Petition to parliament by Sir Robert Gordon of Embo on behalf of the shire of Sutherland....

Petition to parliament by Sir Robert Gordon of Embo on behalf of the shire of Sutherland. Robert Munro of Achness (Auchnes), an excommunicated papist who was involved in James Graham's rebellion, and served as quartermaster in the late insurrection in the north, keeps a guard of 24 men at his house at Achness, so that no government officials or messengers of arms dare to go there to charge him with his offences. Recently Alexander M[? ...]ansone, a messenger of arms, attempted to do so, but Munro met him with twelve musketeers, threatened him and made him [? swear] that he would never again try to execute his office on the Achness property. The 'sheriff deputt' has been ordered to make an arrest, but dare not, since the property lies at the mouth of a river, and the 'passe' is defended by musketeers. If any considerable force is sent against Munro he 'flies in to Strathnaver', where he is safely sheltered. The petitioners ask parliament to have Munro's house 'rais[? d]' and to ensure that he is put into safe custody. [Endorsed, in two different hands]: 1. 'Supplication Sr Robert Gordon'. 2. '7 August'.