1575, Oct-Dec
4 October 1575.
Regent, villa.
The baillies and counsale being convenit for electing of thair new
counsale for the zeir to cum, comperit Sir Jhonn Ballenden of Auchinnoule, knycht, justice clerk, maister Nychole Elphinstoun, and Patrick
Ballenden, and producit my Lord Regenttis Grace writing, quhairof the
tenour followis, commandit to be registrat be the baillies and counsale
foresaid:—Prouest, baillies, counsale, and dekynnis of craftis, and vtheris
having voic in electioun of officiarris within the burgh of Edinburgh,
we greit yew hartlie weill. For samekle as your burgh being the cheif
toun of the realme quhair the sait of iustice abydis, and the nobelite
and estatis hes maist frequent resart, it hes bene ane ancient and lovable
custome to mak the Prince or sic as bure gubernament foresene in the
electioun of the publict officiarris thairof that the maist worthie and
able mycht, with the fauouris and benevolence of the Soueraine authoritie
be placit in the charge, and although the tyme of your electioun be now
instant, yit we haue hard na mentioun be yow of your intentioun how
to proceid and of quhome to mak chose of for your officiarris to serue
for the yeir to cum, quhairof we mervell being sa neyr yew, and
this present tyme havand als greit neid of gude aduise in this behalf
as ony aige past, considering the lait factionis and troublis tymes
quhairin sa mony war withdrawin frome the Kingis Maiesteis obedience,
and sen oure awin menyng hes alwayis bene and is that men war placit
in that publict charge quhilk war maist zelus towert the furthsetting
of goddis trew religioun, luffing towert oure Soueraine Lord, constant
in his obedience, and thairwithall of gravite, jugement, and experience,
meit and worthy to sustene sic honorable place and charge. Oure
mynd and will is, and we desyre yew that ye stay your proceding in
your electioun this present day, deferrand the samyn to friday nixt,
that sum of yew repair vnto ws with the names of the lytis, that we
may considder gyf the personis nominat be indewit with thir qualiteis
and luffing towerd ws, towerd the king, and ws bering this regiment,
and may thairvpoun the better vnderstand oure mynde quhom we best
like of and findis metest to be placit in charge; dischargeing yew of proceding in the menetyme. Sucscriuit with our hand, at Hallyroudhous, the fourth day of October 1575, James, Regent.— Quhilk writing
being red and considerrit, the presenttaris thairof befoir mentionat
requyrit the ansuer, and efter avysement, the saidis baillies and counsale,
in ane voce, granttis to obey the samyn vnder protestatioun it do nocht
preiudge thair fredome and liberteis nowther mak preparatiue in tymes
cuming.
Protestatioun, villa.
Ordanis the foure baillies, maister Jhonne Prestoun, James Ros,
James Young, and Gilbert Prymros to pas the morne to Dalkeyth to
my Lord Regenttis [Grace] and shew him thair obedience, and protest
the samyn be nocht preiudiciall to thair priuelege and liberteis.
Craftis protestatioun.; The baillies protestatioun
In presens foresaid, James Young, dekin of the smythis, for him self
and remanent dekynis, being personallie present, protestis that in sa fer
as thay ar convenit for gevin of thair voittis in ellectioun of the officiarris
and ar redy to gyf the samyn, and sua na falt in thame gyf ony delay
be, that at the nixt conventioun na ma haue voit nor ar now present
this day, and that in sa fer as thay allege na vtheris war wairnyt nor
than war present, and thairfor protestit thair be na ma in tymes cuming;
and maister Mychaell Chisholme, baillie, for himself and in name of the
remanent baillies and counsale, being alsua present, allegit that besyde the
nomber convenit the assasouris quha evir had voit in electioun war
wairnyt and wes rady to haue gevin thair voittis, according to the auld
ordour, gyf my Lord Regenttis Grace writing had nocht bene obeyit,
and thair protestit it did nocht in preiugein thair voittis; And the said
James Young, because the assasouris war nocht chosin nor lytit at the
day appoyntit, according to the allege ordour, and sua the priuelege
tynt, gyf thay ony had, protestit thay be nocht hard in tymes cuming.
11 October 1575.
Balyeis off Leithe.
The balyes, counsale and dekinnis ellictis for thair balyes in Leyth
for the yeir to cum, Walter Cant and Jhonne Littill, and ordanis sum of
thair awin balyes to pas to Leithe the morn, and in presens of the peipill
dischairge the bailyes of the yeir past nomynat, and present vtheris and
tak thair aithis.
Ministeris, craftis protestatioun.
The baillies and counsale granttis and consenttis that the craftis sall
nocht be extentit for the ministrie fra Mertymes furth quhill new ordour
be taikin, and that the collectour of the anuellis haue maid his compttis,
sua it may be knawin quhat the saidis anuellis extendis to; and heirvpoun
James Young, cutler, for himself and in name of the remanent dekynnis,
askis instrumentis.
25 November 1575.
Ludging, prouest.
The baillies and counsale vnderstanding the Lord Lindesay, prouest,
to remane in this toune this present wintter, and him to be dissolat of ane
ludginge, thay ordane ane of the baillies, with Mongo Russal, thesaurer,
to tak for his lordship the ouer ludging sum tyme pertenyng to maister
Johne Abercrummy, and to pay thairfoir quhil Witsonday nixt to
Laurance Abercrummy his sone, the soume of thre scoir of merkis.