XC. Draft of an Act of Parliament, superscribed by King James VI.,
for granting free liberty to the City of Glasgow to elect its
Magistrates. 7 July 1606.
James, R. Oure Souerane Lord and Estaites of Parliament, presentlye
conveynit, considering that the citie of Glasgow at the beginning being
ane very meane and simple town, without ather trafficke or nowmer of inhabitantis, in the electioun of thair magistrattis wer accustumat to demand
the assent and approbatioun of thair Archbischope to the same; and now
the estaite of that citye being sa far mendit as nocht only the same is
becum weill peopled and hes ane greit traide and trafficque, bot also
be thair commissioneris in parliamentis, generall conventiouns, and
conventiounis of borrowes, thay haif had speciall plaice and voice as ane
frie citye of the kingdome, and hes borne taxatiouns, subsidyes and vther
burdeynis ansuerable in proportioun with many of the best townes of the
realme (sum very few exceptit), it caryes no ressoun that the said citye
suld acknawledge in the nominatioun of thair magistrattis any subiect
quhatsoevir, seing as thay ar immediatlye in dewtye and alledgeance
obleist to the prince and subiect to burdeynis as vthir cities and borroughis
ar; sua in that quhilk is the kye of thair particular governament, thair
suld be na restrictioun of thair fredome, bot suld haif frie libertye to elect
and cheis sick persouns as salbe thocht most fitt bothe to serve the prince
and to governe the citye it self; And thairfoir our Souerane Lord, with
advyise of the saidis estaites, declaires that the said citye of Glasgow in
all tyme cumming sall haif als frie libertye in the electioun and cheising
of thair magistratis yeirlye at the accustumat tymes as anye vther citye
or borrough within the kingdome of Scotland, and that the approbatioun
ather of thair archbischope or ony vther subiect quhatsoevir sall nawayes
be requisite or necessarye, bot the same to stand effectuall in all respectis
without thair consent askit or demandit thairto.
7 July 1606. Remittis this mater to the nixt sessioun of Parliament.