1582, Oct-Dec
2 October 1582.
Electioun of the maiestrattis, and protestatiounis of the baillies and of the craftis.
[The bailies, old council, and new council] being conuenit for electioune of the new provest, baillies, and dene of gild, and thesaurer of the
said burgh for the yeire to cum, furth of the persones nominat and putt
vpoun the lyttis thairof vpoun Fryday last bypast, the said bailleis and
counsall, auld and new,[except certain four craftsmen] all in ane voitt
pairtit, devydit, and cuist the tuelf lytes for the new baillies in foure
seuerall rankis for electing ane baillie furth of ewerie rank thairof, conforme to the ordource contenewallie obseruit thro money yeris bygane, in
maner following, to wit:— for the first rank, Andro Sclater, James Ros, Jhone
Arnot; for the second rank, Johne Addesoun, Robert Bog, Johne Mayne;
for the third, maister Michael Chisholm Johne Achesoune, Patrick Cochrane; for the fourt rank, Williame Fairlie, Mark Ker, Dauid Williamesoune:
and the said foure craftismen of the auld and new counsall, viz.:— Thomas
Myllare, cuitleare, Jhone Banatyne, skynnare, James Fergussoune, boware,
Jhone Barnisfather, tailyeoure, dissentit alluterlie to the casting of the
saidis lytis alleging the samyn to haiwe bene aganis all guid ordoure and
ressoune, and thairfoire desyring the electioune of the said bailleis to be
maid furth of the haill tuelf lyttis indifferentlie, and thairvpoun askit
instrumentis and actis of court.
Thairefter comperit the dekinis of craftis underwritten, that is to say,
Gilbert Prymrose, chirurgeane [and thirteen others] and that for gevin
of thaire voitis with the bailleis and counsalle befoire expremit in electioune of the said new provest, bailleis, dene of guild, and thesaurer, and
in all thaire presence, ane lettre direct from oure Souerane Lord to the
said provest, bailleis, counsaille, and deykinis wes opinit and red, quhairin
his Maiestie recommendet to thame Alexander Clerk of Balbirnie, provest,
desyring that he mycht be contenewit for the yeire to cum, as at maire
lenth is contenit in the said lettre daittit at Striweling castell, the first of
October instant.
And the said bailleis and counsaille being abyding vpoun the cuming
of the ordinare assessouris to gif thair woites in the said electioune, the
said Robert Ker past to the counsalhous dur, and thair finding ane gritt
multitude of pepill of the craftis assemblit to the number of ijc persones
or thairby, as was estemit, and the said baillie remaning a certane space
thaire at lenth returnit and schew and declarit that the said multitude had debarrit and stoppit maister Johne Scherp, assissour, to cum in
to the counsallhous and occupy his place of assissour, and menassit him, as
alsua menassit and boistit the said baillie in word and deid, and put
handis on him; quhilk being declaret be him to the remanent bailleis, counsaille, and deykinis being present, the said remanent bailleis and counsaille
requyrit the said baillie, in presens of the clerk of court, to command the
multitude to depairt, quha immediatlie thairefter passit to the counsalhous dur, and be his awin mouth chairgit the said people in oure Souerane
Lordis name to pass and returne to thaire houssis and retene thame selffis
in quyet and peceable maner, quha refurssit to obey ane pairt alleging that
thai wald nocht aknawledge him as ane baillie, and the multitude ansuering with tumultuous wordis mening, as apperit, to seditioun, vpoun the
quhilk the said baillie maid protestationes and tuik instrumentis: and
Gilbert Primrose, deykin of the chirurgeanis, for him selff and in name of
the haill deykinis, protestit and tuik instrumentis in the contraire, declaring and alleging that thai knew nocht of the conveyning of the said pepille
and menit na thing bot quyetnes and nocht to mak ony molestatioun.
Thairefter the said baillie being returnit and the counsalhous dur
steikit, Thomas Myllare, cuitlare, and ane of the auld counsaille, protestit
in the same maner with the said Gilbert, and dissassentet that ony assissouris sould have woitt in electioun of the saidis magistratis.
Quhilk being done, the bailleis, dene of gild, and counsalle, auld and
new, except the said foure craftismen of the auld and new counsalle, fand
that the said assissouris aucht to hawe wotit in the said electioun in respect
of the auld consuetude and reit obseruit contenewallie thir monie yeiris
bygane and decydit befoire, quhilk thai now hawe na poware to altare
being bot officemen for ane yeire.
And becaus it wes sufficientlie knawin to the said bailleis and counsaill that thaire ordinare assessouris war stoppit be force to enter in the
counsalhous and occupy thaire awin place and vote as thai had done
befoire. and thairfore the said bailleis and counsall, auld and new, exceptand as said is, fand that thai micht cheis thre of thaire awin nummer to
hawe the assessouris woittis for the presentis, and according thairto
electit Jhone Moresoune for maister Jhone Schairpe, assessoure, Henrie
Chairteris for maister Thomas Craig, Alexander Vddart for maister Jhone
Prestoun, assessoure, quha acceptit the said places vpoun thame and
gaiwe thair aithis vt moris est.
To the quhilkis the said haille deykinis of craftis dissentit, protesting
for remeid, and be the mowth of Gilbert Primrose declarit that thai wer cum
to cheise the magistrates conforme to the lawes of the realme, to witt, the
threttie sevin act of parliament maid be King James the Thrid, and conforme to the act of burrowes maid in Aprile [blank] yeris and na vtherwayis, and giff ony wer chosin contraire the said lawes, declarit that thai
dissentit thairto, and wald nocht aknawlege the saidis persones, and farther
declarit that the saidis deykinis and craftis war willing to obey the Kingis
Maiesteis lettre with that conditioun that na vthare hawe woitt bot sic as
is contenit in the actis of parliament and burrowis, and heirvpoun askit
instrumentis: Thairefter, the counsallhous dur being oppinit be Gilbert
Primrose, as the said magistratis allegit, afferming alswa that he bad the
people cum in, ane gritt multitude of the people of the craftis confusitlie
in ane tumult to the nummer of thre scoire or fyftie persones, as wes
estimet, brak in and enterit in at the counsalhous; and the said bailleis
tuik instrumentis that the said Gilbert Primrose oppinit the dur and luitt
in the people, and the said Gilbert ansuerit and declarit that he oppinit
the dur to gang away, and did na thing contraire the Kingis Maiesteis
lawes, and dissentit all thingis done or to be done.
Item, the said multitude being at lenth remowit, and the deykinis
returnand, the said bailleis and counsall requyrit the said deykinis to
remane and giwe thaire wottis to the electioune conforme to the auld vse
and wount, quha all in ane voice refuissit except the assissouris wottis
war remowit, and the saidis persones craftismen of the auld and new
counsaille refuissit in lyk maner, quhairvpoun Robert Ker, baillie, tuik instrumentis.
Item, the said bailleis and counsaille requyrit Robert Stewart, towne
maser, to cum fra the counsalhous dur and reteir him selff to the bare, that
thai micht se quha wald oppin the dur thairafter and the said deykins
requyrit to depairt and pass away, and sua thairefter Gilbert Primrose tuik
instrumentis. declaring and alleging that thai war haldin per force, to the
quhilk the said bailleis ansuerit that thai wald hald nane perforce, but onelie
desyrit thame to gif thaire woittis, and giwe it lykit thame to depairt thai
wald nocht nor meanit nocht to retene thame by thair will, considdering
the dur wes nocht lokkit bot onelie putt to and slottit, and nane betwixt
thame and it.
And thairfoire the said bailleis and counsaille, exceptand as said is,
willing according to thaire dewtie to proceid to the said electioune that
oure Souerane Lord and his subjectis sould [not] be destitute of magistratis
within this burgh for the yeire to cum, off new requyrit the said haill
deykinis being present, and the said Thomas Myllare, cuitlare, Jhone
Banatyne, skynner, craftismen of the auld counsaille, and James Fergussoun, boware, Jhone Barnisfather, tailyeoure, craftismen of the new
counsaille, gif thai wer reddie to gif thaire woittis vpoun the lyttes
of the sadis officiaris to be this day chosin, quhilkis all ansuerit and declarit that thai nor nane of thame wald giff thair woitt thairin giff the
sadis assessouris or ony chosin in place of the assessouris votit; in respect
quhairof the said bailleis and counsaill past to voting, except befoire exceptit, and in ane voice electit and chuse Alexander Clark of Balbirnie to
be provest for the yeire to cum, and as thai cum to the said craftismen
and deykinis, requyrit euerie ane of thame in the Kingis name, be thair
names in speciall in thair awin rankis, for thair voittis, quha refuissit as
said is, and sua proceding in lyk maner to the lyttis of the bailleis and
according as the samyn wer cassin in threis, out of the first thre be thair
woittis electit and chuse Andro Sklater for ane baillie of the yeir to cum,
and owt of the nixt thre electit and chuse Jhone Adamesoune ane vther
baillie for the said yeir, requyrand the craftismen of the counsaille and
deakinis as of befoire in thaire rankis, and be thaire names in speciall, to
gif thaire woittis at the electioune of ewerie ane of the saidis bailleis,
quha refuissit and past away, and thaireftir at the meaning to the electioune of the thrid baillie, oppinit the dur and depairtit, in respect of
the quhilkis the said bailleis and counsaille, exceptand as said is, procedand
in thaire electioune, electit and chusit be thair seuerall woittis owt of the
thrid rank maister Michael Chisholme for the thrid baillie, and owt of the
fourt rank electit Williame Fairlie for the fourt baillie; and enterand to
the lyttes of the dene of gild, electit and chusit furth thairof maister
Jhone Prestoun to be dene of gild; and last enterand to the lyttis of the
thesaurer, electit furth thairof Mungo Russell thair thesaurare for the yeire
to cum; and the said Androw Sklatter, and Williame Fairlie, electit
bailleis, and the said maister Jhone Prestoun, electit dene of gild, personallie present, acceptit the said offices vpoun thame, and gaiwe thaire aythis
lauchfull administratioune vt moris est. Quhilk beand done, the sadis
deykinis reenterit agane, to quhom the sadis bailleis and counsaille maid
dew intimatioun of the said provest, bailleis, dene of gild, and thesaurer,
electit as said is, declairand thaire names in speciall vnto thame and that
the persones speciallie befoire exprimit had exceptit vpoun thame thaire
sadis offices and maid thaire fayth for dew administratioune, and the sadis
deykinis and craftis askit instrumentis that thai disassentit to the chesing
of the sadis maiestratis, besause thai gaiff nocht thaire woitt nor consent
thairto, and that thai wer nocht chosin according to the actis of parliament
and burrowis.
Finallie, the saidis Andro Sklater, and Williame Fairlie, bailleis, passit
furth to the nethir tolbuith for fensing and halding of the heid court, as
vse is, quha returning within ane schort space, declarit that the communitie of craftis had with tumult and vprore and iniurious wordis, menacet
tham and per force constranit tham to leiff and raise the burgh for feir
of thaire lyffiis, and incontinent thairefter the said people eschit and brak
in per force at the said counsalhous dur, invading and persewing the said
bailleis and counsaille with contumelious and dispytfull wordis quhilkis for
the confusitnes thairof wer hard to be notit, except that Williame Hoppringill, dekyn of the tailyeouris, enterit per force throw the multitude, and
throw sic as wes within the bar, and cuming to the buird heid of the jugment saitt with his hand at his syd and on his whin geare as appeirit, wald
hawe rest and spuilyeit the counsaille buikis and vthere writtis and registeris of the town being than thaire present, and with ewill countenance
cryet mony iniurious wordis, amangis the rest aidding and bosting sweith
to gif him the buikis, and ran vpoun the clerkis keparis thairof of purpose
to hawe performit his interpryse, wer nocht he wes stayet, etc.
Vpoun the quhilkis premissis, baith the sadis bailleis and counsaill,
and the sadis deykinis, ewerie ane for thair a win pairtis, askit instrumentis
and actis of court.
13 October 1582.
Act of secreitt counsale anent the magestratis.
[The bailies and council] being convenit at command of oure Souerane Lordis proclamatioune maid this day at the mercat croce of this
burgh, ordanit the extract of the said proclamatioune to be registat in
thaire buikis in futuram rei memoriam, off the quhilk the tenour followis:—Apud Halirudhous, the ij die mensis Octobris, anno domini jmvc lxxxij.
The Kingis Maiestie and Lordis of his secreit counsall having hard and
considerit the diferens [?] and variance standing tuitching the electioune
of the provest, bailleis, and counsall of the burgh of Edinburgh, this present yeire, ordanis and commandis the provest, bailleis, thesaurer, and
dene of gild, alreddie nominat be the Kingis Maiestie, they ar to say,
Alexander Clerk of Balbirnie, provest, Jhonne Adamsoun, maister Michell
Chisholme, Andro Sklater, and Williame Fairlie, bailleis, Mongo Russall,
thesaurer, and maister Jhone Prestoun, dene of gild, to stand and contenew as lauchfull and ordinare magistratis of the said burgh, and thai to
accept thaire offices and to be ansuerit and obeyit thairin as becumis, this
present yeire and quhill the nixt ordinare tyme of electioune, without
preiudice of the richt, libertie, or priuelege, ather of the craftismen or mer
chandis of the said burgh in tyme cuming; and the sadis provest, bailleis,
and counsaill having acceptit their offices as said is, ordanis the haill persones merchandis being of the said counsaille for thame selffis and be consent of the remanent merchandis of the said burgh on the ane pairt, and
the persones craftismen being of the said counsalle and haille deykinis of the
craftismen of the said burgh for thame selffis, and be consent of the
remanent craftismen of the said burgh on the vthare pairt, to nominat on
ather syd the nowmer of ane douzain of personis, baronis, gentlemen,
ministers, or vtheris of best experience, discretioune, and zeale to quietnes,
not being of his Hienes privie counsaille, delyuering thaire names to his
Hienes, off quhilkis tuelff persones his Maiestie may cheis thre on ather
side, to quhome the sadis pairteis sall submit the tryall, cognitioune, and
decisioune of thaire haill differences and debaittis standing betuixt thame,
and in caise of thaire variances to his Maiestie with awise of his priwie
counsaill; and thridlie his Maiestie will proceied to the tryall of the laitt disordour happinit within the burgh of Edinburgh vpoun the secound day of
October instant, and punischeing of the offendouris as his Hienes sall find
caus worthie, and that letteres be direct heirvpoun giff neid be in forme as
efferis. Extractum de libro actorum secreti consilii S. D. N. Regis per me
Joannem Andro, clericum deputatum eiusdem sub meis signo et subscriptione manualibus. Et sic subscribtur, Joannes Andro. Conforme to
the quhilk the sadis provest, bailleis, dene of gild, and thesaurer. acceptit
the said offices vpoun thame and the sadis maister Michel Chisholme and
Mungo Russel, nocht being sworne of befoire, gaiw thaire athis for lauchfull administratioun, vt moris est.
Johnestoun, Mauld, counsalouris.
The provest, bailleis, and counsaille electit Jhone Johnnstoun counsaloure in place of the auld proveist, and Williame Mauld to be counsaloure
in place of Gilbert Dik.
Merchantis, wairning.
Ordanis thaire officiar to pass and wairne the haille nichtbouris merchandis of the said burgh personallie or at thaire duelling places throw
thair quarteris, to convene with thame in counsalhous this day at twa
efternone, for giffing of thaire ansuer anent electing of the tuelff persones
mentionat in the proclamatioune befoire written, vnder the paynis thairin
contenit, and payment of ane vnlaw of fywe pund to the guid toun gif
thai failyie, etc.
Compromiss of the difference betwix merchantis and craftismen.
At efternone, the sadis bailleis and counsalle, with ane gritt number
of merchandis of this burgh, being convenit in the counsalhous thairof, at
command of oure Souerane Lord the Kingis Maiesties proclamatioune
maid at the merkat croce, and be wertew of ane speciall chairge gevin to
the said bailleis and counsaille, all in ane voice with commoun consent
nominat and electit the persones following, viz.:—maister Williame
Lundie of that ilk, Williame Stewart, coronell, maister Dauid Carnegie
of Colluchie, Peter Hay, baillie of Aroll, [blank] Jhonestoun of Elphinstoun, maister Jhone Lyndesay, persone of Menmure, maister James
Meldrum of Seggie, maister Walter Balquanquell, minister, [blank]
Stewart of Traquaire, maister Thomas Suetoun, minister, Sir Archibald
Naper of Merchingstoun, Williame Chrystesoune, minister, the quhilkis
persones or ony thre of thame to be chosin be the Kingis Maiestie, the
sadis baillies and counsall submittis the tryall, cognitioune, and decisioune
of the haill differences and debaittis standing betwix thame and the
craftismen of this burgh, exceptand allwayes the priveleges pertening to
the estaitt of merchandis, and provest, bailleis, and counsall of the said
burgh be speciall infeftment, actis of parliament, and lawes of the realme,
and speciallie submittis to the sadis persones the heidis heir specefeit, to
uitt, the tryell of the laitt tumult and vprore committit uithin the said
burgh the secound of October, the questioune anent the woites of the
assassouris at the electioune of the maiestrattis, the questioune anent the
casting off the tuelf lytis of the bailleis in foure seuerall and equall pairtis,
and the debait vpoun the ingeving of the tikkattis and names of the craftis
for the new counsaille; and hes willinglie aggreit and consentit that the
sadis thre persones to be chosin furth of the said tuelff and to be adioynit
with the the vtheris of the lyk number nominat and delyuerit in writt to
his Maiestie be the said craftismen, sall convene to this effect sa sone as
possible may be, and in caise of variance that his Maiestie, with adwyse of
sic as he sall pleis to elect and nominat as odismen and owirsmen for baith
the sadis pairties, may gif ordoure and directioune as thai sall think maist
expedient for furth setting of his Hienes seruice, punichment of the said
vprore, and quyet governing of the said burgh in tyme cumming, etc.,
16 October 1582.
Anent the gaird and watche in the abbay, etc.
In presens of [the provost, bailies, and council], the Kingis
Maiesties lettres vnderwrittin beand producet of the quhilk the tenour
followes:—Rex. Prouest and baillies of our burgh of Edinburgh, we greitt
you weill. Forsaumekill as we be advyse of counsall haif fund neidfull,
als weill for the suirty of our persoun as for keping of guid rewle and
ordour amangis all sic as we haue writtin for to this conventioun, that all
the tyme thairof we be gairdit nicht and day with a nomber of sax score of
hakbuteris or thairby of the best and hablest of your burgh, thairfore it is
our will and we command yow that ye incontinent efter the sicht heirof
mak chois within your burgh of sax score of the best hakbuteris of the
inhabitantis thairof, and direct thame to come doune to this our palace
this nicht betwix four and fyve houres at evin, reddy to keip watche all
the nicht and the morn thairafter to the sam hour at sic place as we sall
appoynt vnto thame, and than to be relevit with the lyk nomber of thair
nychtbouris airmit in lyk maner, and swa furth daylie and nichtlie induring
the said conventioun, and in the mean tyme that ye in our name and
authoritie command and chairge the remanent inhabiteris of our said
burgh to be in reddynes aganis all suddane tumult or truble that may fall
out about us induring the said space, as ye and thai will ansuer to us
vpon your seruice and obedience, quhairof the present sall be to you a
sufficient warrand. Subscryuet with our hand at Halyroudhouse, the
xvj day of October 1582. James R., Dumfermling. Tuliband, comptroller.
Conform to the quhilk the said prouest, baillies, and counsall ordanet ane
gaird to be maid to his Maiestie and to begyn this nicht at the north-west
quarter, and als that proclamatioun be maid wairning the rest of the nichtbouris to be in redynes at all occasionis according to the said lettre, ilk
persoun vnder the payment of xli. but favouris.
17 October 1582.
Precept, thesaurer, candill, Nether Bow.
Ordanis Jhonne Robertsoun, thesaurer, to delyuer to Thomas Morame,
porter of the Nether Bow, the bowet and cord thairof, to be hung at
the said port, and the said thesaurer to furneis candill thairto fra this
nycht furth, quhill he be discharget.
Convening of the counsall.
Fyndes it expedient that the counsall convene the ordinar dayes
Wedinsday and Fryday, immediatlie efter the sermoun, and the absentis
but licence to pay to the box xl d., and the absentis being personally
wairnit at extraordinar tymes to pay vj s. viij d.
19 October 1582.
[Ale to be sold not dearer than 6d. the pint.]
Proclamatio, aill
26 October 1582.
Watche.
Ordanis in tyme cuming during this wynter an nychtlie watche to be
maid of the nychtbouris of this burgh of threttie personis nychtlie, begynnand at the south-eist quarter, and the baillies of their quarteris to sett
the watche in proper persoun, se the rollis callit, and that sufficient airmit
persounis be on the watche, and thairafter deputt ane of the maist
honest of the watche with ane officiar to awaitt thairon: and the said watche
to begyn at viij houris at evin and indure quhill sex in the morning;—absentis to be vnlawit but favouris.
27 October 1582.
Sundry regulations.
[Of this date, a series of regulations are enacted having reference to
"baxteris, malt, aill, meill merkatt, quheitt, fische, pultrie, flescheoures,
skynnis and hyddis, candilmakeris, staibleris, corne, woll and skynnis,
topsteris of butter, eggis, cheise, etc., middingis, scheildes, furrouris,
walkeris, red, swyne, wawpounis in buithis, assysis, standis, craymes,
bairdis aithis, adultery, fornicatioun, actiounes, vnlawes, and vagabundis."]
7 November 1582.
Rex, men of weir to the raid of Peblis.
The lettre and missiue vnderwrittin being direct to the provest and
baillies of this burgh fra the Kingis Maiestie, of the quhilk tenour
followis:—Prouest and baillies of Edinburgh, we greitt yow hairtily weill.
The disordour of the thevis and wikket pepill inhabiting the cuntres ewest
the bordouris is growin swa greitt be bludsched, fyreraising, and oppin
reiffis, nocht only in Ingland to the daynger of the peace, bot within
our realme neir the portis of Edinburgh, that we ar resoluit, God willing,
to se thair insolence repressit, and for that effect to be in proper persoun
at Peblis vpoun the xxvj day of Nouember instant, accumpaniet with
sufficient power of oure nobilitie and guid subiectis according to our proclamatiounis direct to that effect. Bot beacaus we wald be laith to truble
the haill inhabitantis of our burrowes being subiect to our said proclamatioun, (speciallie quhairever our selffis is to be present in proper persoun)
we haif thocht guid to certifie yow that ye sendand vnto ws ane hundreth
and thre scoir habill hakbutteris provydit to remayne with ws for the
space of ane moneth after the said day, it sall releif yow and that haill
burgh frome the payne and daynger of our said proclamatioun, desyring
you effectuouslie that ye will nocht faill to caus this dyatt be keipit, as ye
will declair your guid affectioun to our seruice and the commoun weill,
and do ws maist acceptabill plesure. Thus we committ yow to God. At
Edinburgh, the sext day of November 1582. James R. With the quhilkis
the saidis provest, and baillies, and counsall being avysit, fyndis guid that
the said provest and baillies, with sic of the counsall as thai think necessar
pas to his Maiestie and secreitt counsall, and travell that the toun be only
burdenit with ane hundreth of the said men, and in the mean tyme continewis forther ordour to be tane heirinto quhill Fryday nixt.
21 November 1582.
Precept, thesaurar, Jok Andro, and lokman.
Ordanis Mungo Russell, thesaurar, to pay to Jok Andro, servitour to
Andro Lyndsay, javelour, the sowm of thre pund aucht schillingis for wyne
and breid furnist be him at dyuers tymes to the commissioneris of burrowes
the tyme of this last conventioun, conform to the particuler compt thair of
ane siclyk ordanis the said thesaurer to caus mak to the lokman
ane stand claythis of the townis liveray, and to delyuer to him ane bandet
stafe.
Rex, villa, gaird in the Abbay.
The Kingis Maiesties lettre vnderwrittin beand producet before thame,
quhairof the tenour followis:—Rex. Prouest and baillies of our burgh of
Edinburgh. It is our will and we command you that ye direct doun
threttie of your nichtbouris hakbuteris provydet with pulder and bullett to
keip watche nicht and day for the better gairding of our persoun, begynnand this present nycht, and swa to be interchaynget nychtlie or daylie
as ye think gude, and to be continewit thairafter during a certane space
ay and quhill ye haif our dischairge in the contrair, as ye will ansuer to
ws. Subscryuet with our hand at Halyruidhous, the xix day of November
and of our regne the sextein yeir 1582. James R. Gowry, Tuliband,
comptroller. Quhilk lettre being red and considerit, ordanis the sam to be
obeyit, and the baillies throw thair quarteris to waill furth the best and
airmit nychtbouris.
24 November 1582.
Precept, thesaurer, * * Chairteris.
* * Ordanis the said thesaurer to pay to Henry Charteris the
soum of allevin pund twa schillingis debursit be him in the banket and
welcum of the Erle Bothuell at his hame cuming. * *
5 December 1582.
Rex, watche, strayngeris in the toun.
Efternone, this lettre fra the Kingis Grace wes producit and red and
ordanit to be obeyet in all poyntis, off the quhilk the tenour followes:—Rex. Provest and baillies of our burgh of Edinburgh, we greitt yow
weill. Being informitt of some disquyetnes and trubill meanet be sum of
our vnqyett subiectis repairing in guid number to our burgh of Edinburgh in fensibile and weir lyke maner, prohibite be our lawes and actis of
parliament, and thair contening thame darnit in sum qyett corneris and
houssis in the tovne till thai may find thair opportunity to kyth thame
selffis in the execution of sum apparent interpryse thai haue in handis;
for prevening quhairof and the better assurance of our persoun, nobility,
and counsall heir resident with ws,—it is our will and we command yow
that ye incontinent efter the sicht heirof pas and direct in all the quarteris
of your town to all hostillares and houssis vsit with the repair of
strayngeris, and gyf ye find ludgeit thairin any strayngeris airmitt in
maner foresaid, that ye resaue thair names and notifie the sam the morn
to ws and our counsall, that we may tak sic ordour with thame as we
sall fynd convenient, and siclyke that ye gif guid attendance at your
portis and vther places neidfull that na maner of persoun, of quhatsumeuir
quality or degrie he be of, repair or be resauet within your town with any
power or company of men on horse or fute, till we and our said
counsall be first acquentit with thair cuming; and for the better executioun and performance heirof, it is our will that ye this nicht in our name
and authority cause and command the ane half of your toun to keip guid
watche at all your portis and vther places neidfull, to be contineuit
quarterly bayth day and nicht heirafter till ye resaue our contrair will
and warrand, as ye will ansuer to ws vpoun your obedience at your
vtermest charge and perell. Subscryuett with our hand at Halyruidhous, the fyft day of December, 1582. James R., Glencairy, Gowrye.
14 December 1582.
Rex, villa, downtaking the Erle Mortounis heid.
The provest, baillies, dene of gild, and thesaurer, and [the council]
ordanis the lettre vnderwrittin to be insert and regestratt in thair counsell
buik and the principall thairoff to be put in thair charterhous for a warand
to the guid town, of the quhilk the tenour followes: Rex. Provest and
baillies of our burgh of Edinburgh, we greitt yow weill. It is our will
and we command yow that incontinent efter the sicht heirof, he tak down
the heid of James, sumtyme Erle of Mortoun, of the pairt quhair it now is
placeit vpoun your awld tolbuith, swa that the sam heid may be bureit,
for the quhilk this our lettre sall be to yow sufficient warrand. Subscryvit with our hand at Halyruidhous, the aucht day of December and of
our regne the sextein yeir 1582. James R., Glencairnie, Gowry. The
sam lettre is indorsat as followes:—apud Halyruidhous, octauo Decembris
anno jm. lxxxij; sederunt, Glencairny, Gowry, Lyndsay, Cathcart,
Orknay, Dumfermling, Culros, Clerk of Register, Justice Clerk, Provest of
Dundie. Red, past, and allowet in counsale, Joannes Andro, etc.
19 December 1582.
Precept, the saurer, counsale buik.
Ordanis Mungo Russell, thesaurer, to caus mak and delyuer to the
clerkis ane paper buik to be ane new counsall buik.