Miggal
by Gilbert de Hay, David de Graham, and others; "who say on oath in
Michael's presence that he had been lately taken prisoner forcibly
against his will by William le Waleys, that he twice escaped, but was
followed and brought back, and he was told if he tried to get away a
third time he should lose his life. Thus, it appears, he remained with
William through fear of death and not of his own will." The following
deliverance is endorsed:--"The Chamberlain is 'commanded to give him
his goods and chattels of the King's special grace.'"[5] The Sheriff,
as Chamberlain, no doubt favourably represented to the King Michael's
excuse, as the subsequent conduct of both the Earl of Strathearn and
himself showed a fellow-feeling, and that, like Michael, they had been
acting under constraint.

On 15th September, 1305, King Edward I., with the concurrence of ten
Scots and twenty-two English Commissioners to his Parliament, made an
ordinance containing certain regulations "for the settlement of
Scotland." Amongst these regulations was the following:--"That there
should be Sheriffs natives either of Scotland or England, to be
appointed or removed by the Lieutenant or the Chamberlain, at
discretion, who should execute the office of escheatry as usual, and
that none should be appointed but the most sufficient men and most
profitable for the King, and people, and the maintenance of peace."
Sir Malcolm de Innerpeffer was appointed, or rather continued, in
office of Sheriff of Auchterarder, and he was at same time appointed
Sheriff of the shire of Clackmannan.[6] The appointment did not,
however, extinguish the Sheriff's patriotism, as the next thing we hear
of him is:--

"The King sends to Walter, Bishop of Chester, the Treasurer, Malcolm de
Innerpeffrei, Knight, who at the time of this last 'riote' of the Scots
was the King's Sheriff of Clackmannan and Auchterarder, but
nevertheless was one of the first to join Sir Robert de Brus, and
wickedly allotted the Earls of Menteth and Strathern in aiding said
Robert; also fought against the King at the Battle of Seint Johan de
Perth, and has done all the damage he could, commanding that he be
secured in some strong castle, not in irons, but body for body."

"Whereon said Malcolm was at once delivered to the Constable of the
Tower of London, on the 7th of December."

Another writ follows regarding Sir Malcolm's two horses, which the King
permits him to make profit of at pleasure.[7