2023.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/scien...climate-change
An underwater mystery on Canada's coast
Tens of thousands of wooden stakes poking up from British Columbia's shoreline have smashed a long-held stereotype of Canada's First Nation people.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...-canadas-coast
Story of no ordinary township emerges as history of Highland glen uncovered
A lost Highland township emptied during the Clearances is much bigger and older than first thought and may have been a bustling trading centre for hundreds of years.
Read more at:
https://www.scotsman.com/heritage-an...overed-3418224
Brexit Britain strikes historic £210m deal with Rolls-Royce to create nuclear reactors
BREXIT Britain is set to see its emissions slashed as the Government is poised to make a landmark deal with Rolls-Royce to fund a fleet of nuclear mini-reactors
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/scien...climate-change
Nicola Sturgeon’s dereliction of duty exposed - damning figures lay bare decade of decay
ALMOST 1,000 public or grant-aided schools in Scotland have not been inspected for a decade or more, figures reveal.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/polit...olyrood-latest
Brexit Britain leading world as JCB invests £100million into new hydrogen engine
A team of 100 engineers is already working on the new development. A further 50 more engineers will be recruited as JCB targets the end of 2022 for the first machines to be available for sale to customers.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/15...-boris-johnson
Trudeau visits First Nation to apologise after holiday snub
Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has met indigenous leaders two weeks after he took a seaside holiday on a day meant to honour residential schools survivors and victims.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58961940
Ardeer could cement our place in a more modern Britain
In any case, the first country to achieve the big breakthroughs in fusion research grandfathers that research base in its country. The USA led the way with nuclear power, Japan leads in automobile research, the Swiss in high end antibody production. The UK hosting the fusion breakthrough would be a game-changer for energy on Earth.
Read more at:
https://thinkscotland.org/2021/10/ar...odern-britain/
Opening Remarks - Frankfurt Book Fair
Canada's Governal-General gives opening talk.
Read more at:
https://www.gg.ca/en/media/news/2021...furt-book-fair
Global Britain shouldn’t forget about its own back yard
While much of the recent focus in British foreign policy has been on the Indo-Pacific, Liz Truss has been quiety cementing Britain's alliances in central and eastern Europe. These will prove useful not only in wranglings over the Northern Ireland Protocol, but in the global battle to defend liberal democratic values.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/global-britain-shoul...own-back-yard/
Erdogan And Boris Johnson: A New Global Power Duo?
As Turkey fears the EU closing ranks over defense, Turkish President Erdogan is looking to Boris Johnson as a post-Brexit ally, especially as Angela Merkel steps aside. This could undermine the deal where Ankara limits refugee entry into Europe, and other dossiers too.
Read more at:
https://worldcrunch.com/world-affair...-mean-for-nato
All our lost children
Our investigation into mental health care for young Scots prompted ministerial pledges of reform so what happened? It got worse.
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/all-ou...roken-promises
UK and New Zealand strike free trade deal
Britain and New Zealand have reached agreement in principle on a free trade deal designed to reduce tariffs, improve services trade, and take London one step closer to membership in a broader trans-Pacific trade agreement.
Read more at:
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-...al-2021-10-21/
Energy efficiency could boost economy and jobs
Making homes and buildings energy efficient is a win-win for people and the planet. Homes with well-insulated walls and windows need to burn less gas in a boiler to keep warm, reducing household greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills.
Read more at:
https://sceptical.scot/2021/10/energ...nomy-and-jobs/
New London to Edinburgh rail service begins
A new train operator says it wants to offer an alternative to cheap flights with a new London to Edinburgh service.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-58992509
The remote British island hoping to see more visitors
Alasdair and Gill Maclean say they felt a bit guilty having spent much of the past year happily living on a beautiful, tropical island, untouched by Covid-19. The English couple had been sailing around the world prior to the start of the pandemic, when they arrived at the British Overseas Territory island of St Helena, in the middle of the south Atlantic.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58966376
The Scottish town stranded in England
Nine hundred years ago, the Yorkshire town of Doncaster was given to Scotland and never returned. Or so a quirk of history claims.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/2...ded-in-england
Nasa's Moon-ship is attached to SLS megarocket
Nasa's next-generation spaceship has been lifted onto the rocket that will take astronauts to the Moon this year or in early 2022.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-58993527
Climate change and farming
The Fraser of Allander Institute will be discussing key economic issues surrounding climate change and climate change policies. It will also be highlighting a range of research related to COP26, from academic papers to pieces of commissioned research.
Read more at:
https://sceptical.scot/2021/10/clima...e-and-farming/
Electric Canadian
Thoughts on a Sunday morning - the 17th day of October 2021
By the Rev. Nola Crewe
You can watch this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...f-october-2021
Women of Red River
Being a book written from the Recollections of Women surviving from the Red River Era by W. J. Healy (1923) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...ofredriver.pdf
Metis Association & Saskatchewan Newsletter
November 1965 (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...slettersas.pdf
The Metis
Colonization, Culture, Change and the Saskatchewan Rebellion of 1885 by Robert J. Devrone (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...metiesask1.pdf
Alberta Government Initiatives
Of Significance to Metis People (1984) (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...mentmetis2.pdf
The Battle of Batoché
By Darcy John Bouchard (pdf)
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist...C3%A9-2020.pdf
Electric Scotland
Beth's Video Talks
Beth has another video for you for October 20th 2021 - Start your genealogy at home
You can watch this at: http://www.electricscotland.com/bnft
Sunderland Maritime Heritage
Letter from Nick Simpson
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...sunderland.htm
Scenes in Hawaii
Or Life in the Sandwich Islands by M. Forsyth Grant (1888) (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ichislands.pdf
Alexander Hume
An Early Poet-Pastor of Logie and His Intimates Sir William Alexander and John Shearer by R. Menzies Fergusson (1899) (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...xanderhume.pdf
Killer’s of The Flower Moon filming
An article by Donna Flood which you can read at:
https://electricscotland.com/history.../journal97.htm
A Guide to Blair Castle, Perthshire, Scotland
Added a video from YouTube to our Blair Castle page at:
https://electricscotland.com/travel/...air_castle.htm
The Battle of Glenshiel
An article by C. Sanford Terry from the Scottish Historical Review (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history..._glenshiel.pdf
The Records of a Scottish Cloth Manufactory at New Mills, Haddingtonshire 1681-1703
Edited from the Original Manuscripts, with Introduction and Notes, by W. R. 5COTT, M.A., D.Phil., Litt.D. (1905). Found an excellent article about this book so added a page to hold it and added a link to the book at the foot.
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history/records/cloth.htm
Story
A Restoration Duel
IN August, 1660, James, second Earl of Southesk, killed the Master of Gray in a duel. Of the dispute which led to it the following account is given by a contemporary diarist.
‘Eftir the Kinges Majesteis return from Breda, quhilk wes upone the 25 day of Maij 1660 yeiris, and eftir his restoration to his thrie kingdomes and dominionnes, diveris and sindry persones, alsweill nobles, gentrie, as utheris, repairit to his Majestic, being than at Lundon, for offices, places, and preferment ; quha, being mony in number, and his Majestie not being able to satisfie all, thair did arryfe great hartbirninges, animositie, and envy among thame, everieane contendand aganes utheris for preference. And among these and utheris seikaris, thair did arryse contention betuix the Erle of Southesk and the Maister of Gray, for the schirrefehip of Forfar; and in that contention, they drew to parteis and provoked utheris to duellis, in the quhilk, the Erle of Southesk did kill the Maister of Gray upone this syde of Lundon.’—Nicoll's Diary (cd. 1836), p. 300.
Of the two combatants Gray appears to have been most deserving of the King’s favour. He was the son of William Gray of Pittendrum, ‘the most successful merchant in Edinburgh of his day,’ had married Hume, Mistress of Gray, daughter of Andrew, seventh Lord Gray, and had commanded a regiment in the army of Charles II. during 1650-51. James, second Earl of Southesk, who succeeded to his father’s title in 1658, had, as Lord James Carnegie, accepted the proposed union of Scotland and England, and had been one of the representatives chosen to carry it into effect (Douglas, Peerage of Scotland, ed. Wood, ii. Fraser, History of the Carnegies, Earls of Southesk, i. 140; Terry, The Cromwellian Union, pp. 47, 183). This acquiescence in the establishment of the English government must have stood in Southesk’s way when it was compared with the steady loyalty of his rival.
The duel took place near London in August, 1660 (Lamont's Diary, ed. 1831, p. 126). No account of it is to be found in the newspapers of the time, but a contemporary ballad, preserved in Anthony Wood’s collection in the Bodleian Library, supplies a detailed narrative of the incident (Wood, 401. f. 100).
A NOBLE DEWEL
or,An unmatchable Combate betwixt Sir William . . . and the Earl of Southatt. Being a true relation how this b . . . E. of Southatt murthered Sir William Gray, Son to the Right Ho . . . the Lord Gray, which news is sad to the Nacion of Scotland, and how the . . . waites for trial for the same. Tune of, Sir George Wharton.
My heart doth bleed to tell the wo
or chance of grief that late befel
At Biglesworth in Bedfordshire,
as I to you for truth will tell,
There was two valliant Noble men,
that very rashly fell at words,
And nothing could appease their wraths
till they betook them to their Swords.
The one was called Sir William Gray,
the good Lord Gray his Son and Heir,
The other Sir James as they him call,
or Earl of Southeist as I hear,
It seems their quarrel they began,
within the house of Parliament,
And till this Earl had kild Sir Gray,
he could not rest nor be contend,
About Religion they out fell,
the Earl he was a Presbyteir,
Sir William did his ways deny,
he being a Loyall Cavelier,
For our late King as I am told,
in Scotland often kept his court,
At the house of Sir William Gray,
he and his Nobles did their resort.
And for his true obedience then,
as I do wrightly understand
He made was the chiefest Governor,
in the Northern part of fair Scotland
It seems the Earl of Southeist calld,
did kill Sir William for this thing,
Because he Governor was made,
and much advanced by the King.
This Earl was governor before,
out of Commission late was thrown,
Even by this present Government,
so that he could not call 't his own,
And good Sir Gray put in his place,
and truth it brought him into thrall,
For through that cruel bloody Earl,
his rise was causer of his fall.
You see the bloody minds of those,
which lately had the Sword in hand,
And if they had it so again,
they quickly would confound the Land
For to find opportunity
this wicked Earl he did invent,
How he might Murther Noble Gray,
for truth it was his full intent.
The second part, to the same tune
Within the house of Parliament,
the Earl fell out with Noble Gray
But yet before they did depart,
they loving friends then went away,
It was not krown the Earl did ow,
the least ill will at that same time
To noble Gray or unto his,
or any of his Royall line.
They rod together thirty Miles,
to Beglisworth from Landon town,
And in the way was no distast
until they sat there at the Crown.
They supped together too that night,
as peacefully as man could do,
But yet a sudden accidance
betime the morning did insue,
The Earl he rose ith mom betime,
with mischief harbored in his brest,
He came into the Chamber where,
sir William Gray, he lay at rest,
And call’d Sir Gray to go with him,
unto the Fields to take the Ayr,
And he God wot not thinking ill,
did with him to the Fields repair,
Like to a Lamb that went to dy,
not thinking death to be so near,
Even so befel the same ye see,
to noble Gray as doth appear.
He left his man abed that morn,
because he came in late at night,
Desiring them to let him lye,
till he returned back with the Knight,
His bedfellow and Kindsman too,
went as a second in the place,
If that the Earl should offer him,
any abuse or eke disgrace.
He did no sooner come in field,
but both the seconds and the Earl,
Do plot contrive against Sir Gray,
his courage purpose! to queal,
The Earl began the quarrel then,
and noble Gray did so outdare,
And said he was a better man,
then all the Grays in Scotland were.
And said to him come fight with me,
thou cowardise which art no man,
Which forced Valiant Gray to take,
his glitering Sword within his hand,
And so the battle fierce began,
and Noble Gray he plaid his part,
But yet at length unhappily,
the Earl he thrust him to the heart,
This being done they dragd him too
a stinking ditch which there was by,
And robbed him of his Jewels rich,
and then they presently did fly,
Unto the Crown whereas their coach,
stood ready for their safe convay,
But by a man it was found out,
which did them presently betray.
When they was took they did them search
whereas they found them full of gold,
A golden watch and ring which cost,
five hundred pounds his man thus told.
They had them to the Justice straight,
and he did send them to the Gaol,
Whereas they wait for trial now,
I think there’s no man will them bail.
And thus I will conclude my song,
I wish all Traytors to beware,
And not to murder as they do,
lest they fall in the hang-man’s snare.
London, Printed for John Andrews at the White-Lyon neer Py-corner.
Though it is impossible to test the truth of the story, there can be no doubt that the ballad represents the version current at the time. For according to the list of printers and publishers of ballads, contained in the Catalogue of Lord Crawford's Collection of Ballads, p. 535, John Andrews was in business from 1655 to 1666. The ballad is not in Lord Crawford’s collection nor in the Roxburghe Ballads.
C. H. Firth.
END.
And that's it for this week and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair