TSNS Evidence Library

This is the document upon which Shetland is founded according to the Laws of Scotland. By its nature it does not give allodial ownership to the Scottish Crown. It is an impignoration, a pledge. All James III got, and all the Crown has ever had, was 'the king's lands' of Shetland (about 10% of the whole) held in trust until the Danes came up with the money to redeem them. 14 attempts at redemption were made, each one brushed off by the Scots for various reasons.

This separate letter, written the same day as the pawning document, instructed the other Lords of Norway of Orkney and Shetland to pay their skat to James III until the King's lands were redeemed. It is important to note that it did not form part of the pawning contract (otherwise it would have been written into the terms of that document), thus confirming that the Pawning document did not concern the whole of Shetland.

The 1486 Letter confirms that even James III himself did not think he had ownership or sovereignty.
Hans had apparently heard rumours that James was about to remove the inhabitants of the islands and replace them with Scots, which would make the job of imposing Scots law much easier. His remarks to Hans are very interesting. He goes to great lengths to placate Hans, assures him that no inhabitants have been removed and there is no intention to change the laws or language of Norway. This is 14 years after the islands had been 'annexed' in 1472.