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<O DATE 1590-1620>
<M MEDIUM MS>
<D NSC>
<V PROSE>
<T LOCAL RECORD>
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<W WRITTEN>
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<S SAMPLE X>

[^EXTRACTS FROM THE COUNCIL REGISTER OF THE BURGH OF ABERDEEN.
1570-1625. VOL. II. SPALDING CLUB, 19. ABERDEEN 1848.

SAMPLE 1: PP. 67.1-82.3
SAMPLE 2: PP. 353.12-363.6
SAMPLE 3: PP. 366.20-368.36^]


<S SAMPLE 1>  
<P 67>  
  
[}31ST MARCH, 1590.}]  
  
   The said day, the prouest, ballies, and the persones of the  #
consale  
followin, to wit, &c., electit, nominat, and chosit, and votit  #
for the maist  
pairt, Johnne Collesoune, balle, to pas with the schip of this  #
burght,  
appoyntit and makand reddie to pas to the pairtis of Denmark,   #
for convoying and hame bringing of his hieness and the quene,   #
his  
darrest bedfellow in this realme, to haiff the governement, and #
rewell,  
and commandement of the said schip and cumpanie thairof, and    #
that  
Dauid Indeaucht sall pas witht him in the said schip to gif him # 
his  
aduyse, and to oursie the viuaris and all uther necessaris,     #
that thai be   
nocht on profitebly bestowit nor devastit, and that thair       #
charges resonable  
be maid and giffin be the sicht and consideratioun of the       #
prouest, ballies,  
and consale, of the stent and taxatioun presentlie sett and     #
imposit upoun  
the inhabitantis of this burght, for furthtrigging and          #
furnesing of the said  
schip, and the said Jon to have ane hundretht pundis to by his  #
garmontht.   
  
[}6TH APRIL, 1590.}]  
  
   The said day, the ballies and persones of the consale aboun  #
wretin,  
statut and ordanit Maister Thomas Mengzes of Durne, prouest,    #
havar  
and keipar of the pece of artelyerie callit The Falcon,         #
pertenying to this   
burght, to delyeur the samen to Williame Measson, skipper of    #
the schip  
of this burght callit the Nicolas, presentlie bound towardis    #
the partis of  
Denmark, for convoying and hambringing of his hienes and the    #
quene  
grace within this realme, to be imput on the said schip for hir #
defence and  
decoratioun, becaus thair is na ma peces of munitioun belanging #
to this  
burght, ganand for the said schip, bot sic as ar borrowit fra   #
the awnaris  
of the schippis callit the James and Androw, as the act maid    #
thairon this  
day proportis.   
  
[}27TH APRIL, 1590.}]  
  
   The said daye, the prouest, baillies, and consall, with      #
consent and  
assent of the communitie of the said burghe, convenit this day  #
in thair  
heid court, deuysit, statute, and ordanit, ane wapinschaw of    #
the haill  
inhabitantis of this burght, to be on Tuysdaye the feyft of May #
nixt to  
cum, according to his Maiesties act of parliament maid anent    #
wapinschawis,  
making tuyse ilk yeir, and to that effect ordanit the haill 
inhabitantis of this burght, als weill onfre as fre, fensabill  #
and able  
<P 68>  
persones, to assembill and convene thame selfis in thair best   #
armour  
and aray, with hagbut, spear, jack, knappiskaw, and vtheris     #
wapins  
bellical, in the Linx of the said burght, vpon the said fyft    #
day of Maij,  
at ten houres befoir nowne, with thair magistratis, ilk         #
persoun, inhabitant  
of this burght of aige and abill to bear armour, being absent   #
the  
said daye, vnder the paine of [\BLANK\]  
 
[}14TH OCTOBER, 1590.}]  
  
   The said day, the haill toun being lauchtfullie warnit to    #
this day, baytht  
frie and onfrie, &c., it was exponit to thame be Alexander      #
Cullen, prouest,  
that his majestie had directit charges and lettres charging the #
haill inhabitantis  
and his graces lieges within the shireffdomes of Forfar,        #
Kincardin,  
Aberdene, and Banff, to pas fordwart and accumpany the Erll     #
Merschall,  
his Graces commissiounar in that part, to Deir, for recoverye   #
of the  
hows of Deir, presentlie taken and withhaldin be Mr. Robert     #
Keytht and  
his complices, under the pane of tynsell of lyves, landis, and  #
gudis, as in  
the saidis lettres red in judgement, of the dait at             #
Halyraidhous, the xxvi.  
day of September last bypast, at mair lynth is contenit,        #
desyring of thame  
to knaw gif thay wald obey his maiesties charge thairanent, or  #
giff thai  
wald be content to furneiss out ane number for the haill        #
inhabitantis of  
this burght with hagbuttis, to pas witht the said Erll to the   # 
effect foirsaid,  
as the borrowis of Dundie, Montroiss, Brechin, and Forfar,      #
subiect  
to the said proclamatioun and charge hes done, giff the said    #
Erll wald be  
thairwith content, quha being convenit as said is, for          #
obedience to the  
said charge, thocht it maist meit and expedient that the number #
of fourtie  
suld be sent furtht for this burght, hagbuttaris furnessit be   #
the haill inhabitantis,  
thrie, four, fywe or twa, to furneiss ane hagbuttar as salbe 
appoyntit be the discretioun of prouest and ballies according   #
to the habiliteis  
of the furnesaris, giff the said Erll Merschaill, commissionar  #
to his  
maiestie, will be thairwitht content, rather nor the haill      #
inhabitantis of  
this burght to pas fordwart.  
  
 [}26TH NOVEMBER, 1590.}]  
  
   Item, the grass of the linkis was rowpit and sett to Johnne  #
Dauidsone,  
merchant, for the sowme of ten markis sex s. aucht d., fra the  #
day and  
dait heirof, quhilk sall be his entrie heirvnto, quhile the     #
xxv. day of  
Nouember, anno. j=m= v=c= four scoir and fourtene yeris, kepand #
the aird  
<P 69>  
and shcriff thairof on delvit or cassin vp, and Andro Horne     #
becum 
cautioun for payment thairof to the thesaurar, and he obleist   #
him to  
releve his said cautionar.  

   Item, the chappell on the Castelhill, to wit, the body       #
thairof and the  
gryt loft of the samen, allanerlie, being rowpit, was sett to   # 
Gilbert Blak,  
elder, cupar, for the sowme of four pundis, fra the day and     #
dait heiroff,  
to the xxv. day of November, in the yeir of God, j=m= v=c= four #
scoir and  
fourtene yeiris, quha fand Johne Gray cautioun for payment      #
thairof  
to the thesaurer, and he obleist him to releve his cautionair.  
 
   Item, the grass of the locht was rowpit thairefter, and the  #
sowme of  
tuentie pundis threttene s. four d. being offerit theirfor be   # 
Willeam  
Wedderburne, nane exceding his said offer, the samen was sett   #
to the  
said Willeam fra the day and dait heirof, quhilk sall be his    #
entrie theirvnto,  
quhill the xxv. day of November nixt to cum, in the yeir of     #
God,  
j=m= v=c= four scoir and fourtene yeiris, quha fand Andro Horne #
cautionar  
for him, for payment of the said sowme to the thesaurar, and he #
obleist  
him to releve his cautionar.  
  
[}8TH JANUARY, 1590.}]  
  
   The said day, Robert and Nicoll Jardanis, seruitoris to the  #
richt honorabill   
Sir James Creichtone, of Frendracht, war accusit be the denis   #
of  
gild in name of the haill toune, for cuming upon the sixt of    #
this instant  
wnder clud and sylence of nicht, at aucht houris at ewin, to    # 
John Coupar,  
command seruand and tavernar to this burght, passing with the   #
drum  
at aucht houris at ewin throw the haill streitt of this burght, #
trubling of  
the said Johnne and striking him with suerd being withtin the   #
skabars  
on the hed, braking of the drum, and cutting of the same with   #
quhingeris,  
in hie and manifest contempt of his majestie, and of the        #
magistrattis of  
this burght, comperit the said Robert and Nicoll, and denyit    #
the said fact  
and deid, in respect quharof the ballies decernit thame to      #
purge thame of  
the said fact and deid be thair aythes, quha refusit to sueir,  #
quhairfor the  
same was put to the decisioun of the assyss. [\THERE IS NO 
JUDGMENT.\]  
  
[}18TH JANUARY, 1590.}]  
  
   The prouest and ballies decernit and ordanit the four        #
ordinar officeris,  
<P 70>  
&c., to keip the key of the tolbuith dur and consalhous dur,    #
ilk ane of  
thame thair oulk about, and to be ansuirabill for the samen,    #
and having  
drawin cuttis quha suld begin first, it fell to the said Dauid  #
to begyn first,  
W=m.= Mitchell nixt, Thomas Kellie third, and Thomas Dicksone   #
fourt.  
  
 [}15TH FEBRUARY, 1590.}]  
   
   The said day, the personis of the consall eftir following,   #
&c., deuysit   
and ordanit James Settoun, collectour of the kirk annuellis, to #
content   
and pay to George Layng the sowme of saxtene merkis for ane     #
kist,  
deuysit and ordanit to be bocht fra him for keiping of the      #
townis evidentis   
and of the chartouris and evidentis belanging to the cheplanis  #
of this   
burght, &c.  
 
[}2ND APRIL, 1591.}]  
  
   The ballies ordanit the quhyt fischeris induellaris of       #
Futtie, to be  
poyndit in tyme cuming, (^ (\toties quoties\) ^) , thay past    #
nocht to the sey with 
thair fische boittis for taking of fische to serwe the          #
inhabitantis of this  
burght and the kyngis lieges, as oft as thay remane af the sey, #
wynd  
and wedder servand, and that according to the auld ordinances.  
 
[}15TH APRIL, 1591.}]  
  
   The said day, the provest, bailleis, and consale ordanit     #
Alex. [\BLANK\] 
to produce and exhibit befoir thame his auld evidentis quhilkis #
he hes of 
the land pertenying to him, lyand without Futties port, to be   #
sene and 
considderit be thame quhat service and dewetie the said         #
Alex=r.= aucht for 
the same, becaus the same was sett out of auld be this burght   #
to umquhile 
Johnne Irving, burges thairoff, for keping of the gettis        #
passand to the 
Castellhill and Futtie clene frome all filtht, and that upon    #
the xxii. day of 
this instant, with certificatioun and he failzie thay will      #
proceed according 
to justice, and ordanis intimatioun to be maid to the said      #
Alex=r.= heirupoun.  
  
[}19TH MAY, 1591.}]  
  
   The said day, anent the supplicatioun presentit to the       #
prouest, baillies, 
and counsell, be Robert Abell, makand mentioun that he is ane   #
natiwe 
townis man, borne and gottin within the samen, and now at the   # 
guid 
pleasour of God is visiet with the seiknes of leprosie, and     #
theirby onhabill
<P 71>  
to wyn his liwing, or frequent honest menis societie: desyring 
theirfor that he micht be placed in the hospitall hous betuix   #
the townis, 
quhilk supplicatioun thay thocht ressonabill, and ordanit       #
George Straquhyn, 
baillie, maister of the hospitale of that said burght, to place #
him 
in the said hous, and the counsall admittit him thairto with    #
speciall 
permissioun, that it sall not be lesum to the said Robert to    #
mak ony 
richt, titel, tak or assedatioun, or dispositioun of the croft  #
or yard 
adiacent to the said seik folkis hous, to na maner of persone,  #
nor sett 
ony takis thairof lang or schort, and observing sic             #
enjunctionis as sall 
be giffin to him be the maister of the said hospitale, quhilk   # 
place, with 
the corectionis and restrictionis forsaid, the said Robert      #
acceptit. Robert 
Abell with my hand.  
  
[}8TH JUNE, 1591.}]  
  
   The said day, the prouest, bailleis, and consall of the      #
said burght having 
aduysitlie considderit the horribill and haynous cryme of       #
incest, 
committit be Patrik Prat, baxster, with Christen Craik, his     #
wmquhill 
wyffis sister dochter, and that the samen in itself is ane sin  #
sa odious that 
it procuris the wraith and displeasour of God, to be pured on   #
that citie 
and congregatioun quhair the same is committit, except condign  #
punischement 
be imouit to the committeris, and that heirtofoir be ressone    #
the said 
cryme of incest hes bene rair within this burght and fredome    #
thairof committit, 
notourlie knawin sen the professing of Goddis trew ewangell     # 
within 
the samen, and religioun presentlie professit, and be the lawis #
estableschit 
within this realme thair hes not bene ane ordour of punischment #
for the 
samen sa speciallie devysit as neid requyrit, it was thocht     # 
expedient 
theirfor, statut and ordanit be the saidis prouest, bailleis,   #
and consall, in 
the horrour of the said detestabill sine of incest, and to the  #
terrour of 
utheris to committ the lyk in tyme cuming, that the said        #
Patrick Pratt 
sall sit thrie seuerall mercat dayis, quhilk sall be on         #
Setterday, bound to 
the croce of this burght, in the brankis lockit, haffing ane    #
crown of paper 
on his heid, conteining the inscription of the cryme committit  #
be him, fra 
ellewin howris afoir noyne to the hour of twelff in the noyne   #
day, and that 
on thrie seuerall Sondayis he sall stand in the hairclayth,     #
bair futtit and 
bair lygit, at the kirk dur of the said burght, fra the ringing #
of the first 
bell quhill the begynning of the sermone, and to sit at the     #
pillar of repentance 
in semmabill maner to the ending of the sermone, and thaireftir  
<P 72>  
to be exylit and baneist this burght, and never to resort nor   #
cum within 
the samen unto the tyme he be embracit be the kirk upon signe   #
of repentance, 
notourlie knawin to thame be expresing of the samen in his 
lyff and conversatioun, and be receawit and admittit be the     #
prouest, 
baillies, and counsall of this burght be thair testimoniall, to #
haue societie 
and duelling within the samen, efter that he hawe payit ane     #
penaltie to 
the puir, according to the modificatioun of the counsall and    #
sessioun of 
the said burght. 
 
  
 [}28TH JULY, 1591.}]  
  
   The said day, the prouest, bailleis, and consale, deuysit    #
and ordanit 
Thomas Buk, deane of gild, to ansuir and obey Gilbert Guthrie,  #
younger, 
messinger, the sowme of fourtie s. monee for his labouris in    #
using and 
executing of his hienes lettres and chargis, purchest at the    #
instance of 
the prouest and baillies aganis the commissar of Abirdene, for  #
usurping 
of the prouest and bailleis jurisdictioun, and aganis sic       #
personis of this 
burght as persewis thair actionis befoir the said commissar,    #
quhilk sall 
be allowit to him in his comptis, and to pay to Thomas Kelly    #
and 
Thomas Dicksone, tua of the ordinar sergeandis of this burght,  #
the
sowme of xx. s. for thair labouris in passing to the fredome,   #
to the Erle 
Merschellis landis adiacent thairto, and their wreisting at the #
townis 
instance the peitts cassin be the said erle and his tenentis    #
wpon the 
fredome of this burght.  
  
 [}8TH NOVEMBER, 1591.}]  
  
   The said daye, the haill towne being lauchtfullie warnit to  #
this daye, 
&c., it was exponit to thame be Alexander Rutherfurd, prouest,  #
that be 
verteu of a lait proclamatioun maid publictlie at the mercat    #
croce of the 
said burght, the sext day of this instant, in name of George,   #
Erle of 
Huntlye, Lord Gordon and Badzenoche, Lieutenant to his Majestie 
within the north pairtis of Scotland, be north the watter of    #
Dee, his 
majesties haill lieges within the haill schyres within the      #
saidis boundis, 
as also the inhabitantis of burrowis within the same schyres ar # 
chargit 
of new to meitt the said lieutenent and his depute, bodin in    #
feir of wear 
with tuentie dayes lone at the Bog of Gicht, upon the xxvii. of #
this 
instant, and theirfra to pas with the said lieutenant and his   #
depute, 
[{upon{] Lauchlan Mackintoische, and dyveris wtheris brokin     #
hieland men,
<P 73>  
his majesties rebellis wnder the pane of escheting of all thair #
guidis of 
sic as obeyis nocht the said charge, and the prouest and sum of #
the counsall 
wes crediblie informit be sum of the saidis erlis freyndis that #
be sending 
of fourtie wagit men for this burght for keping of the said     #
raid, the said 
lieutenant nor his depute wald na wayis be content, bot sa far  #
as the said 
prouest was informit, wald nocht ressawe souldiouris furnessit  #
be this 
burght, bot wald hawe the sowme of four hundretht merkis at the #
leist, 
to be payit to him and his depute for the samen, wpon the       #
quhilk the 
said lieutenant and his depute wald furneiss wagit men to thame #
selff of 
the south cuntrie, and heirof maid intimatioun to the town,     #
convenit as 
said is, desyring thame, being assemblit to this effect, to     #
prouyd the maist 
easie remeid for thair awin releiff, and to eschew the perrell  #
and danger 
of the said proclamatioun, declaring that quhatsumeuir forme    #
thay suld 
tak thairanent, the prouest, bailleis, and counsall suld folow  #
the samen, 
and that the town suld pretend na ignorance to the charge, it   #
wes inquyrit 
of thame be the said prouest gif thay wald consent to be        #
stentit for the 
sowme of four hundreth merkis to be giffin to the said          #
lieutenant and his 
depute, to hawe ane discharge of the said raid, and ilk man be  #
the ordour 
of the suit roll being votit and inquyrit, the maist pairt      #
votit that thay 
wald na wayis grant to be stentit for ony contributioun, or     # 
money to be 
giffin to the said lieutenant nor his depute, bot that the      #
fourtie souldiouris 
appoyntit obefoir to be send and riggit furth for this burgh,   #
to haue mett 
the said lieutenant depute at the Bog of Gicht, upone the       #
xxiii. day of 
October last bypast, reddy to hawe departit of this burgh for   #
keping of 
the said daye, quha had receavit with thair capitan, in pairt   #
of payment of 
thair wages, nyne scoir merkis, salbe send for this burght to   #
keip the xxvii. 
of this instant, ressaving ilk ane of thame sex merkis in full  #
contentatioun 
of thair vages, and war content to be stentit for the sowme of  # 
ane hundreth 
pundis, quhilk obefoir was ordanit to be giffin out be the      #
collector 
of the taxatioun of four hundreth merkis appoyntit for the      #
souldiouris, to 
the bischop wpon his supplicatioun.

[}14TH APRIL, 1592.}]  
  
   The said daye, it was aduysitlie considderit quhow that the  #
wraith and 
displeasour of the Almichtie God is justlie procurit to fall    #
wpon this burgh 
and inhabitantis thairof, for the wickit and ongodlie use       #
croppin in and our 
frequentlie usit within the same amang all sortis of pepill, in #
blaspheiming  
<P 74>  
of Goddis holie name, and swering of horribill and execrabill   # 
aythis, 
theirfor for avoding theirof, folowing the example of wther     #
reformit congregationis 
and burghis within this realme, becaus heirtofoir ane ordour 
of punischement anent the blasphemaris of Goddis name, and      #
swereris of 
horribill aythis, hes nocht bene sa speciallie deuysit as neid  # 
requyrit, and 
for obedience to his majesties actis of parliament maid         #
theiranent, with 
consent of the thrie estatis, in the parliament hauldin and     #
begun at Edinburgh 
the xxiiii. day of October, the yeir of God one thousand, fyve  #
hundreth, 
four scoir and ane yeiris, the haill town, &c., consentit and   #
agreit 
but contradictioun, and for ane statute and law, estableschit   #
the forme and 
ordour folowing to be heireftir observit within this burgh, be  #
the haill inhabitantis 
theirof, for repressing of the said horribill vyce, that ilk    #
maister 
of houshald within this burgh, sa oft as he sall happin to fall #
in the said 
vyce, sall pay of penaltie to be aplyit to the use of the puir, #
aucht d., and 
ilk servand four d., quhilk salbe exactit of thame be the       #
maisteris of houshaldis, 
and allocat and allowit in thair fie, aucht to thame be thair   #
maisteris, 
and this to be extendit als weill to men servandis quha         #
commonlie 
dois blaspheme the name of God be execrabill aythis, will not   
abstene thairfra be exacting of the said penaltie, that thair   #
maisteris delait 
thame to the kirk and sessioun, that with thame ordour may      #
be tackin 
thairanent as apertenis, ather be publict repentance or         #
uthervayis as salbe 
thocht expedient be the kirk and sessioun, and this present act #
to extent 
it self to mennis wyffis and thair bairnis, with quhom the      # 
maisteris of 
the houshald salbe hauldin to tak ordour that thay may forbeir  #
sweiring, 
sall exact of thair wyffis the penaltie of aucht d. as oft as   #
thay fall, and 
punische thair barnis be palmeris, and for better executioun of #
this act it wes 
deuysit that ilk maister of houshald sall hawe ane box to put   #
in the saidis 
penalteis, according to the custume of wther weill reformit     #
townis and 
congregationis, sa sone as possiblie thay may hawe thame.   
  
[} (\EODEM DIE.\) }]  
  
   The said day, the prouest, balleis, and counsall, with       #
consent of the
communitie, wpon complaynt of Gilbert Atholl and Thomas Atholl, #
quhyt
fischeris in Futtie, aganis Jon Nuckall, Jon Hendersone,        #
Alex=r.= Nuckall, 
and W=m.= Cowye, quhyt fischeris their, for the cutting and     #
destroying of 
ane lapster nett, maid, sett up, and placed be the said Gilbert #
and Thomas 
Athollis, at the Gray Hoip within the Girdlenes, quhairwith not #
onlie  
<P 75>  
lapsteris bot also partanis and paddillis, with wther sort of   #
schell fische, 
was takin, a new ingyne deuysit to that effect, quhilk had      #
nocht bene wsit 
obefoir; the saidis Jon Nuckall, Jon Hendersone, Alex=r.=       #
Nuckall, and 
W=m.= Cowye, comperand personallie, grantit the samen, and      #
theirfor war
convict and put in amerciament of court, and it was statut and  #
ordanit 
that gif thay or ony wther fischeris, ather duelling in Futtie  #
or Tory, war 
convict heireftir for doing the lyk, to be banisched this burgh #
and fredome
theirof, and to be pwneist with all regour, becaus it wes fund  #
be the 
counsall and toun convenit, that the samen was ane necessar     #
ingyne, and 
profitabill for the commoun weill.  
  
[}6TH JANUARY, 1592.}]  
  
   The said day, Maister Williame Murdo being apprehendit       #
within
this burght be the prouest and bailleis, upone suir             #
informatioun that he 
was an mantener of errouris, and ane quha directlie opponit     #
himself 
to the trew word of God sinceirlie preichit within this realme, #
and in the 
mercies of God be the lawis and actis of Parliament professit   #
and estableschit, 
a blasphemar aganis the ancient Prophetis and Chrystis          #
Apostlis, 
and the said Maister Williame being tryit  thairanent be the    #
saidis 
prouest, bailleis, and ministrie, of this burght, was fund ane  #
oppin 
blasphemer aganis the ancient Propheittis and Chrystis          #
Apostlis, ane 
quha damnis the haill Auld Testament, except the Ten            #
Commandimentis; 
and the New Testament, except the Lordis Prayer; a oppin        #
railzear 
aganis the ministrie and treuth preichit, and is sic a          #
blasphemous heretyk 
that he can not be sufferit in ane republict; quharfor the said #
Maister 
Willeam is presentlie ordanit to be declairit at the mercat     #
croce of this 
burght ane oppin blasphemer of the treuth, mantener of          #
errouris, and 
theirfoir decernit and ordanit him to be baneist and exylit     #
this 
burgh and fredome theirof, and that he sall na wayis repair,    #
hant, nor 
resort theirto, in ony tyme heireftir; certefeing him that gif  #
he beis 
apprehendit or fund within this burgh or libertie theirof in    #
ony tyme cumming, 
that he sal be brint on the cheik and his luggis cutit,         #
inhibiting all 
and sindrie the inhabitantis of this burgh to receave, hous,    # 
herbrye, intertein, 
beir company, or schaw favour, to the said Maister              #
Willeam 
heireftir, wnder the paine of banischement to be incurrit be    #
sic as sall 
happin to be fund culpabill of his ressait, intertanement,      #
giffing of hous,
herbrye, or meat or drink to him in tyme cumming.  

<P 76>  
  
[}8TH JANUARY, 1592.}]  
   
   The said day, the prouest, bailleis, and consall,            #
wnderstanding that 
the burghis of Edinburgh, Dundye, Perth, and wtheris townis be  #
south 
this burgh, perceaving the gryt disordour and confusioun that   #
presentlie 
now regnis within the haill realme, trubill and calamiteis      #
quhairwith 
the same is presentlie grevit, and cheiflie the persecutioun,   #
intentit and 
deuysit to hawe bene put in practeis be the enemies of Chrystis #
treu
evangel, aganis the ministrie and professouris theirof within   #
the burrowis, 
hes for thair awin safetyes caus, and for publict quyetnes      #
within the 
saidis burrowis, causit thair townis be nichtlie walkit and     #
watchit be 
the citizenis and inhabitantis of the samen, that na disordour  #
sall enter 
theirin, na strangearis and extranearis resort and repair       #
theirto, quheirof
the magistrattis of the samen suld nocht be aduerteist and      #
forsene, and 
that this burgh is situat in sic ane pairt of the cuntrie, be   #
itselff alane 
far distant fra ony wther townis, hes not onlie wpone the       #
occassionis
aboue rehersit, bot lykvayis be resson of the gryt disordour    #
now within 
thir north pairtis quhair the barbarous and crewell helandmen   #
ar brokin 
lowss, hes wsit gryt crewelteis and rasit hudge hairschippis,   #
quhilk is 
ane mater that tuichis this burgh and inhabitantis thairof,     #
lyand sa neir 
hand to the hielandis, it being ane oppin toun; for thir        #
caussis, thocht 
meit and expedient, deuysit and ordanit, with consent of the    #
haill toun 
convenit this day in thair heid court, that this burgh, as the  #
remanent 
burrowis be south the samen sall be nichtlie watchit and walkit #
during 
the space that sall be thocht expedient be the prouest,         #
bailleis, and
counsall, the portis thairof maid fast and nichtlie lockit, the #
catbandis 
nichtlie festinit, and that ilk nichtbour and inhabitant of     #
this burgh sall 
hawe, keip and wphald thair bak dykis and bak yettis fast and   #
sufficient, 
and that the said nichtlie watche sal be of sic a numer of the  #
inhabitantis 
thairof as sall be thocht meit and expedient be the baillie of  #
the quarter, 
ilk persone, inhabitant of this burgh, being warnit to the      #
wache to cum 
theirto to the gaird hous at the tyme appoyntit, in armour,     #
jack, steil 
bonat, spair, halbert, or lang gun, and remane for that nicht   #
in the 
wache, at sic places of the toune as he sal be appoyntit be the #
baillie of 
the quarter, to [\BLANK\] houris in the morning, and quhasoeuer 
sal be absent fra the wache, being warnit theirto, or not       #
remain thereat 
during the tyme appoyntit, to incur the wnlaw of tuentie s. on  #
forgiffin.  
<P 77>  
  
[}10TH JANUARY, 1592.}]  
  
   The said daye, the prouest, bailleis, and consall, ordanit   #
the haill 
toun, inhabitantis thairof bayth frie and onfrie, to be warnit  #
be the 
handbell passand throw the haill rewis of the toun, to compeir  #
the 
morne, the xi. of this instant, within the paroche kirk of this #
burgh 
immediatlie eftir the sermone, betuix nyne and ten houris afoir #
noyne, 
to gif thair aythis in presence of thair ministrie and          # 
magistrattis, and 
to be sworne solemnlie for mantenance of the caus of trew       #
religioun 
presentlie professit within this realme according to the actis  #
of parliament 
sett doun theiranent, his majesties proclamatioun maid          #
theirupoun 
obefoir, and publict band concerning the samen, and to          #
subscryue the
said band, subscryuit be his majestie and sett out in prent,    #
sic as can
subscryue be thame selffis, and sic as can nocht subscryue, to  #
wphald 
thair handis, to do and performe the same in presence of the    #
ministrie, 
and that upon the present perrell and danger, intendit and      #
deuysit 
be the enemies of the treu religioun, to hawe bene execut       #
aganis the 
ministrie and professouris of the samen, and to heir and sie    #
solid ordour 
sett doun thairanent, as sall be thocht expedient, and as it is #
embracit be 
the burrowis be south, certifeing sic as comperis not to the    #
effect foirsaid, 
that thay sall incur the payne of fourtie s. for thair absence, #
and be 
reput and estemit as enemies to the quyetnes of the toun.  
  
[}31ST JANUARY, 1592.}]  
  
   The said day, the prouest, baillies, and consall, electit,   #
nominat, and 
chesit Dauid Cargill, to be watter baillie quhill Michaelmes    #
nixt cummis, 
quhom thay ordanit to attend wpon the herbrie and schoir of     #
this burgh, 
that na channell, stanes, sand, nor any uther thing be cassin   #
in the trink 
of the watter, or within the fluid merk, out of schippis,       #
craris, or bottis, 
and that the skipperis or awneris of the schippis or craris     #
cumming to
the samen fra the south or north partis of this realme, or fra  #
any foran 
cuntreis, present to the said watter baillie or to the          #
magistrattis of this 
burght, the just entrie of the gudis, geir, and merchandrie in  #
the saidis 
schippis, craris, or boittis, with the names of the merchandis  #
and awneris 
of the samen: as alsua, the skipperis of all craris or boittis  #
passing out 
of this herbrie to wther partis to do the lyk, to the effect,   #
that forbiddin 
gudis and wnfremenis gudis may be knawin, and that all          #
schippis, craris,
or boittis, cumming to the herbrie of this burgh with coillis,  #
lyme,
<P 78>   
sklaittis, or wther common necessaris, to be sauld, that the    #
samen sall be 
distributit to the nichtbouris of this burgh be the discretioun #
of the 
baillie and magistrattis, for sic paynis as is agreit on with   #
the skipperis 
or awneris of the samen, and that na persone quhatsumeuer frie  #
nor 
onfrie, presume to tak ony proffeit or commoditie on coillis,   #
lyme, sklaitt, 
or wther common necessaris in tyme cuming, according to the     #
ordinance 
maid thairanent obefoir, wnder the payne of [\BLANK\] s. to be  #
incurrit 
be the contravenar of this statut.  
  
[} (\EODEM DIE.\) }]  
  
   The quhilk daye, forsamekill as their hes bene duyers        #
fundatouris of 
alterages within the paroche kirk of this burgh, quha as        #
patronis hes 
giffin dyuers and sindrie annuellis to the samen, for           #
idolatrous service to 
be maid be preistis for thame, thair parentis, and              #
successouris, and thay 
being laik alterages and patronages, the patronis and           #
fundatoris theirof, 
now succeding theirto in their parentis and predicessouris      #
richt and place 
of the samen, not onlie applyis the saidis annuell rentis to    #
thair awin particular 
uses, bot as fundatoris, usurpis libertie and previledge of     #
buriall 
place within the said kirk, quhair the said altar stuid,        #
without payment of 
ony dewtie to the maister of the kirk wark for the samen,       #
giffing nor granting 
to the fabrik and wphauld of the said kirk, na pairt of the     #
saidis 
annuellis, quhilkis aucht and suld be bestowit theirupoun, or   #
wpon sum 
uther godlie uses, quhilk giffis occasioun to wtheris that hes  #
na fundationis 
to put wp thair armes wpon dyvers peleris of the said kirk, and #
in dyvers 
wther partis of the samen, at thair awin hand, without licence  #
of the 
prouest, bailleis, counsall, or maister of kirk wark, expres    #
aganis all guid 
ordour, for remeid quhairof the prouest, bailleis, and consall  #
deuysit and 
ordanit that all sic as alledgis to fundationis within the said #
kirk, nothwithstanding 
that thay be fundatoris and patronis of altaris, sall haiff na
mair benefit of beriall within the samen, wnto the tyme thay    #
giff in and
mortifie the annuell rentis quhilkis was votit be thair         #
predicessouris, 
patronis and fundatoris thairof, to the wphauld of the fabrik   #
of the said 
paroche kirk, or sustentatioun of the ministrie, or to sum      #
wther godlie 
uses, bot that thay sall pay for thair beriall places as        #
wtheris that hes na 
fundationis, according to the ordinance sett doun theiranent,   #
ay and quhill 
thay gif in and mortefie thair annuellis to the effect          #
foirsaid, and that all 
armes put wp on the pilleris of the said kirk be sic as hes na  #
fundationis  
<P 79>  
sall be cancellat, and that nane presume nor tak wpon hand      #
heireftir to
caus put wp thair armes in ony piller or place within the said  #
kirk, except
in glasin wyndois, quhither thay be fundatouris or nocht,       #
without licence 
had and obtenit thairunto of the prouest, bailleis, and         #
counsall.  
  
[}21ST FEBRUARY, 1592.}]  
  
   The said daye, the prouest, bailleis, and consall, &c.,      #
deuysit and ordanit 
that thair salbe propynit to his majesties hous at his graces
cumming to this burght, ane punscheoun of auld Burdeaux vyne,   #
gif it 
may be had for money, and gif not, ane last of the best and     #
fynest aill 
that may be gottin within this burght, together with the        #
spycerie efter 
following; that is to say, four pound weycht of pepper, halff   #
pund of 
measis, four unces of safrone, half pund of cannele, fourtene   #
pund of 
suckour, tua dussone buistis of confeittis, ane dussone buistis #
of scorchettis,
ane dusson buistis of succour almondis, ane dussone buistis of  #
confectionis, 
and ane chalder of coillis, and the deane of gild and           #
thessaurer sall 
deburse and pay for the samen, of the reddiest of the           #
accidentis that is in 
thair handis, or ather of thame, quhilk salbe allowit to thame  #
in thair 
comptis, nochtwithstanding of the ordinance of counsall maid    #
obefoir, ordaining
that all frie syluer that sall happin the said thesaurer and    #
deane 
of gild to receawe be ressone of thair offices, (the kingis and #
townis pensioneris 
being alwayis first payit), to be employit for payment of the
annuell rent of his majesties tocher of the Martomes terme last #
bypast
and Witsonday terme to cum, quhairanent the prouest, bailleis,  #
and consall 
dispensis be ressone of the present necessitie, and that the    #
custume is, 
that ever the kingis and princes of this realme at thair        #
cumming to this 
burgh, hes bene in all tyme bygane propynit with vyne and       #
spycerie.  
  
[}18TH JUNE, 1593.}]  
   
   The said day, in presence of the prouest, bailleis, and      #
consall of the 
burgh of Abirden, comperit Dauid, bischop of Abirdene,          #
chancellar of the 
Universitie, and Mr. Peter Blakburne, deane of facultie of the  #
samen, and 
producit ane letter of electioun of James Forbes of Tulliboy,   #
in and to the 
office of ekonomous, collectorie, and stewartrie of the new     #
colledge of 
Abirdene, foundit be ane nobill and potent lord, George Erll    #
Marischall, 
for collecting, calling, and persewing for the rentis of the    #
said colledge, 
of the dait at Abirdene the sevint day of Junii instant, and    #
desyrit the  
<P 80>   
prouest, bailleis, and consallis consent and auctoritie to be   #
interponit 
thairto, speciallie for removing of the tenentis of the Gray    #
Freris yardis 
and houssis of the samen, in name of the saidis prouest,        #
bailleis, and 
counsall, quhilkis the saidis prouest, bailleis, and counsall   #
authorezit, 
homologat, and apprevit, and interponit thair auctoritie        #
thairto, gevand 
thair full power to the said James to perseu to the effect      #
foirsaid, upone 
the quhilkis the said chancellor and deane of facultie, and the #
said James 
for himselff, tuk act and instrument.  
   
[}25TH JUNE, 1593.}]  
   
   The quhilk day, the bailleis, upon dyvers complantis gevin   #
in this day, 
and all wther court dayis sen the feist of Witsonday last       #
bypast, be 
dyvers and sindrie nichtboris of this burght, wpon dyveris and  #
sindrie 
men and wemen servandis thairof, quha being feit with thame to  #
have 
enterit at the said feist of Witsonday to thair service, making #
doubill
promeiss to thame and utheris quhom thay have servit obefoir,   #
deferris 
to enter to thair service, to thair gryt hurt throw laik of     #
servandis, for 
remeid quhairof deuysit, statut, and ordanit that quhatsumeuir  #
servand, 
man or woman, within this burgh that sall happin heireftir to   #
mak doubill 
promeissis anent thair feing with tua maissteris or             #
maistressis, that the 
persone macking the said doubill promeiss, and feing with tua   #
dyveris 
maisteris, sall efter verificatioun thairof be put in the       #
govis, thairin to remain
for the space of sex houris, and to be baneist this burgh and   #
fredome 
theirof, during the prouest and bailleis will.  
  
[}11TH JULY, 1593.}]  
  
   The said day, the persones of the counsall forsaid,          #
considdering that the 
stepill of the tolbuyth as it is now decayit, to the dishonour  #
and dishonestie 
of this burgh, and gryt detriment of the knock and commoun bell #
thairin 
placed and hinging, liklie the ane to decay and the vther to    #
fall doun be 
ressone of the insufficiencie of the said stepill, quhilk can   #
not defend 
wadder, wynd, nor rayn, for preservatioun of the said knock and #
bell, and 
commoun decoratioun of this burgh to be ane wark therfor most   #
necessarie 
to be helpit, and becaus of wther weightie materis interveining #
sen 
the falling doun therof, the samen hes beine negligentlie       #
oursene, and 
that presentlie their is nocht of the commoun gude of this      #
burgh nor 
accidentis therof in the handis of the thesaurar nor deane of   #
gild, on  
<P 81>   
bestowit on the townis wther necessar effaris, therfor for the  #
presant 
till ane mair easie mean and way may be fund out be the         #
counsall, anent 
the wpbigging and repairing of the said stepill, deuysit and    #
ordanit that 
the same sall be this symmer with all conuenient diligence and  #
speid, 
helpit and maid watter thicht, for preservatioun of the said    #
knok and 
bell: and for doing theirof hes desirat and assignit the wnlaw  #
of 
Thomas Johnestoun, extending to fourtie merkis; the wnlaw of    #
Robert 
Donald extending to wther fourtie merkis; togidder with the     #
wnlaw of 
Williame Dun extending to ten merkis, to be imployit for        #
mending theirof 
till that wther accidentis may be had to do the samen, and      #
nominat and 
appoyntit Dauid Cargile to be maister of wark to the samen,     #
quha acceptit 
the said office wpon him.  
  
[}18TH JULY, 1593.}]  
   The said daye, the persones of counsall of the said burgh,   #
knawing that 
ther hes arryvit dyveris schippis from Noroway and wtheris      #
pairtis, to 
the watter of Newburgh, within the precinct and jurisdiction of #
this burgh, 
losing and laidning their, as gif the same war ane frie port,   #
expres aganis 
the auld ancient liberteis and immuniteis grantit to this       #
burgh, be his 
majesties predicessouris, to the gryt hurt and preiudice        #
theirof, and that 
thair is presentlie in the said watter thrie or four schippis   #
presentlie 
losand and laidnand, expreslie inhibit that ony their suld be   #
lost or laidnit 
within the precinct and shireffdome of Abirdene, bot at the     #
port and 
heavin of the burght of Abirdene; Theirfoir for manteining of   #
thair awin 
liberteis and frances thairanent, ordanit Maister Richard       #
Irwyng, deane 
of gild, and Dauid Cargill, thesaurer, to pas with ane officer  #
of armis, and 
ane or tua nichtboris, to the said watter of Newburgh, and be   #
wertew of 
the lettres gevin to this burgh upon thair liberteis, to areist #
and fence the 
said schippis, tak the sailis fra the rayis thairof, and use    #
all ordour thairanent 
as accordis of the law and ressone, and the expensis that salbe
maid be the deane of gild heirupoun, to be allowit to him in    #
his comptis.  
  
[} (\EODEM DIE.\) }]  
  
   The said day, the consall deuysit and ordanit Maister        #
Richard Irwyng, 
deane of gild, to ansuir and obey Andro Inglis, sweschman,      #
commoun  
<P 82>  
servand to the toun, of ane garment of reid Inglis flaning,     #
wpon the said 
Androis supplicatioun presentit this day to the consall, quhilk #
salbe allowit 
to the said deane of gild in his comptis.   
  
<S SAMPLE 2>  
<P 353>  
  
[}4TH JUNE, 1617.}]  
  
   The quhilk day, in presence of the prowest, baillies, and    #
counsall, comperit 
personallie Alexander Forbes, sumtyme of Towie, and voluntarlie
submittit himselff to the determinatioun and censure of the     #
prowest, 
baillies, and counsall of this burght, to vnderly and mak sic   #
amendis and 
satisfactioun as they sall injoyne for the wrang and indignitie #
done be
him to the toune, and to Mr Willeame Wedderburne, doctour of    #
thair 
grammer schoole, vpoun the [\BLANK\] day off [\BLANK\] last     #
bypast, in passing 
to the said grammer schoole and their geving ane cuff to the    #
said Maister 
Willeame Wedderburne, promeising quhatsumeuer amendis and       #
satisfactioun, 
the saidis prowest, baillies, and counsall sall decerne him to  #
mak 
for the said wrang, that he sall willinglie obey and fulfill    #
the same in all 
poyntis, quhairanent the saidis prowest, baillies, and counsall #
adwyseing, 
inrespect of the said Alexander, his submissiue reference of    #
himselff to 
be censured be thame for his said wrang, and that thairby he    #
kyitchis to 
be sorie and grewit for the same, thairfoir they ordane the     #
said Alexander 
to go presentlie to the grammer schoole of this burght, quhair  #
he did the 
wrang, and thair in all humilitie, on his kneeis, in presence   #
of the magistrattis
and maister of schoole and scholaris, sitt doun on his kneeis,  #
acknowledge 
and confes his offence, and crawe the magistrattis and 
counsall pardone, as also, the said Maister Willeame            #
Wedderburne, 
quhome he offendit, and promeis nevir to do the lyk in tyme     #
comeing; 
conforme to the quhilk ordinance, and for obedience and         #
satisfactioun 
thairof, the said Alexander Forbes of Towie past instantlie     #
with the 
magistrattis and counsall to the said grammer schoole, and      #
thair most
<P 354>  
submissiwelie, on his kneeis, confest his wrang foirsaid, done  #
to the 
toune, and to the said Maister Willeame Wedderburne, doctour of #
thair 
grammer schoole, and first crawit the magistrattis and          #
counsall, and nixt 
the said Mr. Willeame pardoun thairfoir, promeising neuir to do #
the lyke 
in tyme cumeing, but to remayne a freynd and weill willar baith #
to the 
toune, and to the said Mr. Willeame in all tyme heireftir, and  #
instantlie
choppit handis with the magistrattis and the said Mr. Willeame
 
[}8TH OCTOBER, 1617.}]  
  
   The quhilk day, the prowest, baillies, and counsall,         #
considering the 
cauldnes enterit in practise within this burght of ane gryt     #
number of the 
inhabitantis thairof, professing Chryist, as he is now offerit  #
be the preacheing 
of the evangell, be wilfull remaining from thair paroche kirk   #
in tyme 
of preacheing and prayeris, and frome the heiring of the word   #
of God sincerely
preacheit on the Sabboth day, and be gamyng and playing, and
passing to tavernes and ailhousses in time of sermonis, on the  #
Sabboth 
day, contrair to the custome of reformed kirkis and weill       #
governed commonweillis 
of this realm, procuiring thairby the wraith and displesure of
God, and that dyvers actis hes beine maid obefoir, according to #
the actes 
of Parliament for keiping of the said sermones, and repairing   #
to the kirk 
on the Sabboth day, quhilkis throu iniquitie of time hes nocht  #
tain thair 
awin full executioun, for remeid thairof, followit the          #
directioun first of 
Godis word, and than the saidis actis of parliament, with the   #
loweabill 
custome of vther reformed congregatiounes, hawe statute and     #
ordaint that 
all maisters of houshaldis within this burght, and thair        #
wyiffes, alsweill 
craftismen as burgesses of gild, and other inhabitantis         #
thairof, and thair 
servandis, sall repair in tyme comeing to thair paroche kirk,   #
keip and obserue 
the sermones on the Sabboth day, alsweill efternoone as befoir
noone, and the saidis maisteris of houshaldis, alsweill         #
craftismen as 
burgesses, to keip and obserue the sermones on the weik day,    #
and not 
to depairt out of the kirk thairfra vnto the end thairof, vnder #
the paines 
following, to be vplifted of the contravenar so oft as they be  #
noted and 
convict for thair absence, or fund in houss, buith, streitt, or #
mercat 
during the tyme of sermone: that is to say, of euerie           #
houshalder and his 
wyiff, burges of gild, for thair remaneing frome the sermones   #
on the 
Sabboth day, thretteine schillingis four pennies; and of euerie #
craftisman 
maister and houshalder, for thair remaneing frome the sermones
<P 355>  
on the Sabboth day, sex schillingis aucht pennies; and of the   #
saidis 
craftismen, servandis, and prenteisses, for thair remaneing fra #
the sermones 
on the Sabboth day, twa schillingis; and of ilk burges of gild  #
and 
merchand, sex schillingis aucht pennies, for thair remaneing    #
frome the 
sermone on the weik day; and of ilk craftisman maister and      #
houshalder, 
thrie schillingis four pennies, for thair remaneing frome the   #
sermone on 
the weik day. And gif the saidis persones, of the ranckis       #
foirsaidis, beis 
fund culpabill in nocht frequenting the sermones as said is,    #
and convict 
for the seuerall dayis absence, but lawfull excuse of           #
infirmitie, seikness, 
or absence furthe of the toun, the persone giltie and convict   #
to be secludit 
and debarrit frome all benefite of the kirk quhill he or she    #
satisfie be 
appoyntment of the sessioun, and that but preiudice of the      #
penalties 
foirsaidis.  
  
[^A PASSAGE IN LATIN OMITTED^]   
  
[}11TH MARCH, 1618.}]  
  
   The quhilk day, anent the supplicatioun giwen in be John     #
Dauidsone, 
eldest lauchfull sone to Johne Dauidsone, maltman, burges of    #
this burght, 
makand mentioun that sen the tyme he come frome the musick      #
schoole, 
he hes bestowit his tyme in service with his maister, Thomas    #
Mylne, 
virginall macker, quhome he hes seruit seuin yeiris as          #
prenteis, and thrie
yeiris sensyne as a feit servand, as his indenture and          #
discharge thairwpoun
proportis, and now hauing learned the said calling, and being   #
purposed 
(God willing) to duell and mak his residence in this his natiue #
toun, he 
thairfoir desyrit the counsall to admitt him frieman for vsing  #
and exercising 
his said calling, and to respect his meane estate, in that he   #
hes not
<P 356>  
present moyen to pay for his friedome, as at mair length wes    #
contenit in 
his said supplicatioun, quhairwith the counsell being adwyisit, #
and hauing 
seine and considderit his maisterstick exhibite befoir thame,   #
to witt, a 
pair of virginallis, and thairwith considdering that the said   #
calling is not 
vnder a deacones, being bot latlie put in practice within this  #
burght be 
the said Thomas Mylne his maister, quha compeirand personallie  #
befoir 
the counsall, gawe his approbatioun to the said maisterstick as #
sufficient 
warkmanship, thairfoir the counsall hes admittit and resaued    #
the said 
Johne Dauidsone, frieman of this burght, to vse and exerce the  #
said 
calling, in macking of virginallis allanarlie, and na forder,   #
and that gratis 
without payment of any compositioun, in respect he is a burges  #
sone, 
not haweing moyen to pay for his friedome, and the said John    #
gawe his
aythe according to the forme.
  
[}8TH APRIL, 1618.}]  
  
  The said day, the prowest, baillies, and counsall,            #
considdering that 
Maister Henrie Buchan, burges of this burght, vpon the first    #
day of 
Aprill instant, wes lauchfullie and ordourlie convict for       #
chopping with 
the hand Willeame Gray, lait baillie, the day foirsaid, vpoun   #
the 
shoulder, within the clos of vmquhill Mr. Gilbert Gray, and     #
saying to 
him, in audience of the magistrattis and counsall, that the     #
decreit that 
day pronuncit be the counsall aganis the said Mr. Henrie wes    #
not the 
counsallis decreit, bot the said Willeames awin decreit, and    #
gif he wer 
out of the towne the said Mr. Henrie suld dicht him; as also    #
considdering 
that the said Mr. Henrie wes convict the said day for iniuring  #
the 
said Willeame Gray, immediatelie thairefter, in the clerkis     #
chalmer, the 
prowest and baillies being thair for the tyme sitting in        #
judgement, in 
calling him febill swynger, as the act of his convictioun at    #
mair length 
proportis; and heirwith the counsall vnderstanding that the     #
said Mr. 
Henrie, be his forsaid speiches, not onlie hes iniured the said #
Willeame 
Gray, bot lykwayis the haill counsall, in querrelling thair     #
decreit gewin 
that day aganis him, thairfoir the saidis prowest, baillies,    #
and counsall, 
all in ane voice, findis that the said Mr. Henrie, for his      #
contempt and 
indignitie foirsaid done to the said Willeame Gray, late        #
baillie, and to 
the haill counsall, hes iustlie deservit the forfaultour and    #
deprivatioun 
of his fredome and burgeschip of this burght; lykeas            #
instantlie, the
saidis prowest, baillies, and counsall, for the caus forsaid,   #
dischargis and  
<P 357>  
deprywis the said Mr. Henrie of his fredome and burgeschip of   #
this
burght, and of all libertie and preuilege he may jois thairby   #
heirafter, 
and ordanis the deane of gild to caus cloise up his buith door. #
Persones 
of counsall present: Sir Thomas Meingzeis, provest, Mr. David   #
Rutherfurd, 
Mr. Alex=r.= Cullen, George Nicolesone, and William Lowsoun, 
baillies, Paull Mengzies, Dauid Cargill, Johne Hay, Walter      #
Robertsone, 
George Ricard, Mr. Alex=r.= Jaffray, John Tullidaff, George     #
Anderson, 
John Middletoun.  
   
[}3RD JUNE, 1618.}]  
  
   The quhilk day, Thomas Watsoune, maister measone to the      #
bigging
of the wardhous, compeirand personallie, in presence of the     #
prowast, 
baillies, and counsall, submittit and referrit himselff to      #
thair determinatioun 
and modificatioun, quhat salbe rebaitit and defalcat to him of  #
the 
soumes of money promeist to him for bigging of the said         #
wardhous, be 
wertew of the contract past betuixt the toune and him           #
thairanent, be 
resone the toune inlaikis wnbiggit of the said wardhous the     #
fyift woult 
thairof, quhilk the said Thomas was obleist to hawe done be the #
conditioun 
of the said contract, and quhatsumeuer the saidis prowest,      #
baillies, 
and counsall sall rebait and defalk to the said Thomas, for the #
inlaik of 
the said fyift woult, he obleisses him to stand and abyde       #
thairat, but 
reclamatioun, or in the counsallis option the said Thomas       #
obleisses him 
to big of the townes commoun workis, proportionable, according  #
to the 
said rebait, and the saidis prowest, baillies, and counsall     #
sall jnioyne.

[^PASSAGES IN LATIN OMITTED^]
  
<P 358>  
  
[}15TH SEPTEMBER, 1618.}]  
  
   The quhilk day, George Pyiper, and Alexander Andersone,      #
wrichtis, 
compeirand sufficientlie in armour, ilkane with ane hagbute and #
baudileire 
and sword, wes ressauit and admittit friemen of thair said      #
craft, and 
burgesses of this burght, ilk ane of thame for the soume off    #
twentie 
merkis Scottis money, peyit be thame to the deane of gild, with #
this 
allwayis restrictioun and conditioun, that they sall vse and    #
exerce thair 
said craft professit be thame allanerlie, and clame nor pretend #
no forder 
libertie, preuilege, nor friedome nor is sett doun and          #
prescryuit to craftismen 
be the contract and indenture past betuixt the brether of gild  #
and 
thame, in the yeir of God 1587 yeiris; and incais they or any   #
of thame do 
in the contrare, being convict thairoff, to be depryuit and     #
dischargit of his 
friedome, and all libertie and preuilege they may joice and     #
bruik thairby 
in any tyme thaireftir, and gawe thair aytheis judiciallie on   #
the premissis 
and remanent poyntis of the aythe giwen be burgesses of this    #
burght the 
tyme of thair admissioun; lykas ilk ane of thame payit fyive    #
schillingis in 
a quhyte purs, according to the forme vsit and wount.   
 
[}30TH SEPTEMBER, 1618.}]  
  
   The said day, inrespect the townis commoun knockis, to witt, #
the kirk 
knok, tolbuyth knok, and college knok, ar out of all frame and  #
ordour, and 
ar nocht sufficient and abill to serve the towne, pairtlie      #
becaus they ar 
auld and worne, and pairtlie for want of skilfull men to attend #
thame, 
heirfoir it is thocht meit that the magistrattis wreitt southe  #
with all 
diligence, and try quhair the best knockmacker may be had, and  #
caus 
bring him vpoun the tounis chargis to this burght, and visite   #
the knokis 
thairof, that sic of thame as may be mendit be accordingly      #
done, and sic 
as will not mend, be maid new sa soone as the same can be       #
convenientlie 
gottin done, and Robert Alexander, thesaurar, to deburse heiron #
as he 
salbe directit be the magistrattis, quhilkis debursementis      #
salbe allowit to 
him in his comptis.   
  
[}24TH MARCH, 1619.}]  
  
   The samen day, the prouest, baillies, and counsall appoyntis #
Paull
Meingzeis, baillie, to wreitt to Dundie for four hundreth peice #
of frie 
stane for the wark of the wardhous, and to cause dress the same #
thair,
<P 359>   
in some mesure, for the moir easie transportatioun thairof, and #
sic as he 
aggries to giwe for the saidis staines and for the fraucht      #
thairoff, ordanes 
Robert Alexander, thesaurar, to deburse the same, quhilk salbe  #
allowit 
to him in his comptis.

[} (\EODEM DIE.\) }]  
  
   The quhilk day, it being menit to the prouest, baillies, and #
counsall be 
Maister Dauid Wedderburn, maister of the grammer schooll, and   #
be 
Patrik Dauidsoun, maister of the musick schoole of this burght, #
that 
quhair a great many of thair scholaris sen the tyme of the      #
dischargeing of 
thair thrie dayis play, quhilk they wer wount to gett at the    #
begynning of 
everie quarter, hes maid no payment at all of thair ordinarie   #
stipend and 
scholage, quhilk they ar bund and obleist to pay to thair       #
maisteris quarterlie, 
and vtheris delayis the payment of thair scholage for a long    #
seasone 
eftir the quarter come in, to the hurt and preiudice of the     #
maisteris; for 
remeid heiroff, it is statute and ordanit be the prouest,       #
baillies, and counsall, 
that in all tyme comeing everie scholar within any of the       #
saidis 
schoollis ar and salbe bund and obleist to pay thair ordinar    #
quarter stipend 
and scholage, quhilk they aucht to pay to thair maisteris,      #
within fyifteine 
dayis at the farrest nixt eftir the begynning of the quarter,   #
with certificatioun 
to sic as sal failsie in payment theiroff, the said space being #
bypast, 
that they salbe subiect and obleist in peyment of the dubill of #
the said 
scholage, and gif any scholar quhasoeuir, ather to burght or    #
land, sall 
withstand this ordinance and repyne agains the same, he salbe   #
expellit 
furthe of the schoole till he giwe satisfactioun to the         #
maisteris, conforme
to the mynd of this act in all poyntis.   
  
[}9TH MAY, 1619.}]  
  
   The said day, the prowest, baillies, and counsall, ordanis   #
Mr. Willeame 
Moir, deane of gild, to deburse and pay the sowme of fourscoir  #
merkis 
to Alex=r.= Wyiseman, measone, thairof fyiftie merkis for the   #
repairing 
of the Gallowget port, and threttie merkis for repairing of the #
Justice 
and Futtie portis, as the counsall aggreit with him thairanent, #
quhilk 
soume sall be allowit to the said deane of gild in his comptis.
  
[}4TH JUNE, 1619.}]  
  
   The said day, the haill towne being convenit in the          #
tolbuyth, for the 
<P 360>   
maist pairt representand the haill body, being warnit thairto   #
be the 
handbell passand throw the haill rewis of the toun, quhairwpoun #
the 
berar maid faith, it wes exponit to thame be Sir Thomas         #
Meingzeis, 
prouest, that the counsall and sessioun of the kirk of this     #
burght hawing 
adwyiseit how the poore peopill that are daylie beggaris within #
the same 
mey be enterteineit and sustenit be commoun contributioun, and  #
saiffit 
heireftir frome begging on the streittis or elsquhair, and for  #
this effect 
hawing causit mack a cataloge and roll of all the beggaris      #
nameis, both 
men, wemen, and bairnis within this burght, they find be thair  #
estimatioun 
that fyftie merkis money mey interteaine thame weiklie, and     #
saiff 
thame frome begging, quhilk in the yeir will amont to the soume #
of twa 
thowsand sex hundreth merkis, and appoyntit the said            #
contributioun to 
be payit as followis, for the space of ane yeir to cum till the #
matter be 
essayit how the same will work, viz.: ane thowsand pundis to be #
imposit 
be way of taxatioun vpon the haill inhabitantis of the towne,   #
to be payit 
at twa seuerall termis, and the rest, to wit, ellevin hundreth  #
merkis to 
be payit be the contributiones to be gottin the tyme of the     #
ministratioun 
of the commvnioun, and quhair that will not serve, the eareand  #
to be 
suppliet out of the collectionis for the poore at the kirk      #
dooris, as the 
act of counsall sett doun thairanent vpoun the secund day of    #
Junij instant 
at mair length  proportis, and thairfoir inquired of the toun,  #
convenit 
as said is, gif they wald condiscend and aggrie to the courss   #
foirsaid, 
sett doun be the counsall and sessioun for interteinement of    #
the poore 
for a yeir to cum, quha all in ane voice but contradictioun or  #
oppositioun, 
(except only Mr. Thomas Meingzeis, quha opponit himselff to the #
said 
courss) consentit and aggriet to be stentit and taxt for the    #
said soume 
of ane thowsand pundis, to be applyit to the vse foirsaid of    #
the interteinement 
of the poore, and to saiff thame frome begging, and ar content
to be stentit for the said soume for the space of ane yeir      #
allanerlie, to be 
payit at twa seurall termis; and for that effect instantlie     #
electit, nominat, 
and chuiseit George Nicolsone, Dauid Cargill, Henrie Forbes,    #
Alexander 
Andersone, Dauid Aidye, Johne Tullidaff, Henrie Patrie,         #
Alexander 
Ramsay, youngar, Thomas Burnet, Robert Cruckshank, eldar, Johne
Merser, saidler, George Bruce and Thomas Goiff, tailzeour,      #
taxtaris and 
stentaris, to stent the said soume of ane thowsand pundis vpoun #
the 
haill inhabitantis of this burght, frie and vnfrie, to be payit #
at twa termis 
as said is, quhilkis stentaris acceptit the stenting of the     #
said sowme in  
<P 361>   
and vpoun thame, and wer sworne to stent and distribute the     #
same
equallie amongis the nichtbouris according to thair knawledge,  #
and the 
said Mr. Thomas Meingzeis dissassentit that any taxatioun be    #
imposit 
vpoun the town for the caus foirsaid, bot that a voluntar       #
contributioun 
be crawit to that effect.
 
[}5TH JUNE, 1619.}]  
  
   The said day, in presence of Thomas Forbes and Gilbert       #
Cullen, baillies, 
Margrat Blakburne, spous of Mr. Andro Aidye, principall of the  #
new 
college of Aberdein, wes convict and put in amerciament of      #
court be the 
depositionis of diuers famous witnesses, admittit, sworn, and   #
examined, for 
dinging and stricking Janet Mackye, servand to James Birny, in  #
Tarves, 
on the face to the effusioun of her bluid, to foirbearre; hir   #
vnlaw modifiet 
to ten pundis, to be peyit to the dean of gild, and fywe merkis #
to the 
pairtie dung.  

[}4TH AUGUST, 1619.}]  
  
   The quhilk day, the prowest, baillies, and counsall hawing   #
ressaued 
advertisement that my Lord Duke of Lennox is to be in this      #
burght about 
the xii of August instant, quhair his grace is to remane some   #
few dayis 
for his pastime and recreatioun, thairfoir they hawe appoyntit  #
the best 
and most convenient ludging that may be had within this burght  #
to be 
takin for his Grace resset, and withall they hawe appoyntit     #
prouisioun of 
wynes, spyceries, and all vther prouisioun requisite for        #
halding of his 
Grace hous during his remaining in this burght, to be furnished #
and prepaired 
on the townis chargis, the cair of the quhilk busines is        #
comittit be 
the counsall to George Nicolsone and Mr. Johne Mortimer, quhome #
they 
appoynt to sie all thingis ordorlie done as the weycht of the   #
bussines sall 
require, for the honour of my Lord Dukes Grace and the creditt  #
of the 
town, and quhat salbe requisite to be debursit heirwpoun, the   #
counsall ordanis 
Robert Alexander, thesyrer, to deburse the same, quhilk salbe   #
allowit 
to him in his comptis, and gif it sall fall out that my Lord    #
Dukes Grace 
will hald his awin hous himselff, and will not suffer the towne #
to mak the 
chargis thairof, in that cais the counsall thinkis meit to giwe #
his Grace, 
with the nobillmen and barronis that sall accumpanie him, the   #
banqueit 
in the best forme, that the same may be maid on the townis      #
chargis, the 
cair quhairoff is siclyk committit to the saidis George         #
Nicolsone and Mr.
<P 362>  
Johne Mortimer. Personis of counsall present, [^A LIST OF NAMES #
OMITTED^]

[^AN ENTRY OMITTED^]
  
[}18TH AUGUST, 1619.}]  
  
   The samen day, the prowest, baillies, and counsall, ordanis  #
Maister 
Thomas Johnestoun, deane of gild, to caus the officaris poynd   #
the 
absentis fra the lait wappounschaw of this burgh, quhilk held   #
vpon the 
nynt day of August instant, ilk absent for ane vnlaw of fyue    #
pundis, 
exceptand alwayis the poore sort of people, quhilk had nather   #
armis nor 
apparell fitting for musturing, and exceptand lykwayis sic of   #
the nichtbouris 
as wer absent out of the toune vpoun necessarie caussis,        #
quhilkis 
persones ar declairit to be frie of any vnlaw, and the saidis   #
vnlawis to 
be bestowit be the said deane of gild for defraying of sic      #
commoun
<P 363>
charges teynding to the townis honour and credit, as wes maid   #
be the
youthis of the toun, that maid seruice with muskattis the fyift #
of August
last, being a day dedicat for geiving thankis to God for his    #
Maiesties
preservatioun from the conspiracie of Gowrie, and vpoun the     #
twalt of
August, at the Duke of Lenox his graces entrie to this burgh,   #
so far 
furthe as the saidis vnlawis will extend.
  
<S SAMPLE 3>  
<P 366>  
  
 [}10TH FEBRUARY, 1620.}]   
    The quhilk day, anent the petition geuin in to the prowest, #
baillies, 
and counsall, be Maister Dauid Wedderburne, maister of the      #
grammer 
schoole of this burgh, makand mentioun that quhairas thair      #
wisdomes 
exactis a dewtie of him on the ane pairt, so it will not offend #
thame on 
the vther pairt that he be particular in regrating his estate,  #
the treuth 
quhairoff is, he hes not ane stipend quhilk may encourage ane   #
honest 
man to walk in sic a toillsum callin with chearfulnes; the      #
multitude of 
schooles everiequhar, the burdine of a familie, unknawin to him #
of befoir,
the darth of the tyme, so cutteth away any litile thing that is #
gottin, 
that or the twa pairt of the quarter be expired, he seis        #
evidently no correspondense  
betuixt his extraordinar paynis and the ordinar reward; 
thairfoir that it wald pleas thair wisdomes, with quhat         #
affectioun they 
wald wishe the wark to stand and go fordward, to sie also with  #
the same 
affectioun how be honest meanes the work may be so vnder        #
proppet, that 
without difficulties and lettis ane honest man may bear out     #
that heavie 
panes quhilk must be vndertakin for the faithfull discharge of  #
that calling;  
<P 367>   
and for this effect, and in regard of his bypast serwice, and   #
for the good 
pruiff of his trawellis quhilk hes beine presentlie gewin befor #
the visitouris 
of the schooles, they will sie that in sum mesure he may liwe   #
as 
vther scholaris in vther professionis, as at mair length was    #
contenit in 
the said petition; quhilk being red in counsall, and thairwith  #
the prowest, 
baillies, new and auld counsallis being maturelie adwyseit,     #
efter gude 
deliberatioun, they find, for the reasonis aboue mentionat, the #
said Mr. 
Dauid his present prouisioun for his seruice and charge         #
foirsaid, not to be 
correspondent to the weyght and burdine of his labouris, and    #
thairfoir, for 
suppliment and helpe of his means, whereas at the present he    #
hes onlie 
ten schillingis in the quarter of everie townis bairne for his  #
salarie 
and scholage, they ordaine him to hawe thrietteine schillingis  #
four 
pennies quarterlie in all tyme cumeing for everie tounis        #
bairne, quhilk 
salarie of thirettein schillingis four pennies for ilk tounis   #
bairne, togidder 
with the said Mr. Dauid, his present stipend off fourscoir
pundis peyit to him yeirlie be the toun out of thair commoun    #
gude, the 
prowest, baillies, and counsall, declairis to be in full        #
satisfactioun of all 
stipend, scholage, or any other benefit quhatsumeuir the said   #
Mr. 
Dauid may crawe of the toune, or of the tounis bairnis, for his #
serwice as 
maister of thair grammer schoole in ony tyme comeing; and       #
forder, 
becaus at the earnest desyre of the magistrattis and counsall,  #
for propagatioun 
of learning, the said Mr. Dauid hes vndertakin, lykeas, be thir
presentis (wpoun the conditioune vnderwritten,) he vndirtackis  #
and bindis 
himselff, sa lang as his health and habilitie will permitt, to  #
teache 
ane lessoun of humanitie aines everie weeke in tyme comeing,    #
within the 
college of this burght, out of sic authoris, at sic hours, and  #
after sic 
method as salbe injoyned to him be the counsall, and thairwith  #
to compose 
in Latine, both in prose and verse, quhatsumeuir purpose or     #
theme 
concerning the commoun effairis of the toune, ather at hame or  #
afield, 
as he salbe requyred be any of the magistrattis or clerk, in    #
tyme comeing; 
thairfoir, for teacheing the said humanitie lessoun, and for    #
composing in 
Latine of all matteris concerning the toune, (\toties           #
quoties\) , as they sall
occur, and as he salbe requyred, the saidis prowest, baillies,  #
new and 
auld counsallis, gewis and grantis to the said Mr. Dauid, by    #
and attour 
his ordinar stipend forsaid, gewin to him for teaching of thair #
grammer 
schoole, the soume of fourscoir merkis yeirlie, to be payit to  #
him be the
<P 368>   
thesaurer of this burght, at tua vsuall termis in the yeir,     #
Witsonday and 
Martimes in wynter, be equall portionis during the will and     #
plesure of 
the counsall, and the said Mr. Dauid his guid seruice and       #
diligence in the 
said employment allanarlie, and na farder, the first termis     #
payment thairof 
begynnand at the feast of Witsonday nixt to cum, in this        #
instant yeir 
of God j=m= vi=c= and twentie yeiris, and so furthe, yeirlie    #
and termlie thairefter, 
during the councellis will allanarlie, and with conditioun      #
lykwais, 
that the said Mr. Dauid sall nawayis desert nor leave his said  #
charge 
and functioun, nor withdraw himselff thairfra to any vther      #
functioun or 
place quhatsumeuir during his lyftyme, without the expres       #
consent and 
guidwill of the prowest, baillies, and counsall of this burght, #
had and 
obtenit thairto, and incais of the said Mr. Dauid, his          #
inhabilitie, age, or 
sicknes, quhairthrow he might not discharge a sufficient dewtie #
in the 
said office himselff, in that cais, he salbe haldin to furneis  #
ane sufficient
qualifeit persone, quha sall content the magistrattis and       #
counsall, to 
occupie his place, and in sua doing, the said Mr. Dauid to      #
continew 
maister of the said schoole, and to injoy the haill stipend and #
previlegis 
thairof, he satisfeing alwayis on his awin chairgis and         #
expenssis the 
persone substitute be him for his labouris and trawellis,       #
quhilk burdine 
foirsaid, with the conditiounes afoir specifeit, the said Mr.   #
Dauid 
personally present, acceptit and voluntarlie bindis and         #
obleissis himselff 
to the performance thairof, faithfullie in all poyntis as       #
apperteines, as 
God sall assist him be His grace, and incais any defect be fund #
in dischairge 
of his dewtie, ather as maister of the grammer schoole, or in   #
teacheing 
of the said lessoun of humanitie, the prowest, baillies, and    #
counsall of 
this burght, sall hawe alwayis absolute powar to censure him    #
thairfoir, 
and deprive him of the said benefite at thair arbitriment,      #
inrespect he hes 
the same of the toune vpoun gude deserwing and during thair     #
will and 
plesure allanerlie, and no vtherwayis, and vpon conditioune     #
that he never 
burdine the toune nor counsall heirefter with any               #
augmentatioun, ather 
of his scholage or his stipend. Persones of the new and auld    #
counsallis 
present: [^A LIST OF NAMES OMITTED^]  





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