1581, Oct-Dec
4 October 1581.
Statute for convening of the counsale.
For better convening of the counsale vpoun the ordinar dayes of
Wednisday and Fryday in mair frequent assembly, it is statute and
ordanit that the counsale bell begyn to ring ane quarter of ane hour
before ten houris and to ring quhill the said ten houris be strikken,
and quha swa beis absent at the ceissing of the said bell or hour, to
pay xviijd., and for the haill day v s., without thai haif speciall licence
grantit to thame be the provest or baillies, and ordanis him that sall
be ostearius that owlk to collect the said vnlawes, keip the boxe and
mak compt thairof, and delyuer the sam to the nixt ostearius of the
nixt owlk.
6 October 1581.
Proclamatio, fornicatoures.
Statutes and ordanis for swamekill as thair is dyuers persounis of
this burgh quha hes fallin in the filthy cryme of fornicatioun, for the quhilk
thai haif nother satisfeit the maiestratis nor vnderlyin the discyplyne of
the kirk, thairfore to wairn and charge the saidis persounis be oppin proclamatioun that thai compeir and mak thair satisfactioun to the saidis
maiestratis, submitt thame selffis to the discyplyne of the kirk betuix this
and the fourt day of Nouember nixt, with certificatioun to the saidis persounis gif thai failyie the said cryme being bypast, the paynis contenit in
the actis of parliament maid anent fornicatoures sall be execut aganis
thame with all rigour; forther that nane pretend ignorance of the guid
ordour tane for suppressing of the said vice heirafter, certefeand all persounis, indwellares of this burgh, and vtheris resortand within the samyn
quha may happin to fall in the said cryme, that fra the day and daitt
heirof the paynis contenit in the said actis of parliament will be extremlie
execut aganis thame.
11 October 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, Sym, Coninghame.
[The provost, bailies, and council] for caussis and consideratiounis
moving thame, gevis and disponis to Peter Cvninghame, seruand to the
laird of Lethingtoun, the sowm of ane hundreth pund quhilk wes apprehendit in the handis and possessioun of vmquhill James Grahame and
pertening to the guid towne as escheitt throw being of the said James
convict of thift before the saidis prouest and baillies and execute to the
deid thairfore; and thairfore ordanis Jhone Sym, baillie of the yeir past,
to delyuer to the said Peter the sowm of fourty ane pund of the said
sowme being in his handis, and siclyke ordanis Jhone Robertsoun,
thesaurer, to deliuer to the said Peter the rest thairof in his handis extending to the sowm of fyftie nyne pundis, and the sam sall be allowet to
the saidis persounis in thair comptis, provyding alwayes that thai caus
the said Peter to pay to the officiaris for thair travellis in apprehending
and vpbringing of the said vmquhill James furth of Leyth the sowm of
foure pund of the reddiest of the saidis sowmes.
13 October 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, hospitall, charge, maisteris of the hospitall.
Vnderstanding that the money collectit of the nychtboures for reparatioun of the hospitale wes nocht sufficient to repair the sam, for the
quhilk caus and that the wark suld nocht lye idill and decay, Jhone
Robertsoun, thesaurer, had lent to the maisteris of the said hospitale the
sowm of ane hundreth pundis, thairfore ordanis the said sowme to be
allowet to the said thesaurer in his comptis, and the saidis maisteris of the
hospitall to be comptabill thairfore.
20 October 1581.
Proclamatio, hostillares.
The prouest, baillies, dene of gild, thesaurer, and [eight] of the
counsale ordanis proclamatioun to be maid throw this burgh chairgeing
all nychtbouris hostillares burgessis or indwellares of this burgh that
sall resaue ony maner of persoun in lugeing with thame during this present parliament to signifie and gif vp thair names incontinent to the
maiestratis, conforme to ane writting direct from the Kingis Grace commanding the sam vnder [the rest is blank].
Commissioneris to the parliament.
Electis, nominatis, and cheissis my lord provost, and Jhone Jhonestoun, collectour, commissionares for the guid towne in this parliament to
begyn the xxiiij of October instant within this burgh, and ordanis ane
commissioun to be direct heirvpoun vnder thair seill of caus in commoun
forme.
21 October 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, Stewart, mase.
[The provost, bailies, council, and deacons of crafts] ordanis Jhone
Robertsoun, thesaurer, to content and pay to Robert Stewart, maser to
the guid towne, the sowm of fourty pund for dyuers consideratiounis
moving thame and for helping and supporting him to by his abulyeamentis
and claythis for the honour and decoratioun of the towne quhais mase he
hes to beir at this present parliament.
27 October 1581.
Certane writtis of the towne, Stewartis, vnlaw, Nicoll, Guthre.
[In presence of the provost, bailies, and council] comperit William
Stewart, eldare, and producet and delyuerit to thame the writtis and
lettres vnderwrittin concerning the guid towne quhilk he had in his
handis the tyme he wes clerk deputt, viz.: Ane obligatioun or promeis
maid to the guid towne be vmquhill Marie, Quene Dowarier, Regent of
this realme for the tyme, of the sowme of jc lxvj li. xiij s. iiijd. and that
of the rest of jm li. lent be the towne to Monsier Dosall; Item, ane
decreitt obtenit be the towne aganis Leyth vnder the subscriptioun of
maister James Fowlis of Colintoun, clerk of register, chairgeing Leyth to
desist fra bying of pryssis, etc.: Ane licence gevin be the Quenis Grace to
the towne to chaynge the merketis to quhat place of this burgh thai
think expedient; Item, lettres of the lordis chairgeing all skipperis,
maisteris, and marineris of schipis als weill strayngeris as vtheris that
thai tak away na greitt coill vsit for the commoun fyres furth of the
realme, at ony tyme heirafter; Lettres for strikking vp of duris in Leyth for
nocht selling of thair victuall bot keiping of thame to ane derth; maister
Robert Rychertsoun, thesaurers deschairge of the sowme of xijc li. for license
to remane at hame fra Fawlay raid; Ane decreitt aganis the inhibitantis
of Leyth subscryuit be maister Thomas Marioriebankis, clerk of register,
decerning thame to desist and ceis fra pakking, peilling, bying, or selling
of walx, wyne, or vther staipill guidis within Leyth or ony vther pairtis
within the townis fredome, vnder the payne of jc merkis ilk persoun, etc.,
and in speciall ane decreitt aganis vmquhill Jhone Wycht for payment of
jcmerkis for contravening of the decreitt foresaid; Lettres of arreisting
of westland heiring and vther fisches transportit be westland men to
Leyth for careing out of the realme in schipis, quhilkis lettres thai
delyuerit to maister Alexander Guthrie and ordanit to be registrat in the
register buik and putt in the chairterhous, and in respect heirof and of
the said Williams guid seruice thai remittit to him his vnlaw of fyve pund
for breking of the statutes in selling deir wyne, and ordanit James Nicoll
quha poyndat thairfore, as baillie for the tyme, to rander the poynd, and
promieissis to se James satisfeit and relevit thairof, in respect that as
he declairit he had debursit the said vnlaw.
Precept, collectour, Ker, baillies.
Ordanis Jhone Jhonestoun, collectour, to pay to Robert Ker, baillie,
the sowm of fourty sex schillingis aucht d. debursit be him in the townis
effairis in defence of the pley of the Grenesyde.
Dury, minister, Cathcart.
It wes desyrit of thame [the council] be Jhone Cathcart of Carriltoun,
that license micht be grantit be thame to Jhone Dury, minister, to pas in
the westland for making of amity and reconciliatioun of dyueris deidly
feidis standing in thais pairtis; for ansuer thairto, they referrit the said
mater to the kirk of this burgh, and declairit gif thai fand the sam
expedient, the said provest, baillies, and counsall wuld consent thairto.
3 November 1581.
Proclamatio, flescheouris, skynis and hydis.
[The bailies and council] ordanis the actis maid of before anent the
flescheouris and anent the selling of skynis and hydis to be proclamit and
publist throw this burgh as followis: That all maner of flescheoures
fremen and of the land merkett in this burgh in all tyme cuming bring
and present all thair flesche sic as beif, mwttoun, veill, or siclyke bestiall
to be sawld in option merkett and nocht hurdit in thair buithis to derth
the merketis, and that the said flesche haif the hyde stikking with the
carcage and the skyn with the bowlk or layit hard bye quhair the samyn
hingis or lyis, vnder the payne of escheitt of the said carcages. Siclyke
that the said flescheoures flay all thair scheip in tyme cuming vp throw
the haill craig to the lugis swa that the lug stik with the skyn, and
nother pluk the woll of the halis wambe nor vther pairt nor yitt to
diminische the skyn or hyde be cutting of ony sic pairt as thai call the
tarleyer, vnder the payne of confiscatioun of the said skynis and hydis to
the townis vse and pvnesing of the auner or sellare in thair body and
guidis at the will of the maiestratis for thair falsett. Item, that nane of
the saidis skynis or hyddis be hid in houssis or sawld thairin, bot to be
brocht to the oppin mercattis thair to be sawld and in na vther place,
vnder the payne of escheitt of the samyn, and als that na merchantis and
vtheris that lykis to bye ony skynnis or hydis fra the flescheoures gif
arles or avance money to thame, or by thair slawchter skynis or hyddis
before hand, or yitt pas to the saidis flescheoures houssis to by ony
thairof, but that thai suffer the samyn to be brocht to the commoun
and oppin merkett thair to be indifferently sawld as said is, vnder the
payne of fyve pund to be tane of the saidis merchantis sua oft as thai
failyie.
Precept, thesaurer, colsayes.
Vnderstanding that Jhonn Robertsoun, thesaurer, hes causit repair
the brokin calsaye and hoillis at the Kirk of Feild port within the samyn,
and at the new well, and mend the brokin places in Leyth Wynd, as
alswa hes eikit and enlairgeit the lang calsay betuix this and Leyth and
menditt sindry hoillis and brokin places of the samyn to the greitt weill of
the towne and all our Souerane Lordis lieges, and yitt thair is na warrand
grantit to him for the expenssis maid thairvpoun, fyndis the saidis warkis
to haif bene maist necessar and proffitabill and thairfore ordanis the
expenssis and chairges maid vpoun the samyn to be allowet to the said
thesaurer in his comptis.
Precept, thesaurer, towne wall.
Ordanis Jhonne Robertsoun, thesaurer, to caus cast to the red to
the new wall betuix the Blackfreir blokhous and the Cowgaitt Port, and
fill vp the voyde and hoillis howkit vnder the said wall to the apperand
ruine and decay thairof.
10 November 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, Smyth, gild officer.
Ordanis Jhonne Robertsoun, thesaurer, to pay to Jhone Smythe,
gild officer, for his seruice and furnesing of candill at the last conventioun
of burrowes within this burgh, the sowme of twa merk.
15 November 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, Warkman.
Ordanis Jhonne Robertsoun, thesaurer, to pay to Dauid Warkman,
paynter, the sowm of twenty four merk for paynting of the ruif of the
inner tolbuith of the lordis and aboue the chymnay thairof.
West linkis, Littill Londoun, Leyth.
Ordanis the thesaurer with [blank] to pas to Leyth on Tysday nixt
and rowpe and sett the west linkis of Leyth and Littill Londoun to sic as
will bid maist thairfore, and to collect and ingadder the few mailles and
flesche stok maillis of Leyth and caus the sam be payit to the said
thesaurer.
24 November 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, Ker, maseris, swescheouris.
The baillies, dene of gild, and [council] ordanis the thesaurer, Jhonne
Robertsoun, to pay to Robert Ker, baillie, the sowm of sevin schilling sex
penneis debursit be the said Robert in the townis effairis for copy of ane
lettre, and the sam sall be allowit to the said thesaurer in his comptis:
and siclyke fyndis the said thesaurer to haif debursit in the townis
effairis and at command of the baillies the sowme of twenty schillingis to
the maseris at the obteining of ane decreitt before the secreitt counsale
be the towne aganis the constabill and his deputtis concerning the
constabill fies at the parliament, and als ten shillingis gevin be him to
the swescheouris the first day of the parliament.
13 December 1581.
Yule, fuilyie on the hie streittis.
Ordanis thair officiaris to pas and chairge Adame Yule, at the West
Port, to remoue and tak away his middingis and fulyie lyand vpoun the
calsay and hie streitt fornent the land of Orcherfeild, and mak the said
gaitt frie thairof within xx dayes nixt efter the said chairge, vnder the
payne of escheitt of the samyn and disponing thairvpoun at the will and
plesure of the guid towne; and als ordanis all vtheris that hes any
fuilyie vpoun the said streittis and commoun passages to be chargit in
lyke maner to remoue the samyn vnder the paynes foresaidis.
20 December 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, javellour.
Ordanis Jhone Robertsoun, thessaurer, to pay to Androw Lindsay,
javelour, the sowm of twenty schillingis for coillis and candill furnist be
him extraordinarly in the last conventioun of burrowes.
22 December 1581.
Precept, thesaurer, hospitale, charge, Sclater.
[The provost, bailies, and council,] ordanis Jhonne Robertsoun,
thesaurer, to pay to Androw Sclater ane of the maisteris of the new
hospitale, the sowm of fourty pund debursitt be him for bying of sclaittis
to the theiking and reparatioun of the said hospitale.
29 December 1581.
Statute, fermoreris of the mesures of Leyth.
[The provost, bailies, and council] vpoun consideratioun of the complaynt maid be Archibald Jhonestoun, fermorer to the guid towne of
thair mettis and mesouris of Leyth, aganes Jhone Thomsoun, Dauid
Waldy, Adame Thomesoun, and certane vtheris maltmen of Leyth, for
bying and resaving of thair beir and vther stufe with thair awin mesouris
and nocht metting the samyn with the townis commoun mesoures in
defraud of the said fermorer; for ane generall ordour to [be] kepit in tyme
cuming, statutes and ordanis that all victuallis resauet be the said
maltmen or vtheris furth of the cuntrey and mett in Leyth, sall at the
resaving pay to the said fermoreris and all vtheris fermoreris of the said
mesouris the dewty and custome of mettage vsit and wont thairfore.