Stair Society

20/11/2025

A very successful AGM and annual lecture at the Mackenzie Building, Old Assembly Close, Edinburgh, on Saturday 15 November. The lecture was a brilliant discussion of "Witchcraft in Scotland" by Professor Julian Goodare, showing how the legal process worked in such cases in the seventeenth century, with subtle interactions between local interests and central government, especially the Privy Council and its award of commissions of justiciary to local groups to hold the essentially inquisitorial trials. Earlier, at the AGM, Professor Mark Godfrey stood down after nine successful years as Literary Director, to be succeeded with immediate effect by Professor Andrew Simpson. For the first time in some years, the Society has three living occupants of the post of Literary Director, either now or in the past. They are pictured with the speaker and also as a little group by themselves.

04/08/2025

A delight to receive in this morning's post the second volume (of a projected four) of Leslie Dodd's edition and translation of Thomas Craig's Jus Feudale. The editor-translator's introduction discusses translation and its attendant challenges, the specific process of translating a legal-historical text, and the contribution philological methodologies can make to the study of legal literature in its historical context. All congratulations to Dr Dodd and yet more power to his elbow in completing his mighty task.

19/12/2024

This piece on the back story of Gloag & Henderson was a lot of fun to write and I think has one or two nuggets about the previously under-appreciated Henderson in particular. Congratulations to Sweet & Maxwell on their 225th anniversary! Gloag & Henderson will reach its centenary in 2027!

A fascinating article delving into the history of Gloag and Henderson: The Law of Scotland, a key Scots law text fast approaching its centenary edition! Thank…

10/07/2024

Many congratulations to Iain Flett (editor) and Scottish Record Society (publisher) on this handsome edition of the protocol book of Alexander Cok, notary public and town clerk of Kirkcaldy 1567-1571. The book mostly records the proceedings of the burgh court and is supplied with a very helpful editorial apparatus.

24/10/2023

Coming soon to all good bookshops; but you or your library can order a copy now with 25% discount!

31/08/2023

Now available in paperback with a 30% launch discount on the price!

23/08/2023

Forgot to record at the time this splendid June contribution to the Society's publications, David Chalmers' Compendium of the Laws of Scotland from the mid-16th century. It is a remarkable guide to the so-called "auld lawes". Many congratulations to Andrew Simpson, Julian Goodare and Winifred Coutts for bringing this long-neglected source into the public domain at last.

10/07/2023

The earliest surviving records of a baron court in Scotland are printed in the third volume of the Historical MSS Commission General Reports (p 410). They report a process in the baron court of Longforgan in the sheriffdom of Perth running from 16 January to 21 April 1385, presided over by the baron of Longforgan, Sir Patrick Gray. The court was held on each day at the "Hund Hil" of Longforgan; it is thought that this was the low mound on the hill to the north of the modern village of Longforgan, known as the Market Knowe (sometimes as the Roman Knowe or the Roman Camp). The mound is reached by going up the Woodloan to the edge of the Huntly Woods (where there is a car park) and the mound is in a glade to the right of the car park as you look into the wood. The Ordnance Survey grid reference is NO31223058.

Archaeologists think that the mound was originally a Wessex-style bell cairn, with the cairn once in the centre long since gone. Apparently beneath the centre graves containing human skeletal remains were found (Statistical Account) but it is not said when this happened. We can imagine Sir Patrick Gray's court assembled around the mound (the record speaks of "fencing the court" and "mony nobillis thare beand") when judgement was finally delivered, upholding Sir Patrick's entitlement to take back various lands within his barony to which the defenders had not shown any title or right. The case looks like one of "showing the holding"; the lands were Littleton and "Lowrandston" in Auchterhouse. The record is in Scots throughout, rather than Latin.

It is just possible that the case before the justiciar depute on 7 December 1391, in which Sir Alexander Murray was accused of the slaughter of William Spalding and pleaded the law of Clan MacDuff in his defence (i.e. to be repledged to the court of the earl of Fife), was also held at the Hund Hil. The case is recorded as taking place at nearby Fowlis, which may have been part of the barony of Longforgan. The case is noted in the same volume of HMC General Reports, at p 417.