[Notes on the Black Book Contents]
Vicesimo Nono Martij, anno 1574. Anent our souerane lordis letrez purchest at ye instance of Claud Hammiltoun, commendator of Paisley and convent thairof, aganis Robert Lord Symple, makand mentioun that quhair in ye lait trublis bi past ye said Robert Symple obtenit and gat in his handis ye commoun seill of ye said Abbey, at ye lest ye half thairof, quhilk wes kepit of befor be ye priour and convent, togidder with ye buke callit the Blak Buik of Pasley, the register buik of Pasley, quhairin is contenit the register and [copies] of all fewis and takkis at the leist the maist pairt thairof of quhatsumeuir landis, kirkis, revenues, and thridis sett of the said place, quhilk the said Lord zit hes in his handis and keping at the lest had thame and hes fraudfullie distroyit and put thame avay, and albeit the samin pertenis to the saidis complenaris and aucht and suld be deliuerit to tham to be kepit and vsit be tham as thair propir sele and bukis at thair plesour in time cuming, nochttheles the said Robert Lord Symple on navise will deliver the samin to thame without he be compellit and anent the charge gevin to the said Robert Lord Symple to haif deliuerit the said commoun seill at the lest the half thairof vnbroikit and vndistroyit, togidder with the bukis respective forsaidis haill in thame selfis, vnrasit, vncancelat, vnriven, vnalterit and vndistroyit als gud as thai wer the tyme of his intromission thairwith to the saidis complenaris to be kepit and vsit be thame at thair plesour in tyme cuming, within sex dayis nixt efter the charge; Or ellis to haif exhibit and producit the samin befor the saidis lordis at ane certane day thairefter, or ellis to haif allegit ane ressonable caus quhy the samin suld nocht haif bene done as at mair lenth is contenit in the principale lettrez rasit in the said mater actis lettrez and haill proces led and deducit thairupon; The said Claud, commendator of Pasley and convent thairof, comperand be master Dauid McGill, thair procuratour, and the said Robert Lord Symple, comperand be master Henry Kynros, his procuratour, all thair rychtis, ressonis, etc., togidder with the depositionis of diuers famous witnessis, ressauit, admittit, sworn and examinat, producit for the part of the said commendator, and convent hard sene and vnderstand, and the saidis Lordis thairwith being riple avisit: The lordis of counsale decernis and ordanis letrez to be direct simpliciter, chargeing the said Robert Lord Symple to deliuer the said common seil at the lest the half thairof forsaid vnbrokin, vndestroyit, togidder with the bukis respectiue forsaidis haill in thame selfis, vnrasit, vncancellat, vnriven, vnalterit and vndestroyit, als gud as thai wer the tyme of thair intromissioun thairwith to the said commendator and convent, to be kepit and vsit be thame at thair plesour in tyme cuming. Becaus the said Robert Lord Symple was lauchtfullie summond to haif comperet befor the saidis lordis at ane certane day of lang tyme, bipast to haif hard and sene lettrez direct vpon him to the effect foirsaid, or ellis to haif allegit ane ressonable caus quhy the samin suld nocht haif bene done with certification to him and he falzeit thairin, the saidis lordis wald decern in maner forsaid, and he comperand be the said master Henry Kynros, his procuratour, denyit that he ovther had hes or hes fraudfullie put avay the saidis rentale buik register buk and seill, and thairefter diuers termes being assignit to the said commendator and convent for preving thairof, previt the samin sufficientlie lik as was clerlie vnderstand to the saidis lordis and siclik, becaus the said lord was i nlik maner chargit of befor to haif deliuerit the said buik to the effect and in maner abone written, or ellis to haif allegit ane ressonable caus quhy the samin suld nocht haif bene done with certification, as said is, and he comperand be his said procuratour, schew na ressonable caus in the caus in the contrarie lik as wes clerlie vnderstand to the saidis lordis, and thairfor the saidis lordis descernit in maner forsaid, and ordanis letrez to be direct to the effect forsaid in form as efferis.