James, by the grace of God, King of Scots. To all and sundry our justices, wardens, lieutenants, justice clerks, sheriffs, stewards, coroners, their deputies, provosts, aldermen, and baillies of boroughs, and all other officials present and to come, and their deputies, lieges, subditis, whom it efferis, where knowledge there our letters shall come, greeting.
Wit se we, of our special grace, to have respited, superseded, and delayed, and by our. or. letters in the law spealie resputtis, supersedes, and delayis, Edward Sinclare of Strom, Magnus Sinclare of Warsetter, John Sinclare of Tullap, William Sinclare of Houss, Oliver Sinclare of Hilwra, Magnus Sinclare, Lawrence Sinclare, James Sinclare, James Cragy of Brugh, Johnne Rendale, Adam Sclatter, Johnne Burness, Johnne Cromarte, Magnus Cromarte, Robert Hercas, Johnne Hercas, George Hercas, William Perisone, Johnne Jameson, William Kardy, Gilbert Cragy, William Zorstone, Walter Forester, Christe Jane, Magnus Midhouse, Johnne Loutit, Johnne Paplaye, Magnus Gariacht, Williame Cragy, John Cragy of Banks, and Edward Birstane, and generally all and sundry others persons, kinsmen, friends, assistants, adherents, partakers and complices with the said Edward and persons above written, dwelling within the isles of Orkney and Shetland, being with them in company at the committing of any crimes and arts, and part with them yrintill in any time bygone before the day of the date of our pytis, for art and part of the convocation and gathering of our lieges in arrayit battle against the deceased John, of Caithness, and for art and part of the slaughter of the said deceased Earl and his friends and partakers being with them in company at that time, and for all other slaughters, mutilations, oppressions, ressis, forethought, felonies, treasons, crimes, transgressions and offences whatsoever committed and done by them, or any of them, or in any other part or place within our realm, in any time bygone, before the day of the date hereof, treason in our own proper person allemarlie excepted, for the space of 19 years next to come after the date of thir pyttis, to indure but any revocation, obstacle, impediment, or againcalling whatsoever. Attour we will, grantis, and ordains, that this our speale respite, supersede, and delay, shall be of als great strength, avail, force, and effect to the persones that are not named and comprehended in the same, being with the said Edward and his complices at the committing of the said crimes, and art and part with them yrintill, as and their names and surnames were spealie and particularly, indicted thereintill. Wherefore we charge you straightly, and command you all and sundry our justices, wardans, lieutenants, justice clerks, sheriffs, stewards, coroners, provosts, aldermen and baillies of boroughs, and all other our officers present and to come, and your deputies, lieges and subdits aforesaid, that none of you take upon hand to call jornay, attack, arrest, accuse, molest, trouble, follow and persue the said persons, their kinsmen, friends, assistants, adherents, partakers and complices, or any of same within the said bounds, for the said crimes bygone, or to do or attempt any thing incontrar violation or breaking of this our speale respite, supersedere and delay, in any wise, during all the time and space above written, under all the highest pain and charge that after may follow. Discharging you, and each one of you of your offices in that part, in the meantime, by yir our leeris, given under our Privie Seal, at Striveling, the nineteen day of September, and of our reigne the [25] yeres.
Per signaturam manu, S.D.N.
Regis Subscriptam.
Upon the label to which the seal (which is broken off) had been affixed, is inscribed:
"Respectuatio Edwardi Sinclere de Strome et triginta aliorum"
Marked thus on the back: "A nineteen years respite to Edward Sincler and his complices, for the slaughter of the Earl of Caithness, etc." The date was 19th September 1539.