1562, July-December
3 July 1562.
Cordinaris.
[To prevent the "darth and exhorbitand prices of buittis, schone, and all
vther sic thingis as pertenit to the occupatioun of cordiner craft,"proclamation made
"discharging all maner of regratouris, cowperris and foirstalleris of reid and barkit
ledder," and that none be sold except by the owners and labourers of the same, and
not to be "hurdit, hyd and kepit within close houssis, for vphalding of darth, bot to
be presentit to oppin market hale and togidder at lauchfull tyme of day."]
15 July 1562.
Extent jmli.
The prouest bailies and counsale [with the deacons of crafts,] being
convenit within the new tolbuth of this bufgh, and efter ressonyng, and
declaratioun maid to thame be my said lord prouest how that the wark of the
said new tolbuth wes ceissit and left of in defalt of money to pay the warken,
quhairat the Quenys Majestie wald be offendit, becaus hir hienes had
commandit the samyn to be endit with all deligence; and sicklike gyf the
said tolbuth war nocht rady be Mertymes nixt the sait of the sessiou wald
be movit to sum vther toun, quhilk sould be na litill harme to the commoun
weill of this burgh; vpoun the quhilkis considerationis, and becaus
thair wes na money to be gottin of the commun gude, becaus the samyn
wes analiit for tua yeris to cum, he thocht gude that ane extent of ane
thousand pundis sould be lyftit of all nychtbouris to the biging of the said
wark,[which proposition was agreed to and an extent granted accordingly.]
17 July 1562.
Off sic as sall
bruke offices
within this
burgh and
nane vtheris.
The prouest baillies [council and deacons of crafts,] being convenit
within the tolbuth, and efter lang ressonyng vpoun the monye trublis and
variances chanceit within this burgh thir tua yeris past amangis the
inhabitanttis of the samyn, nocht onlie to the contempt of God, oure
Souerane and the lauchfull Maiestratis of this burgh, bot alsua to the
greit apperand distructioun of thame selffis and hale commoun weill of the
samyn, and that as yit thair remanys within this said burgh certane witkit
besy and seditious personis menying no les nor the like insurrectioun and
inobedience gyf remeid be nocht fundin in tyme, and knawing the onlie
occatioun thairof to be and to haue bene for the want of gude and godlie
officeris, nocht having the trew feir of God in thair harttis nor detfull
regaird to thair conscience and commoun weill foreaid, all in ane voce, votis,
granttis, consenttis, statutis and ordanis that fra this furth thair sall nane
bruke office within this burgh of prouest, baillies, dene of gild, thesaurer,counsalour,
dekyn of craft, nor vther office, bot sic as hes adionit thame to the
trew kirk of God and congregatioun, and hes commvnicat with bayth sacramentis,
and hes submittit thameselffis vnder discipline, and gyf ony vther
beis chosin, nocht onlie sic to be depriuit bot the electerris and chesaris of
thame with thame selffis to be pvnissit with rigour as manifest contempnaris
of all gude and godlie ordour; and this act to be obseruit in all
tymes cuming without the prejudice of the officeris and dekynnis presentlie
in office for this instant yeir, and to this effect that the dekynnis of craftis
set ane peremptour day for chesing of thair dekynnis, and that vpoun
that day the hale dekynnis be chosin and nane vther, vnder the pane
foresaid.
[Note.— In the original record the foregoing act is delete, in terms of the
following resolution written at its commencement:—"xxvij Januarii 1563. [The
bailies council and deacons of crafts,] ordanis the act efter following to be deleit
at the Quenis Maiesteis command and for eschewing of hir anger."]
22 July 1562.
[Robertsoun,
master of
High School.]
The provest baillies and counsale sittand in iugement, in the
terme assignit to maister William Robertsoun, pretendit maister of the hie
scole of Edinburgh, to preif the last twa exceptionis admittit to be provin
this day be him coniunction proponit aganis the clame intentit contrar
him be maister jhonne Moscrop, procuratour for the toun, as suld be
prescriueit be the saidis provest, baillies, and counsale, comperit the
said maister Williame, and for probatioun of the saidis exceptionis
producit ane gift maid to him be the abbat of Halierudehous, with consent
of the abbay of Camskynneth his coadiutour et adminstratour, subscriueit
with the said abbat of Halierudehous hand and seillit with the
cheptour seill thairof, of the dait the tent day of januar, the yeir of
God jm vc xlvj yeris, and als producit ane tikat contening the names
underwrittin, viz., Lord Provand, maister Eduard Henresoun, maister
Alexander Sym, maister Jhonne Marioribankis, baillie, maister Alexander
Skene, maister Thomas Craig, Alexander Chaip, merchand, James, James,
Carmichell, James Harlaw writer, Patrik Govane belman, Patrik Kene,
Robert Craig, Alexander Bruce, barbour, maister Henrie Blakwod,
maister Jhonne Scherp Jhonne Sinclare, Jhonne Ker, James Richie, Gul.
Strang, Williame Broun, Jho. M'Calyeane, Fra. Adamsoun, to preif the
rest of saidis exceptionis; and the iuges assignis to the said maister
Jhonne Moscrop, Setterday nixttocum to produce his obiectionis aganis the
said letter of gift partibus citatis.
Maister Jhonne Moscrop allegeit that na witnes suld be ressauit vpoun
that parte of the said maister Williamis exceptiounis anent his qualificatioun,
quhair he offeris to preif the negatiue of the affirmatiue contenit in the
said maister Jhonneis claime, viz., that he is qualifeit in grammer, greik
and latene, etc., because the probatioun thairof, according to the tennor
of the last act and pronunceing of the interlocutour, suld be prescriueit
and appointit to him be the provest baillies and counsale, viz., that the
said maister William suld gyf demonstratioun of his sciences and artis,
being examinat be sic cunning and leirnit men as thai can find maist abill
thairto, and the said maister William allegeit in the contrar and disassentit
to all vther examinatioun nor be the witnes abone writtin.
The iuges findis that the probatioun and tryale of that pairt of the said
allegeance proponit be the said maister William tuiching his hablilitie and
qualificatioun aucht and sould ressave vther ordour tryale and probatioun
nor be particular witnes, as vther commoun allegeanceis requiris, and as
the said maister William desireis, viz., be demonstratioun of his science
eruditioun and knawledge, being examinat be cunning and leirnit men of
vnderstanding, in sic sciences ordour and maneris as ar requeseit to be in
ane man of sic place of doctrine as the said maister Williame pretendis,
and thairfore assignis to the said maister William to compeir before the
provest baillies and counsale on Fryday nixtocum, betuix ij and iij houreis
efternone, in the over tolbuith of this burgh, new beigit, and thair to
ressaue vse and leid tryale and probatioun of his said qualificatioun and
eruditioun be demonstratioun and ostentioun of his sceince and knawledge,
being thairanent examinant and requireit as ordour is, in presence of the
saidis provest baillies and counsale, be thir personis vnderwrittin, viz.,
the superintendent of Lothiane, maister Johnne Craig, minister of
Halierudehous, maister George Hay, maister George Baquhannane, maister
James Panter, maister Jhonne Hendersoun, maister Clement Litill, maister
James Kinpont, maister Dauid Colles, maister Alexander Sym, or the
maist pairt, or ane sufficient nummer of thame, quha than war nemmit and
appointit in presence of the said maister Williame, with certificatioun gyf
he comperit nocht the tyme abone writtin to the effect foirsaid, the said
exceptioun anent his qualificatioun suld be haldin as vnprovin. The
said maister Jhonne and maister William warnit heirof apud acta.
Maister William Robertsoun protestit for remeid of law and reductioun
of the interlocutour abone writtin and alluterlie disassentit thairto.
Maister Johnne Moscrop askit instrumentis that maister William Robertsoun
refuseit to gyf demonstratioun of his knawledge, being examinit be the
leirnit men abone writtin, and, in case he comperit nocht on fryday
nixttocum the tyme and place appointit, protestit he be repute thairefter
na apt nor crudite persoun for sic office and place of doctrine as he
pretendis,and siclike for circumduction of ther terme.
24 July 1562.
The provest baillies and counsale, in the tolbuith, comperit maister
Jhonne Moscrop, as in the terme assignit to maister Williame Robertsoun
to gif demonstratioun and ostentioun of his qualificatioun, being examinat
be the cunning and leirnit men appointit in his awin presence in iugement
the xxij of Julii lastbipast, and protestit that insafer as this day wes
assignit to the said maister William to gif demonstratioun of his erudition
and knawlege be examinatioun of the leirnit men heir present, for probatioun
of his exceptioun as towart his qualificatioun specifiit thairin, and
that the said cunning men war heir present according to the desire of the
terme, reddy to examine him vpoun [his qualification,] his said exceptioun
anent the qualificatioun be haldin and repute as vnprovin according to
the certificatioun contenit in the last act.
The samyn day, maister Edmound Hay protestit that be the confessioun
of the said maister Jhonne that the desire of this terme is onlie
vpoun the probatioun of his qualificatioun, quhilk is ane pairt of his exceptioun,
that thair be na forder done as this day sen the desire of the terme
requireit na forder as this day.
The jugeis circumduces the exceptioun proponit be maister William
Roberttoun anent the probatioun of his qualificatioun this day vpoun his
manifest contempt and contumelie warnit to this day apud acta to the
effect foirsaid and comperit nocht, and thairfore admittit the said maister
Jhonne Moscropis protestatioun aganis him.
25 July 1562.
The provest baillies and counsale, sittand in iugement, comperit
maister Jhonne Moscrop and producit his allegeit obiectionis into writ
aganis the pretendit gift producit be maister William Roberttoun, for
probatioun of ane pairt of his exceptionis admittit to his probatioun, and
ordanis the said maister William Roberttoun tobe warnit agane Tyisday
nixttocum to gif in ansueris in writ to the saidis obiectionis, the said
maister Jhonne warnit apud acta.
6 August 1562.
[Mr William Roberston having produced answers "in writ" to the objections
against his gift, the judges assigned Saturday next to give sentence.]
11 August 1562.
The baillies sittand in iugement, be sentence interlocutour, efter
avisement with thair assessouris, repellis the haill ansueris of maister
William Robertsoun maid to the obiectionis gevin in aganis his gift of
scholemaisterschip be maister Jhonne Moscrop in the actioun and caus
persewit aganis him be the said maister Jhonne and admittis the said
maister Jhonne to preif the minoritie of the abbat of Halierdhous
specifiit in the first of his saidis obiectionis, viz., the said abbat to haue
bene within the aige of xiiij yeris the tyme of the granting of the said
gift to the said maister William and that in respect of the contentis of the
said gift, and for probatioun thairof assignis to him Furisday nixttocum.
17 August 1562.
Freris
The tounys supplicatioun to the Quenys Maiestie for the freris
places:—Madame, vnto your grace humlie menis and schewis we your
seruitouris, the prouest baillies counsale and communitie of the burgh of
Edinburgh, that quhair for laik of prouisioun to support thame quhilkis
ar in deid puir, that thair miserabill estait being vnder the handis God
and veseit be him be seiknes aige and vtherwis, the nummer of sturdy
beggerris daylie increscis in sic sorte that thai quhilkis baith of the law of
God and nature aucht tobe helpit ar nocht vnknawin fra thame quhilkis
of all ressoun and equitie suld be compellit to travell for thair leifing and
sustentatioun, being stark and potent of body that way to laubour, and
nocht onlie ar the strudy beggerris thairthrow fosterit bot als in thair
beggerrie begettis childrene quhilkis fra thair youth ar brocht vp beggand,
makand thair begging quhairby thai presentlie leif, and ar withdrawin
fra laubour to leif idillie tobe ane craft, sua that gif remeid be nocht
had thairto the policie salbe havelie hurte and the pouir alwys contempnit
and neglectit; and siklike it is nocht vnknawin to your hienes that the
commoun ordour quhairby men attenis to serue the commoun weill of thair
cuntre cumis be letteris leirning and scienceis, quhilkis can nocht be obtenit
bot be leirning at sculis, quhilkis for the maist parte dois in all partis
decay, sua that na regarde is had thairto and the youth thairthrow brocht
to sic barborous ignorance that lamentablie it is tobe regratit; the
remeid of baith the quhilkis we doute nocht bot be the erecting of
hospitalis to sustene the pure, planting of sculis to bring up the youth.
quhairto is nocht onlie requireit places and rowmes bot als ressonabill
livingis and stipendis, quhilkis for inhabilitie and pouirtie of the burrowis
can nocht be thame be performit; and your hienes vnderstanding that
[to] oure said toun resortis ma pouir than to ony vthir of this realme, and
als that oure youth is of sic nummer that pietie it war, seing God at this
tyme gevis sic pregnant meynis the same suld pereis, and thairfore with
supporte of youre grace we mynd na thing mair than to erect hospitalis
and ressonable sculis within our said toun, quhairin the puir quhilkis ar
indeid puir may be sustenit and the youth nuresit and brocht vp in
letteris, sua that ressonabill levingis war prouideit thairto, quhilkis at na
tyme before culd better be done nor now quhen landis and annuellis
within our said toun pertening to preistis freiris and vtheris ar cumin
in your hienes handis, with the quhilkis we doute nocht bot youre grace,
bering sic fauour to letteris and science and supporte of the pouir, will
partlie bestow to the effect foirsaid; heirfore we beseik your guid grace haif
consideratioun heirof, and seing that ye ar myndit that letteris and science
incresce within youre realme, and that the pouir quhais clamour ascendis
to the hevin be sustenit, that youre grace will grant and dispone to ws
the situatioun quhair the Blakfreiris war, togidder with thair yairdis to
beig ane hospitale vpoun for the pouir, and als caus sume dres be
maid that we may haue the place kirk chalmeris and houssis of the Kirk
of Field to big ane scule, we satifiand ressonablie thairfore, and als that
your grace will gif and dispone to ws, for sustening of the hospitale and
scule foirsaid, the annuellis of chaplainreis and freris being presentlie in
your gaces handis and the remanent of the samen quhen thai sall
pertene to youre grace; and becaus our said toun is populous, and the
multitude thairof greit, that your hienes will gif to ws the yairdis of the
Grayfreiris and situatioun thairof, being sumquhat distant fra oure toun,
to mak ane buriale place of to burie and eird the personis deceissand
thairin, sua that thairthrow the air within oure said toun may be the mair
pure and clene, and we doute nocht bot your grace sall schortlie se the
power within our said toun be sa supportit, the youth sa brocht vp in
letteris, that the posteriteis to cum sall haif greit comforte thairof to the
prais of youre hienes in all tymes cuming; and your ansuer humelie we
beseik.
Regina.
Followis the deliuerance vpoun the bak of the said supplicatioun,
subscruitt be the Quenys Maiestie:—Apud Striuiling xvij° Augusti anno
1562. The Quenys maiestie appoynttis the Grayfreir yaird within writtin
to be ane buriall place to the personis deceissand within the burgh of
Edinburgh, sua that the samyn salbe ane buriall place, and it salbe lesum
to burye the deid of the said toun thairin; and hir grace promisses quhen
euir sufficient prouisioun is maid for biging of the hospitale and scule
within writtin hir grace sall prouide ane rowme convenient thairfor and
sall support that the samyn may be dotyt to be interteneit in tyme cuming.
Sic subscribitur: Marie, R.
27 August 1562.
weland
The prouest baillies and counsale, in consideratioun of the heirschep
committit vpoun Alexander Weland, lorymer, be the Franschemen the
tyme of thair raig within this burgh vpoun the peple of God, and for his
gude seruice done to the gude toun in all tymes bigane and to cum,
granttis and gevis to the said Alexander ane gildschip fre, and ordanis
the dene of gyld to ressaue him gratis.
Thesaurer,
toun wallis.
The prouest baillies and hale counsale ordanis Louk Wilsoun, thesaurer,
with all deligence possable, to big vp the toun wallis at the Blakfreris and
mend the sloppis thairintill, and begyn vpoun Monunday nixt.
Gardner,
fleschour, Freir
yardis.
Rowye Gairdner, fleschour, actit himself of his awin consent that the
hale cornys sawin be him vpoun the ground of the eist yarde of the Grayfreris
salbe furthcumand to the gude toun, according to the quantite being
vpoun the said ground, arreistit be thair officeris yesterday, and failling of
the said cornys the avale thairof.
Hendersoun,
maister wark.
The prouest baillies and counsale ordanis Edwerd, alias Sir Edwerd,
Hendersoun to tak cure and charge ovir the warkis of the toun at Sanct
Gelys Kirk yaird, the Blak and Gray freris, and ordanis to gyve him ij s. on
the day for his laubouris induring thair willis.
Dene gyld,
Freir yairde.
The prouest baillies and counsale foresaid ordanis Alexander Guthre,
dene of gild, to big vp the Gray freir dikis fra the fore entres to the greit
yairde, according to the ground of the auld fore wall, and siclik to caus
mak ane new dur to the said fore entres.
18 September 1562.
Bonet makaris.
[Complaint made by the bonnet-makers that "diuers craftismen, sic as fleschouris,
wrychtis, sclateris, cordineris, and diuers vtheris within this burgh, had tystit and
drawin fra thame thair seruandis and prentissis, vnfre personis, and caussis thame
wyrk and laubour vnder thame the wark pertenyng to thair craft." The provost
bailies council and deacons agreed that the bonnet-makers should be protected in their
privileges and liberties; "bot in case it plesit the gudenes of God to gyf the gyft to
strangearis or vtheris resortand to this toun to laubour and invent vpoun prikis ane
mair perfyte and fyner fassoun of hois slevis gluffis, and siclike as they thameseffis
seruandis nor prentisses could nocht do nor hes nocht done at ony tyme befor this,
that in sic caissis the saidis personis sall nocht be stoppit nor the gyftis of God
smorit; prouiding alwayis that nowther thay nor nane vtheris salbe seruit be thair
seruandis or prentissis, vnfre personis, quhilk hes had thair begynning vnder the
said dekin and masterris;" and furhter, that their servants and prentices should be
discharged from working with other unfreemen.]
25 September 1562.
Regina,
Douglas.
The prouest, dene of gild, thesaurer, [old and new councils, and
assessors,] being convenit in the tolbuth according to the auld ordour,
comperit Archibald Dowglas of Kilspindie and produceit the Quenis
Maiesteis writing, off the quhilk the tennour followis, and vpoun the productioun
thairof askit instrumentis, requireing also the said provest baillies
and counsalis ansueris to the samin: Sequitur litera: Provest, baillies,
counsale and deikins of our burgh of Edinburgh, we greit yow weill.
Forsamekill as oure louit Archibald Dowglas of Kinspindie wes provest of
oure said burgh of before, quha knawis how to rewle youre said toun,
haifand experience thairof, and to do ws seruice thairin, and is abill and
meit to brouke the said office this nixt yeir, oure will is heirfore and we
charge yow that ye mak the said Archibald ane of the lytis to be chosin
provest to yow at Michaelmes nixttocum, and than that ye elect and cheis
him to be youre prouest the said yeir, conforme to youre ordour obseruit
in sic caissis. This ye do, for oure will and mynde is that the samin be
done. Subscriueit with oure hand, at Cowper in Angus, the xxj day of
August and of our regnne the twenty yeir. Sic subscribitur: Marie. And
efter auisement with the said writing the provest baillies counsale and
assessouries foirsaidis, all in ane voce, continuit thair ansuer quhill the day viij dayis.
3 October 1562.
Decreit aganis
maister scole.
The quhilk day, maister Thomas Makcalyeane of Cliftounhall
provest, maister Jhonne Marioribankis and James Thomesoun, baillies of
the burgh of Edinburgh, sittand in iugement as iugeis ordineris to the
persoun of maister Williame Robertsoun, haifand consent of Robert,
commendatar of Halierudehous, to cognosce in the actioun and caus
persewit be maister Jhonne Moscrop, procuratour to the said burgh, aganis
the said maister William, that quhair the said maister Jhonne Moscrop
calling to remembrance the lovabill purpois of the maist eloquent and
politik oratour and philosophour, Marcus Tullius Cicero, willing to haue
Marcus his sone instructit in letteris and maneris, knawand the maist
famous and literat philosophour, Cratippus, to be instructar of the youthheid
in the maist fluresant cietie of Athens, send his sone to be auditour
to the said Cratippus within the said cietie, baith for the heich authoritie
of the reder and cietie foirsaid, off the quhilkis the ane mycht augment
him with letteres and science and the vther with gude exemplis; and
like as this burgh is the maist nobill and famous burgh and murrour
of gude maneris and ciuilitie within this realme, sua the same aucht
to haue the maist famois and literat pedagogis for instructing of the
yowthhied of the samin, and to gif vtheris wis and nobill men occasioun,
as had the said Cicero, to send their bairnis to be instructit thairin, to the
greit incresce of science and augmenting of the commoun weill thairof;
and being surelie informit that the said maister Williame, be the space of
xvij yeris syne or thairby, vnder pretense of ane pedagoge qualefeit in
letteris and maneris, he haifand nane or litill eruditioun in grammer greik or
latene,bot empty thairof, nocht onlie hes wranguslie and ignorantlie vsurpeit
the office of schole maister within this burgh, like as he yit vsurpis, to the
greit ignominie and detractioun of the fame of the samin burgh and detening
of the tender youth bred within the samin committit to his cure in ignorance
of all letteris humane and diuine, bot als, schewand him self ane inimie to
Godis worde and contemnar thairof, hes refusit and refussis to frequent
the sermonis of the trew and sincere doctrine of God and to communicat in
the tabill of the suppour of our Lorde, geifand evil exampill to the said
tender youth to the greit apperand perditioun of thair sawlis, quhairthrow
he is vnhabill to brouke the said office of schole maister cum periculosum sit,
vt in prouerbio habetur, ouem lupo committere, et eum quem puero preceptorem adhibueris
corruptorem experiri, and thairfore the said maister Williame aucht
to be declareit and decernit vnhabill to the said office, and decernit to be
removeit thairfra, and compellit to desist and ceis fra all forder exerceing
of that office, as at mair lenth is contenit in the clame gevin in be the said
maister Jhonne Moscrop aganis the said maister William Robertsoun thairupon:
The richttis ressonis and allegationis of baith the saidis parteis
harde vnderstande and considderit, and the saidis iugeis being avisit thairwith,
togidder with the depositionis of diuers famois witnes ressauit suorne
and admittit heirto, the said maister Jhonne Moscrop comperand personalie
in iugement, and the said maister William Robertsoun being lauchfullie
wairnit to this day be Alexander Cuke and George Gourlaw, officeris, oft
tymes callit lauchfull tyme of day biddin and nocht comperit, the saidis
provest and baillies, with avis of thair assessouris, findis the said maister
William to be vnhabill to exerce the office of schole maister within the said
burgh, and thairfore decernis him to remove him self fra exerceing of the
said office and desist and ceis in all tymes cuming fra forder vseing and
exerceing thairof, and dischargis him of all teiching and instructing of the
youth within this burgh becaus . . . . . [Here follows a narrative of the
previous proceedings and pleadings, the principal of which have already been
given.]
6 October 1562.
Dowglas,
dekynnis.
The prouest, baillies, dene of gilde, thesaurar, counsale auld and new,
abone writtin, maister Jhonne Moscrop, maister Jhonne Scherp and
Alexander King; assessouris, being convenit as the letter day appointit for
lyting and electing of thair officiaris, comperit Archibald Dowglas and
desireit thair ansuer affirmatiue or negatiue to the Quenis writing, and
desireit the samyn to be votit quhether thai wald obey the said writing or
nocht, and the commoun clerk to note eury manis vote as he wald ansuer
to the Quenis grace . . . . and desireit the siad writing to be red in
presence of the haill deikins, and thai to be harde to vote according to the
tennour of the said writing, quhilk being red the saidis deikins all in ane
voce askit instrumentis that thai wald obey the samin in all pointis, and
conforme thairto desireit that thai mycht be harde to vote alsweill in lyting
as electing, and heirupoun desireit thair ansuer; quha being alssua removeit,
the proveist, baillies, counsale and assessouris forsaidis findis and decernis
the saidis deikins salhaue na vote in lyting, bot in electing allanerlie,
nochtwithstanding the said writing, quhilk in the self is sufficient for
thair ansuer.
Makcalyeane, protestatio Guthrie, etc.
[Maister Thomas Makcalyeane having renounced the office of provestry, Alexander
Guthrie, dene of guild, [and five others] " desyreis the lytis to be chosin
according to the auld ordour, and Archibald Dowglas to be chosin prouest."]
Council's ansuer.
[The council continued their to the Queen's writing for fifteen days, till
they might have time to " ressoun with hir hienes concerning the contentis thairof."]
21 October 1562
Council convening.
[The council to convene every Wednesday and Friday, during the ringing of the
bell from a quarter till half-past ten, under the panalty of one shilling and sixpence
to be paid to the poor; those absent from the meeting without reasonable cause to
pay five shillings; and none to " depairt of the toun or oute of this realme to
remane ony space, without licence obtenit be the said counsale."]
6 November 1562.
Keys.
[James Thomesoun, one of the bailies of the past year, delivered to David
Forrester, bailie, the key of the charter house and the key of the common seal; and
Thomas M'Calyeane, provost of last year, delivered the seal of cause to Archibald
Douglas of Kinspindie, the present provost. The keys of the charter house and
common seal, which were in the hands of the previous treasurer, were delivered to
his successor, John Prestoun.]
Adulteraris, fornicatouris.
The provest, baillies, counsale, assessouris, dene of gild and thesaurar,
persaveing that the abhominabill viceis of adulterie and fornicatioun daylie
increscit within this burgh for laik of pvnisment, thairfore ordanit the
saidis baillies, as thai will ansuer in presence of thair God, and farder
vpoun the executioun of thair office, that thai mak deligent tryale throw
all the pairtis of the toun quhair ony fornicatour of adulterar may be
apprehendit, man or woman, without exceptioun of persoun, to be takin
and put fast in the irnehous, and thair to be fied be the space of ane
moneth with breid and water allanerlie, and thairefter vpoun the sure
tryale of thair offens to be baneist the toun for euir; and siklike the fornicatouris
apprehendit in the vice or vtheris tryit be ordour, baith the
man and the woman, to be skurgeit thair at the cairt ers and banist the
toun ay and quhill sume sure apperance be harde to the kirk and magistratis
of the amendiment of their lifeis; and this ordour to be obseruit
within this burgh as it sall pleis the Almichtie to move the hartis of the
hiear powertis to statute ane better law for the saidis crymeis.
9 November 1562.
Pasturing of the mure and lynkis.
[Proclamation to be made that " the pasturing and gers of thair commoun
mure, togidder with thair haill linkis betuix St Nicholas Chapell and Weirdy Brow,"
are to be rouped on Monday next.]
11 November 1562.
For flesheeting.
[Proclamation to be made charging the inhabitants that no " flesche be drest nor
etyn in thair houssis vpoun Friday and Setterday fra this day furth." under the
penalty of ten pounds.]
12 November 1562.
Grahame, baptism.
Jhonne Grahame, merchant of this burgh, beand direct fra the minister
and eldaris to the prouest and baillies, to be inquyrit of the baptesing of his
last barne, and gif it war found that the said barne wes nocht baptesit, to
pur remeid thairto be thair obseruit, quhairof the said Jhonne being
requyrit be his aith declarit his last barne, being ane las, to be baptisit in
his awin hous be ane preist of Glasgw callit Houstoun, eftir the papis
maner, and his witnes to be Maister Edmond Hay, Margaret Ramsay the
spous of maister James Lindesay, and Helene Jhonnstoun the spous of
Andro Stevinsoun; and thairefter the said Helene Jhonnstoun being callit,
and hir greit aith taikin, swore that the said barne was baptisit in the
abbay, in the Quenys Maiesteis chapell, be hir hienes Franche preist.
Siclike Margaret Ramsay, sworne, deponis conforme to Johnne Grahame.
Charterris.
[John Charteris, younger, confessed] that in the moneth of December
last bipast his barne wes baptizit in the abbay, in the Quenys Maiesteis
chapell, vpone ane hallyday before none.
18 November 1562.
Leith,
assessors.
[The provost bailies and council,] being informyt that certane inhabitantis
of Leyth on the yonde syde of the brig had vsurpit vpoun thame the
liberte and jurisdictioun of this toun, be biging of houssis vpoun the
commoun passages, losing and lading of guddis thair without paying of
dewtie, etc., and being forthir informyt that thay had sterit vp my lord
abbot of Hallirudehous, the Quenys Maiesteis broder, to mantene thame
aganis the gude toun, and foirseing that thir caussis and diuers vtheris
the townys actionis sall schortlie cum before the lordis of sessioun and
mon be defending be men of law, quhairfore all in ane voce thay nominat
and constitute maisteris Dauid Borthuik, Thomas M'Calyeane and Richert
Strang thair assasouris and procuratouris induring thair willis, and ordanis
the thesaurare [to pay them each ten pounds yearly.]
Young, scribe.
The council continewis Jhonne Young, writer, thair scribe, and ordanis
him to serue in the towyns effaris towert the sessioun, the Quenis
Maiestie and vtheris the townys effaris efter the auld ordour, and to be
rady at the thesaureris command to wryte and resaif informatioun of the
townys aduocatis in the townys besynes, [he being paid his " auld pentioun
of ten" merkis."]
5 December 1562
Dene gyld, presone.
The prouest, baillies, assasour and counsale forsaid, ordanis the dene
of gild to prepair the hous quhair the wobsteris wrocht in the steple with
all necessaris, to be ane pressoun hous for adulteraris and fornicatouris, and
to mak the samyn sure and lokfast.
Villa, tolbuth. Currour.
[The treasurer to pay to "maister William Currour, heritour of the landis quhair
the new tolbuth is bigand, the sowme of fourtye pundis in pairt of payment of his
ground rycht thairof."]
8 December 1562.
Prices.
[Tallow not to be sold dearer than 13s. the stone; candle,the "rag weik"
1s. 1d., and the "harde weik" 1s. the pound; the fourpence loaf of bread, baked by
baxters wtithin the burgh, to weigh thirteen ounces, and that baked by baxters outwith
the burgh, to weigh seventeen ounces; ale not to be sold dearer than fivepence
the pint; stable keepers to sell their hay not dearer than tenpence the stone, the best
oats for 1s. 4d., and the second for 1s. 2d. the peck.]
11 December 1562.
Gyld, minister.
[The dean of guild ordered to pay £, 18s. 8d. for "certane necessaris of the
ministeris lugeing, as the particuler compt beris."]
22 December 1562.
Bedrellis.
[The treasurer " to pay the bedrellis of Sanct Mary Wynde, for thair Yule
dewtie, x s."]