"Earldom" on Murder of William Sutherland (6th Laird of Duffus)

William bands with Southerlands in 1529:
"The yeir of God one thowsand fyve hundred tuentie-and-nyne, the Laird of Duffus gave his band of service to Alexander Master of Southerland, unto whose charge the government of the earldome wes befor this tyme altogether commited by his father; which he governed with wisdome and manhood, and defended the inhabitants of the cuntrey courageouslie against all his and ther enemies." (p. 101)

William murdered in 1530:
"The same yeir of God, Andrew Stuart, bishop of Catteynes, upon some conceaved displeasure which he had receaved, moved the Clan-gun to kill the Laird of Duffus in the toun of Thurso in Catteyness. Upon this accident the haill dyocie of Catteynes wes in a tumult. The Earle of Southerland did assist the bishop of Catteyness against his adversaries, by reasone of allyance contracted betuixt the houses of Huntley, Southerland, and Atholl. Ther wer great and honorable offers made to the Laird of Duffus his sone, by bishop Andrew, for satisfaction of his father's slaughter; such as the heretable constablrie, with the fue of the lands of Skibo, and the heretable bailliarie of the bishoprick of Catteynes; all which he did refuse, and caused charge the bishop to compeir befor the justice at Edinburgh. Wherupon Andrew retired into Athole, and by the meanes of the Earles of Huntly, Southerland, and Atholl, together with the young king's favor and grace, the mater wes then prorogat, and the day of the bishop's appearance befor the justice wes delayed untill another tyme.
Therefter one Alexander Gray, viccar of Far, bishop Andrew Stuart his servant, hade some occasion of bussines to goe visite his master into Atholl; and passing through Elgin of Murray, wher Alexander Southerland, dean of Catteynes (the late slain Laird of Duffus his brother) wes for the tyme, the dean and his nephue violentlie apprehended the said Alexander Gray, and careid him prissoner along to the house of Duffus. Wherupon bishop Andrew sent John Gray of Skibo south to Edinburgh, and caused him summond and charge the Laird of Duffus and his unble, to set Alexander Gray at libertie, and also to compeir personallie befor the councell at Edinburgh, to answer for taking and warding the king's frie subjet, without a commission. The Laird of Duffus, and his uncle the dean of Catteynes, compeiring at Edinburgh, were put in ward, and ther deteyned, untill they should either abyd the censure of the councell for taking of the said Alexander Gray without a power to that effect, or els aggrie with bishop Andrew, and discharge unto him and his servants the slaughter of the late Laird of Duffus; which in end they yeilded to remitt, and also to release Alexander Gray. Then did the Laird of Duffus repent that he had refused the good conditions which bishop Andrew had befor this tyme offered unto him." (p. 102-103)