The Murder of Captain James Ross

Justice in Reformation-Era Scotland

In the quiet town of Tain, nestled in the northern Scottish Highlands, the year 1583 began with the chill of winter and the rhythm of religious reform. But the town’s relative peace was shattered one morning by a murder that shocked the local population—the killing of Captain James Ross and his companion Patrick Yvat.

According to historical records, both men were slain around eight o’clock in the morning, in the chamber of Andrew Ross. Their assailants, Nicolas Ross and Walter Ross, acted not in the shadows of night but in broad daylight, with an air of impunity that would characterize much of the legal drama to follow.