Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland Exce Pt Fro M a Cursory Perusal of Reports in the Newspapers Of

P R E F A C E .

N sub mitting to the Pub lic the following Notice of the Convention of Royal B urghs O of Scotland , from its rigin down to the C ompletion of the Treaty of Union between Eng

‘ l and n 1707 s and Scotla d in , as also the mea ures adopted by Which the Royal Burghs came to be repre

’ n sented in Parliament , and the Conventio s gradual de v elo m ent p as a constitutional body, the author has brought the work down to that date in the meantime ,

t a and in the form adop ed , but should it meet with p proval it will be co ntinued to a later period . At all

o f events , the same may give some idea what the Con v ention , in the olden times , did in the promotion and furtherance o f measures tending to the encouragement

u of and prosec tion trade and commerce, the general i welfare of the nhabitants of Scotland , and its inde

e ndence n p as a ation .

N I N T R O D U C T I O .

H ERE are not a few Scotsmen resident on — the north side of the Tweed , who knowing little if anything of the institution of

The Convention of Royal Burghs of Scotland exce pt fro m a cursory perusal of reports in the newspapers of

e in o f es or l o f m et gs committe , the annual conc ave the Con vention u in i — itself , held d ring April , Ed nburgh , to whom the meaning ofthe term Convention o fRoyal Burghs is o o f s r s mewhat a mystery ; while ome others, unawa e of the beneﬁcial results derived from the working and a o f o s dministration the C nvention in the pa t , but looking

e entirely at the gr at changes , political and social , that have taken place in the country during the last ﬁfty

s year , call in question the utility of the Convention at

s the pre ent day , these changes , in their opinion , render

ing its continuance as a representative institution unne

It has d to occurre the author , that a few

s r s o n i W ob e vation the or gin of the Convention , the ork viii INTRODUCTION .

f was done , may , while giving some in ormation on the

e is i li o s subj ct , ass t in d spel ng erroneous impressi n , and show that the Co nvention of Royal Burghs (includin g

e r what are t rmed Parliamentary Bu ghs) , through the annual gathering of the members considering the reports of the numerous committee m eetings held during the year on the various matters remitted to , or brought under

— on r notice by them , such as observations bills int oduced l into Parliament of a po itical , social , or sanitary character , or as to the introduction of these through the inﬂuence o f the Convention as a body being brought to bear on

i e o f — indiv dual M mbers Parliament , is not only at the present day worthy of the support of all Scotsmen , but

o n that it is a duty incumbent them to maintain , in full

i a v gour, the only remaining and most ancient represent i tive constitut onal body in Scotland , the members of which , to a large extent, being merchants engaged in

or l commerce trade, and selected by the Town Counci s of the Burghs , are therefore well qualiﬁed to suggest measures beneﬁcial to the no w United Kingdom . C H A P T R E 1.

l e O ri in t/ze C onvert/ion R o al B ur /1s and limo t g of of y g , /ze

B ar lzs co me to or R e resented in P arliament g p .

U RIN G the earlier periods of Scottish History the nobles and barons h ad supreme control over the inhabitants within their respective

t o r g i dis ricts territories , the monarch havin l ttle , if

o r any , real power, the baron , chief, exercising the

c fun tions of a judge , by himself or deputy , over his

s s o r n immediate va sal , clansmen ; and eve when a crime

’ i a was comm tted by a v ssal in another s district, the

r r l ba on , under a ight ca led repledging , could demand delivery o fthe culprit from the lord o fthe district where the ff alleged o ence was committed , and try him before his o n e w tribunal. In this way mutual beneﬁts wer d secured to lor and vassal , and it was only after the Reformation that any reduction o f these powers was

ffe to to e cted, the barons combining resist all attempts

s - e re strict or infringe upon their o call d rights. The

( “ma sse us e-A nobles and landowners again entered into , A 2 TH E c o m m ws o r

o r ts o of agreemen , called B nds Manrent , by which , when

r to one was assailed in any way , the others we e bound a ssist him with their retainers , if need be , even in

a d questions with the Crown . Various n numerous attempts had been ma de by successive monarchs to

ff . control the nobles , but with little e ect The Royal

ma Burghs, it y be said , were the main source from

h u r w ich o earlier monarchs derived material assistance .

o f 1124- 1153 During the reign David the First , , sixteen

Royal Burghs had been created , these being Aberdeen ,

u Inverk eith Dumfries , Edinb rgh , Forfar, Haddington ,

in . Jedb ur h t s e g, g , Lanark , Linlithgow , Mon ro e , Peebl s , l Perth , Rutherglen , St Andrews , Selkirk , Stir ing.

Royal Burghs held their charters direct from the

r Crown , the magistrates had judicial autho ity within i deﬁned limits , and the burgesses therein certain priv

f o r 1 5 leges in the way o trade manufacture . In 29 we

u ﬁnd the ﬁrst nion among the Royal Burghs , when the

u i w and b rghs of Edinburgh , St rling, Ber ick , Roxburgh (termed the Parliament o fthe Four B urghs) met in con v entio n r o , to concert measu es for the mutual support f

th e all Burghs , and to treat , ordain , and determine , upon all things concerning the Lord Chamberlain Cou rt The

was f Lord Chamberlain a high o ﬁcer of State, presided h at the Parliament of the Four Burg s , had the inspection of all the burghs and right to in quire into the conduct

a e of the m gistrates, saw that the rev nues were properly O G 3 R YAL B U B H S o r SCOTLAND . a l pp ied , heard disputes between burgesses and gave de

i of c sion thereon. These meetings the burghs were held d w to 132 - 28 n o eu o n 7 , when Ki g R bert the Bruce deavo ured to o f z o r secure the support the citi en class ,

o ad burghal c mmunity, by giving them a share in the ministration o f the affairs of the kingdom ; and at a

parliament then held by him in Holyrood , ordered that representatives from the then Ro yal Burghs be admitted

fo r into the Three Estates o fthe Kingdom . But long after l that date , they had ittle , if any, political power, further i l than be ng , as it were , authorised by Par iament to see

t t ai n hat the demands of the Sta e , in the r si g of a certain

m war o r or nu ber of men during , quota of taxes , levy , was suppli ed by the respective burgh s This admission o f representatives from the Royal Burghs was the ﬁrst break made in the compact body Of the feudal nobility l 1368 as s . an exc usive and dominant cla s In , Berwick

and r n t Roxbu gh bei g hen in the possession of England ,

a t l o f a par iament or Convention Burghs held at Perth ,

u d ring the reign of David the Second , Lanark and Lin lithgow were selected to ﬁll the places of Berwick and

r e Roxburgh , and the Convention was orde ed to me t at 1405 n Haddington. Robert the Third , in , exte ded the

n number of representatives in Convention , by ordai ing that two o r three sufﬁcient burgesses from each Royal Burgh on the south side o f the water o f Spey appear

X“ \N& \ yearly at Convention to be held in S in k i ng . TH E CON VENTI ON O F

the Court of the Parliam ent o f the Four Burghs was

i r c m s appointed to be held in Ed nbu gh , with o missioner

“ ”

s . and as essors , in manner used and wont This was 5 done by Letters Patent under the Great Seal , dated th

1454 h o r his November , commanding the C amberlain , i deputy , to call the Convention together. K ng James

d h a d the Thir , also , many contentions with his nobles , ,

to to and endeavoured restrict their power, at same time

as 1469 encourage the agricultural or tenant cl s ; and in ,

i n at a parl ament held by him , an act was passed , givi g tenants under lease from the nobles security fo r the possession o f their lands during the curren cy o f their

s s r e ff m r t r lea e , and p otection of th ir e ects fro the c edi o s o f o r who u the nobles proprietors of the land , , previo sly ,

u z was o n b e co ld sei e whatever the land , whether it

n no t h lo ged to the tenant or , thus causing muc hardship to the tenant For assista nce received from the burgh

O f Edinburgh , in his contentions with certain of the

o f nobles , the king granted a charter liberties to the f city , the provost being made hereditary sheri f within the bounds ; the council were also empowered to make bye - laws for the good government of the town ; and the

b ann er trades or incorporations were presented with a ,

“ ”

l u . which is stil preserved , and known as the Bl e Blanket

an l n 1st O By Act of Par iame t , held on ctober

148 r 7, du ing the reign of the same king, the Con v ention o n wide i l was placed a w , by ca ling together , O A B B H S o r CO AND 5 R Y L U G S TL .

i and n in a duly author sed constitutional ma ner , once a year, representatives from the whole Royal Burghs

l e v i in Scot and , th reby gi ing them an opportun ty

O f considering and adopting measures no t only fo r the

o f fo r r common proﬁt the burghs , but the count y at l i to arge . Ten add tional burghs had , up that date , been

to added the roll , their charters having been granted by

II . n . I . Ki g David II , Robert , James II , and James III ,

o r - these being Bervie Inverbervie , Cupar Fife , Dunbar,

e e Kirkcud~ R nfrew , Rothesay , North B rwick , Fortrose ,

o and . bright, Wigt n , Kirkwall The Act Of Parliament

1487 O f of enacted , that Commissioners all Burrowes

i d r ba th south and north , sall convene and ga de together s i s o f Inverk eithin nce ilk year in the Burche , on the

eftir morne Sanct James daie , with full commissionne , and thair to commune and treate u poune the we ilfare o f

u statu tis merchandise , the gude r le and for the common

ro ﬁte Bu rro wis to e i p of the , and provide for r me d u po u ne the skaith and injuries su stened within the

B u rro wis and uhat com e iri s , q Burche that p nocht , the

i h mi a s to o sa des daie , be t air Com ssaris , to p y the c stis o f undis earlie to the Commissaris present , ﬁve p , and y

S o verane Lo rdis destre ne thairfo ir hae oure Letter to y , f ” and for the inbringing o the saymn . The ﬁne was ” ” s u ndi 15 i dis s 79 to twent e un . rai ed to ten p , and in p

o r o f a The clerk , agent, collector the Convention , was p

i to t oi ! po nted recover the ﬁnes and an Ac . 6 THE c o x vmm o n o r

1607 e th e allowed ex cution to pass , and authority to agent to compel payment from the burghs absent from

. to 1500 on the meetings Down the year , the designati » of the Parliament of the Four Royal Bu rghs was re

tained d , and the meetings were presided over by the Lor

n o r i 15 29 Chamberlai , his deputy , and continued so unt l , when the commissioners from the different burghs alone

of i was met , the provost the burgh where the meet ng 15 5 held acting as the president . In 2 they agreed to

14-8 a meet in Edinburgh , although the Act of 7 had p

t n to N poin ed Inverkeithi g be the place of meeting. o records of that burgh prior to 1580 are believed to be in

. r r existence Meetings were , howeve , held in va ious other h . t e burghs , as will be noticed hereafter King James

“ 1578 u e Sixth , in , authorised the Convention to meet fo r tymes in the yeare for sic materis as concerns thair

Estait uhatever , and in q Burche it sal be thocht ex ”

r . pedient. This libe ty was never made use of They

. s occasionally met twice a year , however The privilege o f the Convention were frequently conﬁrmed and re

newed , and a charter by King Charles the Second ,

o f obtained by the Duke Lauderdale, again conﬁrmed

s St e . these , and ﬁxed the due ,

o r z e e As already observed , the commons citi ns had littl control in the management of the national atfairs until

132 - 28 l 7 , when the Royal Burghs were al owed to send

“ i nk f rep resen tatives to the Three w s o Parliament ; O A o r S TLA R Y L BURGHS CO ND . 7 the administration being almost entirely in the handsof

o r the king regent , nobles , the bishops, and higher ranks

— e of the clergy before the Reformation , the nobl s includ ing every one wh o held their land as vassals o f the

— e o Crown , and th se composed the Sc ttish Parliament .

14-27 e e a o r In the l ss r b rons landowners were exempted , o n o f u of account exc ses made by reason the expense , from attending m eetings of the Three Estates o f Parlia ment, provided they sent representatives from each county ; and gradually that excuse was made the

n o f d grou d restriction , and other restrictions were a opted l and enforced by those of higher rank , resu ting in an

Act in 1587 s r being passed , by which the le ser ba ons were excluded altogether , except those sent by the

n cou ties as representatives , thus again asserting might o r power over right . This systemof representation 1689 f continued until , when another change was ef ected , the abolition of prelacy taking away a number o f the

as r n bishops representatives , and the eby increasi g the power o fthe burgh s At that date the number of Royal Burghs entitled to be represented in Parliament had

to e increased about s venty , but a few of these having

i re re fallen into a state of decay , and not hav ng sent p “ sen tatives o ff in for some years , were struck the roll 1 0 7 7. l and The Scottish Par iament sat in one chamber, h voted collectively , up till the time of the Union wit

‘ Auc h e rm uch E arlsfe r N exvum x t ty, r y, g , 8 THE CONVENTIO N o r

e n England , wh n the United Parliame t was styled The l f f 1 0 o . o 7 7 Par iament Great Britain The Act Union ,

8 - ﬁ ve cap . , provided that Scotland supplied forty mem

o f bers , ﬁfteen these being representatives from Royal

of u re Burghs ; the burgh Edinb rgh electing one , the

- ﬁ ve b maining burghs (sixty ) eing formed into groups , each group returning a representative . The mode of

a election dopted was , that each burgh comprised in the group or district elected a delegate , these delegates again met and chose a member to represent their district o f

o f o r e burghs . The election the representatives delegat s was t ed in the magistrates and council o fthe different

n i burghs , the latter body , agai , be ng chosen by the

c o f burgesses. As already stated , the ity Edinburgh was the only burgh entitled to return a member to l b Parliament for itse f, he being elected y a majority of

he t town council.

The rights of the Crown and the People , as against

o f t the almost exclusive powers the nobles , were hus

u o f grad ally asserted and enforced , while the claims the

a latter to the control over their v ssals became restricted . The Rebellions in 1715 and 1745 resulted in the with drawal o f fo r 1748 Act o f n that control , in , by Parliame t

all l u d of the United Kingdom , heritab e j ris ictions held

o r C by the nobles hieftains , except to a triﬂing extent , were transferred to the Crown.

‘ “ The above system o f elect ing mem as to represent

10 E C V E TI o r O A G TH ON N ON R Y L BUR HS. sidered ex pedient at the same time to narrate the circum stances u nder which representation by the burgh s in

was u Parliament introduced , and the methods adopted p to the present time to enlarge the circle from which th e electors were taken ; and also to show the slow but steady advance made in the reali sation o f the claim s of th e

z u to e citi en and trading comm nity, a proportionate shar in the administration of the affairs of the United i K ngdom . C H A P TE R II .

T/w G ot/era! N atu re of ( i n I! b rk petﬁ rmed by Me C onventio n

' R o al B ur /u do wn to Me Accession arm s of y g , of! !In S xx tll

r e n land in 1 0 to the Th on ofE g 6 3 .

T is much to be regretted that from various

cau ses such as th e long minorities o f i several of the Scottish kings, the appo nt

o f u i ment regents , the str ggles amongst the lead ng

fo r f c n nobles that o ﬁ e , the wars between E gland and

an s Scotl d , the feud amongst the nobles themselves , and — the consequent unsettled state o fthe country the records of to 15 50 no t the burghs , with few exceptions , prior are no w of in existence , and from those extant the minutes the Convention are rare ; but after that date the mee tings

c are omparatively numerous , and the minutes show the work performed , though at times very brieﬂy ; they like wi se afford much information fo r the historian and general reader as to the condition of Scotland and its

i n inhabitants , more particularly the prom nent positio

z o r taken by the citi en burghal community. In a sketch o f th e woxﬁ d b e se x. QR M kind here contemplated , it Q 14, THE CON VENTION o r instc es occurred in after years where like objections

e a rs O 25 h w re m de to pe ons holding commissions. n t

J 1678 r r une , the commissioner f om Whitho n was objected

“ n ot to , he being an agent and a residenter in the

h as C o mmissionm burg George Dickson , advocate, l no t n . for Gal oway , was also objected to as bei g a mer

o r t chant residen er within the burgh . According to

th e the constitution of Convention of Royal Burghs, each burgh is entitled to send two representatives or com missioners and assessors to the annual meeting o f the

. u body These being selected by the town co ncils , and m holding commissions fro the burgh , which they must produce and show that they hold the necessary qualiﬁ

— ia a v . Lo or c tions , merchant burgesses The rd Provost,

o f of Chief Magistrate , the burgh wherever the meeting b n . Co vention is held , eing the Preses There is also a

- Treasurer Law agent, and Clerk to the Convention ; the

’ Treasurer s and Law - agent s chambers being in Edin ’ burgh. The duties and powers entrusted to the Conven tion

“ o f r Royal Burghs we e, that they commune and treat

u o une we ilfare o f me rchandisce u p the , the g de rules

and statutis fo r ro ﬁte Burro wis the common p of , to pro vide for remeid upo une the skaith and inj uries sustene d

William O fﬁ ce r Es . 2 ! C as le S ree t Edinb ur h is , q , t t , g ,

- - Tre asure r and Law a ent Alex ande r H arr s Es . De u e C t g ; i , q , p t i y o fEdinb u h b n rk o h o n e n io rk C le t t e C n. C le rg , ei g v t O G O F CO ND 5 R YAL BUR HS S TLA . 1

” B i o ne f im w u rro w s & c. o o ithin the , ; but the m st portant duties was the framing of statutes to be

O n was bserved in the various burghs , and a meeti g held

“ ” Tolb uith o f i in the Ed nburgh , where provosts and com m saim e s i r from Edinburgh , Stirling , Linlithgow , Dum in fries , Forres , Glasgow , Lanark , Jedburgh , Hadd gton,

k Peebles Dunbar Selkirk , North Berwic , , , Elgin, Dundee ,

S t - Andrews , Cupar Fife , Crail , Montrose , Aberdeen , were

r e p esent. Statutes wer accordine framed , and directed

“ to be observed by all the Burrowes in the realms ; differences in the measures used in the various burghs

c were re tiﬁed, pairt bein mair nor the richt , and pairt — “ ” less the stane wecht o f Lanark to be taken as a

“ “ ” s o f ﬁrlatt tandard , the pynt stoupe Stirling , the

“ ” “ o f l o f Linlithgow , the e land Edinburgh ; the pettie ” c usto mes o f n Edinburgh to be co formed to , and the e o f fﬁ l l i for lection o cia s in counci , and the qualiﬁcat ons admission as a burgess ; dean of guild to be appointed

e s r 8m yearly in ach burgh , to see that weights , mea u es , , l e i 1580 were du y test d w thin the burgh . In , an act was passed requiring all the burghs to have their whole

a i laws, cts , and constitut ons , made at Convention , to be

“ ” e l ngrossed in ane genera buike, to be kept in Edin

“ burgh ; and required all the burghs to se nd thair maist ancient and wyse st co mmissioneris fullie instructit to n a ro batio une ratiﬁcatio une ext convention , for the pp , , ” onﬁrm tioune co nstitu tio un In c a e . and , of the acts and 16 TH E C O NVENTION o r

158 g s 2 & c. , the Books of Laws , , en ro sed by John Guthrie ,

C o f Clerk to the onvention , and Keeper the General

Book , was then commenced . 15745 In regard to the observance of the Sabbath , in 1580 “ and the Convention passed resolutions , that the Kirk should assist in getting markets held in landward

o n e districts that day abolished , as had already been don

r O 11 15 93 o f e . th in the bu ghs n June , forms prayer wer

adopted fo r reading at the opening and closing o fmeeto

o f ings the Convention .

e That the burghs in the olden times , as now , wer

c o f always loyal , and gave every assistan e in time

ﬁ nd 26th 13 57 need , we , under date September , that the

u burghs of Edinburgh , Perth , Aberdeen , and D ndee ,

r bound themselves, and as representing the bu gesses and

n to n o f i i mercha ts of Scotland , pay the ra som K ng Dav d

to the Second England , and these burghs were em

to O l 6th powered negotiate the same . n February

14-23 i in , they again entered into obl gations to pay K g Henry the Sixth of England merks English

’ on ac e s money, count of King James the First s xpense

no t while there , in the event of that sum being paid by

rds n the king himself. A letter was afterwa give by the k e e r i l ing to ind mnify th m , and di ect ng all and singu ar ,

r an d o f th e the p ovost , baillies , communities , the rest of b u rro wis r r ms in ou e eal , to assist and adhere to them in payment of said sum in case of the guaranteeing burgh s RO Y L B H S O F S C TLA D 1 A U BG O N . 7

being destreyned Sympathy for mo narchs

e . i in xile was also shown K ng Henry the Sixth , above m i who r ent oned , had been defeated by Edwa d , after

th e r in r wards Edward Fou th , took shelter Edinbu gh , and for the kindness shown him granted a charter to

rr the city . It proceeds on the na ative that he and his ” o theris o f no bilitie Royal Consort Margaret , with his ,

“ having been expelled from his kingdom by certane ” r i traito u rs o n an d ebell ous , his arrival , during his long

e in resid nce Edinburgh , had been favourably entertained

o f n ur by the provost and community Edi b g h , therefor b e granted to the said comm unity and their successors

r libertie f the full and f ee to tra ﬁc in England , as

th airo f no a natives , and to pay other duties for th ir m r h s e e ci i s e c andi c than his subj cts the t c of London.

2 r 14 O 2d 1557 of Janua y n the November , a loan

6000 n merks was granted to Ki g James the Sixth , to

i in ass st furnishings for the ambassador to Denmark . King James was then endeavouring to secure the

fo r in Princess of Denmark a consort, but after be g

i to h r to r . engaged her , she was mar ed anot e He then m o s for n ade prop als her you ger sister , was accepted , and

n 158 O o f r to married i 9. n receipt missives di ected the -

“ s fo r rt o f burgh by the king , the fu herance his Majesties m fo r thamselves haill arriage , they resolved and the

a n burro wis s rem ne t of this realm , that with all diligence

. l r sten t o f a possib e , there sall be ane gene al pundi , B 18 THE CO NV ENTION o r

s t and u h aill c rd et plifted of thair number , a co ing to the

b wi collect ioune general extent ro ll of the urro s. For the

in ath erin uhilk c n a and g of the q extent , o descends th t

o f r n Johne Arnott , Provost Edinbu gh , sall nomi ate and

' a co llecto ur uho me h es Lordschi s ppoint ane , for q p all be holden to answer to the b urro wis for due ex ecutio une of ” h is o f ll r n i ns r n ofﬁce co ecto u y. Do at o we e also give

K e t on an d ing Jam s the Six h , the birth of a prince , for e ntertainments to ambassadors from foreign powers ;

o n ' &c the occasion of royal visits , , Charles the First

and Second also received many gifts of sums of mo ney. ' ” The treatment to which the freeman of the small

“ ” ur b ghs was subjected by the gret men , is vividly

“ l 15 55 : Becaus a shown by the fol owing extracts , thay are o ppressit ahd gretlie defraudit of thair privileges

and r u t libe ties be gret men of the countrie , tending to p

t th airfo ir dev sit statuit hame to utter decay, it was y , ,

and o rdanit b urro wis e o u , that all within this r alm , conc r

to edder w e eceible as o g in p and agreeable maner be uma,

' and gif onie of the saidis b urro wis be oppresset or hu rt

r in thair freedom , or privileges , all the remanent bu rowes

u r sa mn co unsail rmd i sall s ppo t the y in , gear, monie , g f ” 15 fardn er need requ ire as la w wull. On th June

1590 i d vers b i , compla nts were made that y gret men, av n thair dwellins and landis next adjacent to the common

l b urro wis f r o ressin andis of , at dif e ent times bye past, pp ce rtain puir b urro wis nocht ab ill to de ﬁnd th air sin

20 TH E co m m o n o r

0 the s E his s ent l b u t Fir t of ngland and succe sors frequ y,

ut r d to r en l urse witho avail , t ie b eak the fri d y interco between the Scottish nation and the Flemings, by

’ debarring the entry of the latte r s commodities to Eng~

and — in the t l and Ireland , this way to damage Sco ch

Lo w — h e to e trade with the Countries, t ey refus d clos

n Er ‘ their ports agai st Scotland. When at war with g

was o n r land, and an army the way to the northe n counties o f that kingdom under the command of Sir

l r Wi liam Wallace , he and Sir And ew Moray forwarded

d 11th O 1297 s d a letter, dated Ha dington , ctober , addres e

h s to the cities of Hamburg and Lubeck , expre sing friendly sentiments and desiring a continuance o f trade

i . L w th these cities The letter, which is in atin , is pre

in served the archives of Lubeck. The Flemings had

t n before this their principal factory in Berwick , in a s ro g

u o o r h 1296 n b ilding called R dhall , Red ouse ; and in , whe

was d n Berwick besiege by the English , thirty Flemi gs

o of ac u held possessi n the f tory , and were called pon to surrender it ; but from their treaties with the Scottish

and fu r and nation , being faith l allies , they efused , gallantly defended the place all day . At night it was se t

‘ n on ﬁre by the besiegers , but rather than surre der, the

e e e whole d f nd rs perished in the ﬂames . The town was

and u rd taken pl ndered , and the castle was afterwa s delivered up. Berwick never recovered its trade o r importance from the great slaughte r made of the no rm. Buno ns o r S C T D 21 O LAN .

‘ i o f i nhabitants and the destruction its build ngs. In 1445 a commission was granted by the King to Thomas

J de s H unter . b ur esses Preston , John a r on , and Stephen , g ,

t for Edinburgh , and Andrew Ireland , burgess of Per h , the Burghs as ambassadors and procurators plenipo ten tiar i n o f y, to enter nto negotiatio s with the towns Bremen ,

a Lubeck , Hamburgh , Wism r , Stralsund, and Rostock , to settle some differences that had arisen as to the seizure o f

e di to o f c rtain tra ng vessels, and arrange terms treaty

and with these places as to admission of Scotch goods , a treaty of co mmerce was completed and signed on l 6th

O 14-45 o r ctober . Agreements treaties were from time to time made between the Burghs and the Earls of l n . F a ders, Dukes of Brabant, Emperor Charles V and his son i o f o r L the K ng Spain , and the Princes in the ow

m fe re d . C a e Countries p in Flanders was ma e a free port, nd certain privileges and immunities granted to the staple o f Scotland and traders . One of the stipulations made

w o fC am fere was a fair with the to n p , that and pleasant h ou s for be appointed the conservator , and for mer

“ chants frequenting the port , to lodge packets and ” m e rch andisce , and otherwise use at their pleasure , f e all re and exempt from excise dues on wines , beer ,

of and ale drank therein , and in case of a ﬂeet ships

r o t m arri ving , other houses we e to be g to acco modate

r ha s . the me c nts , al o free from the like duties Wharfs

‘f ’ T tle rs H s o ofS co land vol. “ . y i t ry t , 3 22 THE C ONVEN TION o r

l i n were set aside , pi ots appo nted at certai ﬁxed rates ,

o as on s vari us stipulations made to dues Scottish good , and corresponding privileges allowed on merchandise

m r A r i ported into Scotland from the staple po t. chu ch

r C am fere e o f th e was e ected at p , for the convenienc Scottish traders and residenters there ; the minister being paid o ut of excise duties levied o n beer and wines l granted by the town to the Scottish nation. A schoo

in r i and was also connection with the chu ch , m nister teacher being appointed by the Convention of Royal

s r r A subse Burgh Middlebu gh , Do t , ntwerp , were also

t v r quen ly opened as free ports , and conser ato s appointed

c 15 19 1540 a at these pla es between and , treaty being

154-0 e the made with the latter port in April , betw en

o f of burgomaster, magistrates , and council the city

An r ai m twe p , and cert n com issioners or deputies sent

i of i from the provost , bailies , and counc l Ed nburgh , of

o f o ne and art the Kingdom Scotland , on the other p , anent the privileges to be granted t o the Scotch

o f i e s nation on account the staple trade and priv l ge , and n exemptions in conseque ce thereof. The treaty

a de claration concludes with , to keep up a true , entire ,

and perpetual , and lasting friendship , and regard in all ,

h n and whatever t i gs lawful , reasonable , and honest, shall have a good and favourable report o f them in all

l o d a t p aces, as bec mes her noble , renowne , and triumph n — cities, the imperial and royal cities of Antwerp and so u r. BURG HS or SCOTLAND . 23

Edinburgh ; and they both take one another under the ir mutual and sacred care and pmtectiom' with ou t fraud

s hi Various kind of merchandise , c eﬂy raw produce ,

as i s rs s s such h de , wool , wo ted good , tockings, hose ,

s jackets , almon , salted ﬁsh and herrings, were exported

t u to a large ex ent by the Scotch shippers, and mut al

enco m e beneﬁt derived from the connection , and every g

t n ment given to trade in all par s, advantages in retur

l all being given in imports to Scot and. Fish of kinds were exported thither and to other foreign ports to a

large extent, and orders were specially given by the Con vention that pak ers sall diligentlie use and see that the

uhar d ﬁsch es i barrels and trees q sai is are pak t, be of

measo ur to the just , conform auld use and wont, and saymn to be b ryn t (burnt) o r markit with the marke of

the to nne ﬁ sche and , and that aw to be salted to be weill

” u i i r s ﬁ c entlie . s salted , under certa n ﬁnes These orde

e t n e were fr quen ly renewed and approved of, and i sp ctors

The ex ports of ﬁsh o fall kinds is an important branch

of r brandin fo r t ade at the present day, and the g mark herring in particular a guarantee o fquality .

O 15 1574 n n th July , at a general meeti g held in

to tro u b il Edinburgh , it was resolved , that owing the

” estait some in which Flanders was , a supplication be

“ addressed by th e Convention to the Lord Regent an d o o 24. THE c N vEN TmN r

L r o f r tr fﬁ o ds the Secret Council, for leave to transpo t a c from Flanders to Calais for ane tym a quh ill it sall pleas

G od o f landeris u idness to bring that countrie F in g , as ” has b efo ir t n e it been ; and that , if supplica io agr ed to ,

u alif it o f Merch antis estait that aine q y man , hein the ,

electit o f and nane uther , be and chosen be sic the

C ommissioune as Burrowes as sall be given to , to p s to said Toune to advyse and reaso une with the principals thairo fconcerning the pri vileges that sal be devysit fo r

N i un cau tiow d the weill of the at o . That shippers be no t traﬂic e a to in W st Flanders in the me ntime , and thus ” avoid danger. l In regard to shipping , it was ordered at a meeting he d

“ in o n 18th 155 5 schi es Dundee September , that nae pp

frau htit ho t resens of n be g in p the Dene of Gild , and na e ” aill e s without hes tikit. A proclamation having be n i made by France , that unless sh ps had with them the

“ Kingis moderis or her Lieu tenantis writins in the ir favo ures no t r c they would be allowed into F en h ports ,

on 4th O 15 70 r n the Convention , ctober , a ra ged that twa honest men , Merchants, be chosen and sent to the King o fFrance with writins for getting of the saidis proclama~

disch ar it haill tioune g , and these to be in name of the Bur

“ l ﬂi n chtbou r e . n i b e u t row s He ri Nisbet, we ll y , thair ” C ommissio uner and Burgess (fo r Edinburgh) was ap pointed and sent to France , and the Burghs agreed to pay

h m is h is expenses on Henrie sending in is co pt (accounts) . O H o CO A D 25 R YAL BURG S r S TL N .

The King o f Denmark and Norway having desired t hat all ships trading to Norway and other ports in his dominions should have writins from the Scottish kings

test f in h onestie estait o f y y g to the and the owners , it

o n 15 th 1574 r was, the of July , orde ed that the coquet o f the Burche o r Port quhar frae thays pass be in the

schi name of the Maister, Merchant , owner, and p, and f ” O 22d that that should be su ﬁcient. n Of the same

th e of month the Convention resolved , that Merchants this realme upo un th ei r co mmon charges set furth e ane s chip and ane bark for purgin of our se veranes watteris o f ratte s ersones o f py and wicked p , and for conveying the schippe of this realme alongis the costes of Ingland ” a nd airts d m uther p nee ful . Commissioners fro the b h o f urg s Edinburgh , Dundee , Aberdeen , Stirling , St

“ to A Andrews , were appointed to pass the bbaye ” (Holyrood) to my Lord Regent and Secret Council , to procure the requisite authority to the above re solutions.

158 Lentro un o f n was In 7 , at Dundee , Allan St A drews

“ allowed 1000 merks for o u triggen of ane schip ” su fﬁ cie ntlie e u i it o f rattes q py , for suppressing the py ha unting in the Forth and uther pairts between Tay m u O S ch teland and o th , rkney , and y Edinburgh , Perth ,

Dundee , advancing the money , but to be repaid by all

the burghs ; Glasgow , Irvine , and Dumbarton to furnish a r n Lentroun nothe ship , and recomme ded to arrange with

n to supply one similar to that got fo r Du dee . 26 THE CONVENTION o r

In February of same year complaints were made by shippers that new imposts were charged at certain ports

r e — N ewhaven — n on in F anc , Dieppe, and the Co venti

i si the to the capital of France, and obta n the as stance of Scottish ambassador there (then the Lord Archbishop of

o f a o Glasgow). Letters recommendation to conserv t rs (or

r l consuls) were given to Nisbet, as were also the o igina Letters Patent granted to the Scottish merchants as to

li Leuers trading faci tie s by Kings Francis and Henry. from the Lord Archbishop to the Conventio n were

as to brought back by Nisbet , and information given

n in e the steps taken. The letters are e grossed th

. i on minutes Spec al thanks were awarded to Nisbet , m " t reports fro the conservator in Flanders , the Righ

“ Honorable Maister Ge orge Hackett ; thanks were also

fo r e be awarded to him his many s rvices , his accounts to paid when rendered.

e H The duties of a conservator were very on rous. e had to see that none but merchants transport stapl e

nor o r goods , other merchandise ; be present personally,

sai o f no by depute , at the loosing ( ling) ships ; see that contraband goods were in the possession o fmerchants or ff i mariner , if so , to report home that the o ender m ght be prosecuted ; watch that no false coin be exported to Scot land ; claims by a merchant against a native were ﬁrst

n t e made to a co servator, who gave his decision if na iv

28 THE C ONVENTION o r

’

. n the King s Majesties C ou saill. A comm unication

u on had been sent from the co ncil sometime previous , w c hi h the opinion of the Convention was wanted. It h ad e o e be n before a committee , and br ught b fore t h e 5 general meeting on the 23d July 1 96. The replies sent by the Convention were to the following e ff ect .

a About paying a cert in sum from customs ,

Reso lvit and answerit h Burro wis beand , t at the the m e n est o f Estaites o f re ssioune o f y the , can nocht nor duty tak u po une thame to sett doune o r trausse in onie mater quharin the haill estaites o fthe realms hes speciale a nd ret est thairfo ir des res r g interest , and y that ou e S o uerane Lo rds and thair Lo rdschips may be movit to be c ontent that the mater o fthe custo mes may be continued q ubil a Parliament as that at present may be pro po nit

’ and dec dit to e ﬂ ec y in the saidis Parliament that , quban the saidis Burrowes sall do thair dutiful duty fo r hes ” Majesties honou r and proﬁts. (2 ) As to proposal to concur in sending to France to renew ancient League and the obtaining the ancient

o f Me rch an tis —It answerit liberty , was , that present

time nocht proper for that purpose to resume , the King — of France nocht yet established in his crowns h e

n nor ocht bein at piece with nathur subjects , with

nichtbo uris and e his , that his Grac s customs are

d v rs r fo irsau ld fo r y e yea es to cum . (Sums had O m as s o r CO AN D R YAL S TL . 29

” e n o r b en advanced to the Ki g, borrowed by him h ~ from the burg s , upon the security of the cus toms ) Concerning ane numer to inhabits Lochquhabe r

his t r s and to whom Majes ic will gif gret p ivilege , lands

l to s l e liberties with he p fortify them e ves , and to giv

ro tectio un e a ainis — alswe ll inhabite p g the Hielan men , to sum uther pairtis of the Isles as sall be fund co mm oo

a for trafﬁ c uin — It answeri t ro ositioune diou q , is , the p p

B u rro wis n fo r res ecs lykes the exceedi g weill , monie p and consideratio uns honourable and maist proﬁtable to

Ma estie haill thairfo ir u his j and kindom , and ane overt re

n th aes airtis ece ibill havi g been made that p may be usit p ,

l o ut merch antis craftismen mana e ris t wil ﬁnd , , and g tha

i i s w ll pass thair, as be n the maist proper and commodiou pairt of the countrie o f Scotland . i The King at this t me was deeply in debt , and trying in every way to raise money for personal purposes ; but the Convention , while treating his communication r c so u e espe tfully , yet in far as the c stoms and oth r

n e sources of imperial revenue were co cerned , they wer

n n u o r not to be cajoled i to maki g f rther advances,

o f loans , as he termed them . (The burgh Edinburgh

’ n th e had given loa s , and on the King s accession to throne o f England gladly accepted merks which k he induced them to take in lieu of mer s . )

n o The cou try also was in a m st unsatisfactory state , 3 0 THE CONVENTION o r

and little or no protection fo r life or property could b e

h i n 'and ad. The K g a number of his nobles were at

r e b e t i r va ianc , ry ng to b eak down their power and take the guidance of State affairs more into his o wn

n and hands , they u iting to defeat these intentions ;

s u what with these troubles , and the di p tes with the ” i trials o f K rk leaders , and witches , his hands were

ff of u pretty full . The o icers j stice , in attempting to

ar o f i o u c ry out orders the K ng and Privy C ncil , were frequently deforced ; and they complained to the Coun cil

a e to of the tre tment they wer too often subjected , one

“ repo rting that he was in ane barbarous and u ncou th maner forcit to cit and swallie the h aill copyis of his

e r s creullie L tte s , while his assistants or witnes es were b d eaten an left for deid. Another complained that ” h sneckit lu the Rebels ad his ggs. Letters of h orning

was a r hi the n me of a legal document , or writ, unde w ch

r persons were o dered to pay a sum , or perform certain

ain obligations, within a ﬁxed number of days , under p ” “ in of being declared Rebels to the K g. These letters

s - at- or ff were served by the me senger arms , o icial , by delivering a copy thereo f to the person or persons

c ses. omplained against , in the presence of two witnes

The l u a r on y attempt to remedy s ch a state of m tte s, was to hold the noble or chief of the district respon sible unless the culprit was delivered up to j ustice ; l m mm fai ing co pliance by the noble or chief, a co ission ROYAL suao as o r SCOTLAND . 3 1 w as r r g anted to a neighbouring ba on , of greater power t “ i han where the culprit or culprits were , to ra se the ” c un . n o try This commission was ofte readily accepted, t h e baron o r chief doing the behests of the crown more

for ur the p pose of carrying out private revenge , or for ' f a randiseme nt . o g , than to aid justice Large tracts land

w t o ff u ere of en laid waste , cattle carried , and what co ld not be taken away bocht or slain ; houses were

n r p lu de ed , and their residents frequently murdered , the

b ooty going to the law - obeying baron and his fol lowers Even in the streets of the capital sanguinary

e u r t d nco nters we e of almos aily occurrence , and to pre

v n l as e t these atter much as possible , the Convention

“ ” resolved that nae dags (pistols) nor lang halbu ts be

i g worn with n burgh . The Kin sometimes attempted

a l o f to enforce the law , by c l ing on the loyal men the

i r adjacent sh re and bu ghs to meet him under arms, d a n aid in the punishing o f the culprits. The loyal

me n fo r , however, having to provide themselves and l fo lowers for forty days , if so required , the calls were

r h ad in general not eadily responded to . The King

m r g ade seve al raids , more particularly a ainst the

o m s R an Catholic noble , and in the Isles and district

o f. u the Lochaber, hence his req est to Convention to

“ ” a dopt measures to inhabits these districts The ‘ Privy C om cil minutes contain numerous complaints

R - e sters o f P C o uncil vo l. V . 1 2 1 . gi rivy , , 59 599 32 TH E CONVENTION o r

the e H n of feuds on bord rs and in the ighla ds, and,

s in fact, almost every district was more or less sub jected to disturbances ; and reading these accounts at

to n the present time , it is matter of surprise u der stand how trade and commerce was carried on by th e

n n it citizen or burghal commu ity, far less to the exte t

actually was .

' At a meeting of the Convention held in Glasgow on

l st 15 98 o f to July , the hours meeting were ﬁxed begin

8 m 2 P a . 6 AL at until noon , and from until , and that no o ne shall speak thereat until he be speerit at by

wi . s the moderator , or thout his licence. The hour

fo r n the meetings were freque tly changed , but there

was generally an adjournmen t for an hour o r two in i . a the early part of the day Compl nts were, on the

4th s of the same month , made by the Commissioner

“

of . of n vex atioun e the burgh Inverkeithi g , of the and

tro u b il in the Law done to them by the Constable o f

Dundee fo r e victio une of thair common landes ; when

“ ” the Convention directed their clerk to send ane missive

l r to the constab e , in favor of the said burgh , and desi

“ ' him aﬂ ectio u ne to ing , that for the he bears thair ” Estait and to to , according his calling as Constable, grant the redress requested .

ul 1601 u e of was in In J y the D k Lennox proceed g.

a es to Fr nce as ambassador, accompanied by Bailie Jam

Forrest of Glasgow . The Convention authorised RO Y AL a c e s s O F S TLA 33 c CO ND.

Forrest (a commissioner fo r Glasgow to the C o nven tion) to get the Duke ’ s assistance in procuring remission m of certain dues levied upon wool , sal on , hides , cloths ,

e skins, herring , and other merchandise , and upon win and wood coming from Bordeaux and other French

ports to Scotland. This shows that the Convention seized every oppo r tunity o f furthering commercial dealings with foreign

o f . countries, and the remission dues thereon The manufact ure of “ broad cloth and stuffs was

u r being largely engaged in thro gh Scotland , and in orde to instruct the natives more fully, twelve Flemings had been sent over from Flanders ; and at a meeting o f

10th 1601 o ne o f the Convention , held on July , those

— N ick ero n —it brought over Jenson , scherer was stated , ” h ad o t - l apparently g home sick , and wil nocht remain , so he was directed to be sent back at the expense o f

u the B urghs . The others were distrib ted among the following burghs , to be employed and put to wark

E dinbu r h— s Peill g John Sturman , camber ; Chri tian de ,

P e th—J weaver. r acques de la Rudge , camber and s ner i Vanh o rt py ; Jacob Peterson , scherer ; Abiga l ,

s ner . Du nde e u r py woman received Cla s Lossier, schere ;

A r B i Deirnes . a rt Cornelius , weaver y received George , plotter and camber ; Jacques Claus , weaver ; and Arane

A r was Jansen , scherer ; and the said burgh of y after wards to lend Arane Jansen for six months to the C 4 TH E E TI O F R O Y AL G 3 CONV N ON BUR HS .

u was b urgh Of Edinburgh . D ndee also to lend Edin

” b de s d. urgh Henry Turke , when the wark be ettle Turke h ad apparently been working there previous to

O 3d sl n t s . C o hi allocation n the Of July previou y , the v ention l An s h ad , at meeting he d in St drew entered i B sch o l nto an agreement with Gabriel y pp, a F eming ,

“ N o rwich e l to inter r se at , in Eng and, p y the wark Of makin Of braid clayth an d stuffs within this realme ; h e and h is partners were to receive 3000 pou nds Scots

100 to on his 1500 be paid arrival , in a month there

“ a l eare two fter , and the ba ance within y and daye at l ” e qua and several termes.

3 6 THE CONVENTION o r

r ts Sco n the a of inte es of tla d , and determin tion that

body to assert and maintain intact the ancient libertie s

m u ur b u t of and i m nities , not only of the B ghs, the people F o r treating O f the matter o f the Union betwe en ” the 2l st England and Scotland , Convention, on August

1604 ree u r r fo r u o f , ag d pon ce tain a ticles the g idance

i a En the Comm ssioners appointed by them, to p ss to g ” m r land fo r treating of the atte Of the Union . These ” Ar ru n r ticles , or Inst ctio s (under the subsc iption of

r e r their gene al Cl rk) we e divided under special headings.

fr i s o f a ru The i st was , that the nhabitant Scotl nd be led

r realme wa and gove ned by the laws of this , and no y subject to any other law ; and they (the Convention)

the ma r ti desire that said laws y eceive such execu on , as agrees with the form established and observed within

o this realm fScotland .

" Item r o f , That in the T eaty Union nothing be

u d ma re u e e r i to che which y p j dic the anci nt libe t es ,

r v e m ma p i il ges , i munities , infeftments , and laws, de in

favour of the burghs by his Majesty and his H ighnesuses

m e r e o r and men rem r ei ost nobl p og nit s ; if noble , embe th r

articu ar oﬁices fe tm t rant to p l , that the In f en s g ed the

ur b n D i b e s ecialie reserved aud at b ghs y Ki g av d p , th the Burgh of Perth deliver to the said C ommiss ioners

h s the authe ntic double of t e aid Infe ftment . ROY AL BUR GHS o r S C OTLAND . 37

I e A i f s t m nc ent privileges , honours , O ﬁce , dignities,

“im i m to munit es , and exemptions frae custo s , granted

c i no e S otsmen be the K ngs of France , be ways touch d o r prejudiced by the said Treaty ; and that his Majesty be entreated to secure an immunity in Bordeaux and

s . Ga cony , as is granted to England

Item r O f l er , That we etain the privilege holding Par i m ents in this realm ; and that nothing he concluded in

s ad o fall the aid Parliament but by the vice the Estates, and greater number of ilk Estate.

Item a n , Th t Scotsmen transporti g country wares f to o r rom any part in Scotland England , from any part in n an r r E gland to y othe pa t in Scotland , have a like immunity anent the payment o f their customs to his

Ma e r r j sty , as if the said goods were transpo ted f om any

O f l to o f p art Scot and another part the same , and from

part to part in England.

Item o , That all goods transported fr m foreign

’ c w i his n ountries ith n Majestie s dominions , arrivi g

m o r r within the real of Scotland any pa t thereof, and

u all paying c stom therefor, shall be free thereafter Of

’ payments Of customs at any part wi thin his Majesty s d i ” om ni ons. The Commissioners were directed to entreat for a re c of to du tion the customs payable the State , to the

“ same su m as was levied at the time of his highnesses

” ac ceptance o f the government Of this realm upon him. 38 TH E C o N vEN TIO N o r

TO insist that no Tack of the customs be granted to

r r any pe son , except to the Bu ghs , and that upon such m easy conditions as the sa e may be had , and if any be

r no u g anted , that it be provided that c stoms shall be

r r o paid but at the po t whe e the goods are l osed. To insist with his Majesty that the sterling money contained in the Burgh Infeftments be declared to be paid in the current money of Scotland in all time co m

O f z ing. That the privileges the Coin and Cun ie House

no t . Of Scotland be reserved , and that the Merchants be

bject to pay any but to Scotland.

Ito m To , regret the loss sustained by Scotchmen by

’ to his his Majesty s absence ; and therefore , desire that Majesty may remain in Scotland ye arlie ane quarter o f ” the year, and see justice administered .

o n 4th At a meeting Of the Convention , held July

160 r to 7 , in Dumbarton , a minister was di ected be got

fo r C am fere . p , the charge being then vacant

u The following excerpt is rather curio s and instructive , as showing the condition in which Scotland was in the way

l r o f inns o r hotels fo r the accommodation Of travel e s. O 5th 1608 n July , Sir John Drummond , of Hawthorn f den , at a meeting, held in Selkirk , produced a letter rom the King in the following terms . TO oure tru stie and weill belo vit the Commissioners of oure Estates and Burrowes o fthat O foure Kingdom o f

an . Scotl d , James R R O Y AL RU RO E S o r S TL A 3 CO ND . 9

Tru tie i l vi u s be o t o l . and we ll , we greit y wei l

r e trustie We have di ected the Bearer her of, oure Servi

o n Knicht t ur, Sir JOh e Drummond , , to urge at this your Meetin g your reso lu tiones concerning sum materis tend

credat t ing verray much to your awin weill , and repu a

a o r o tioune , cc ding to oure special instructions given unt him sa mn thairfoir des re ou to anent the y , and we y y turn bak to us ane particular ansuer to e ve rie ane O f the saymn quharin ye sall do us acceptable pleasure and

. f l m service And sae we bid yo u are wei l. Fro oure

u uh te hall f ft 1608 Co rt at Q y the y Of May .

“ “ t uc f The ins r tions were to the ef ect , that , for as much as we understand that you have b uildit ane veray faireJ nne for the commodious resort of all passin within

l des ro us h oure Burghe of Lin ithgow , and being y t at the lyke should be b uildit in all uther o f cu re Burghes and

o f non Cities that oure Kingdom , and knowing mair meitt than yourself to be e mployit as Commissionner in such business in regard ye h as begun such a precedent

th airfo ir ou in Lithgow , we are to will y to attend the

i m o f uhilk W. i Meet ng Of the Com issioners Burghs , q ll be in July next , and thair to deliver unto thame this oure

Letter and to insist fo r ane re solute answer from them ” v ri h r f to e e e point t ai o .

“ n was b u ildit so The ﬁrst poi t , to see that Innes be

m the e ss near the for e here , as y may be , with all po ible

n rovisioun fo r o easeme t and p man and horse , and als 40 THE CONVENTION o r that thair may be Signs hung at everie h ou s eftir the f m i or s Of this K ngdom.

“ That as the habite and heid attyre O f the women is

no co mlie r o f in way and decent , and the wea ing Cloaks

' sku ﬂed stran eris and Plaids is altogether at by all g , and being otherwise mair co stlie than the habite and gar

u thairfo ir i ments sed here , that the Burghes at th s Meeting wauld consult u po une ane decent handso me

comlie att re for and sort of habite , appareil and heid y thair women , with distinction of three several qualities ,

there bein no doubt at all , bein ance began in the city , without onie express directiou ne it would sune eneuch

llo i be fo w t in the countrie .

o r ! That nae women or maids draw onie Wine Ail ,

sic o f bot to be dune by men and boys , for avoidance all suspicion Of unclean behaviour and carriage . To adopt measures for the removal of muck and

z c ful ie from the streets and the middens , whi h were not

no so m to as a only maist y strangers and p sengers , b ith in smell and sicht , but dangerous also in tymes o plague , and that the countrie people attending us in oure in tendit journey thither the next yeare micht no cht f m e r u O sa n. r p oche , be the ncleanness the y The Convention returned thanks for hes Majisties

u r s O f sing lar ca e , even in hes Maje ties absence , thair things whilk belongs to the honour o f hes Majesties

u ei O f th e ancient kingdom , and in partic lar to the w l 41 ROY AL BURGHS o r SCOTLAND . — Estait of the Burghs praying thairfoir the Lord to increase his Majesties dayes in gu id b elth and a pros m ” p ero u s reign over tha e .

“ ” As tO Innes — s andanswe red. Re olved , Commissioners

t o r to iff on t make repo ts their d erent burghs , their re urn

home .

a o f an e As to remov l middens and the cle ing Of str ets , ” The saymn to be enforced within twentie days eftir h i t e return o f the Comm ssioners home .

“ ” Att re — to y , Each burgh consult and deliberate , and

.send report to next Convention. w “ 8 m As to omen and maids in Innes , , Maist ” reaso u nable m e , and the Co missioners at once order d e ff ect to be given to the suggestion , and an Act was passed forbidding the employment of women and maids

“ ” in Aile houses and inns . Each Commissioner was di e r cted to get a copy Of the Act , and also of the

“ e s Articl s and Instructions received from his Maje ty , for the gu idance of his burgh.

At this period , and long after, there was little aecom

“ m odation il in Scotland for strangers , the inns , or A e H ” ouses , being neither commodious nor comfortable , and t h e us King , to his credit , seemed very desiro to remedy su f ch a state o matters .

F or v u » se eral years previo s to this time , and after

r o f in wa ds, when meetings the Convention were held

la and p ces other than in Edinburgh , the Commissioners 42 THE CONVENTION o r

Clerk for that city (8 180 Clerk to the Co nvention ) were

“ e fo r r a . G paid their xpenses ttending these eorge He iot . ” G o ldsm th Eldar, y , and Henry Nisbet (whose name has

lr ad a e y been noticed) were Co mmissioners fo r Edinburgh .

O 6th 16 15 in An r n July , at a meet g held in St d ews ,

o ne m for u William Rigg , Of the Co missioners Edinb rgh ,

r mas u t r p oduced letter from Tho C nninghame , fac o in

C am fere his for p , together with accounts defraying

’

St e h c . minister s stipend , , at t at pla e These were found i correct, and answer d rected to be sent , that the Con vention was veric muk le O b leist to him for the pains taken by He applied to get his son appointed

r also as a factor there , which was agreed to be conside ed

him n e . so aft rwards , with a promise to remember His

l of was appointed in the fo lowing year . A magistrate

C am fere r a p had repo ted to the De n of Guild , Edinburgh ,

“ S cho rte n that JOhne , Burgess Of Aberdee , and certain

” Merch antis h ad the , , contrary to the treaty between

C am fe re r l s Burghs and p , transported ce tain stap e ware

m fere n C a . to Holland , other than p the port Aberdee missioners were ordered to apprehend th e

ff to o enders , and put them under caution appear and answer charges at the next Convention. O th n the 7 of the same month , an application from the

“ ” Andro is n o f Rector of the University of Sanct , in ame

e the the Maisters , Regent , Stud nts , and other Members of

” “ rs said University, was read , stating , that three yea

44 Tm; CON VEN TION o r

Several complaints were made at meetings of the C o n

of r t rts vention, trade s sending goods to o her po than the

l r we r e one . a s stap , and thus evading the dues War nt e

n ter s ar gra ted for apprehending these , and it af ward appe s

Al i c i that exander Law, shipper in K rk aldy John S mpson ,

ur r shipper , Dysart ; John Ure , in Edinb gh ; and A chi

S imeo n Ale e bald , in Dysart . were apprehended. xand r

L £20 U t e £100 aw was ﬁned , and John Scots ; and in r r r u e s ega d to the othe two, on the exc se that their vess l had r rt been through stress Of weather driven to othe po s,

“ ” and obliged to mak mercat of the little quantity of

er a staple goods they had , were ord ed to ﬁnd c ution to

C am fere on un pay double duty, as charged at p , the amo t

s of the good sold being ascertained .

“ About this time the manufacture o r curing o f re d herrings was commenced in Scotland ; and when a special grant or exclusive right to carry on a partic ular

o f r m u r e branch t ade or an factu e was desir d , it was obtained on application being made to the King and

r for i d . P ivy Council , and a sum pai that concess on It

u s frequently occurred , however , d ring King Jame the i t ’ S x h s reign , that although the grant was paid for ,

a s um l another applic nt , on paying a , was given the ike

i instaIice priv lege , and such happened to occur in the

r n no t - u u unde noted . The Ki g was over scrup lo s, and m u and oney was always required , and he may have tho ght a i w the idea that oppos tion was the soul of bu siness. RO Y AL r S TLA 4a BURG H S o CO ND .

s Mar oribanks e Jo eph j and Charles G ddes, merchants , for em O f To dri th selves , and in name George g, younger, .

r a of r and James A not , merchants , burgesses Edinbu gh , . had at their gret charges and expense interprysit and begun the tred o f making of red herrings within

realme this . They had Obtained from the King the privilege of making red herrings from within all

seato wns sch o rs an the scyes , loches , waters , , ports , and l d thairofbetween Tweedmouth and Pentland Firth fo r the " twen i - i s t e su e ear s. pace of y But Archibald Campbell,

to o f L r . brother the Laird awer, having pu chased a

Mar o rib ank s s — e similar gift, j and the other above nam d applied to the Lords Of the Privy Counci l for the stay

’ ” r t il ing of the said A chibald s gran The Privy Counc , on

r conside ing same , had delayed their decision , and had

“ asked the opinion o f the General Convention upo un e the maist expedient and best meynes how the said wark ” ma u d O 5th 16 16 n y be prosec te n July , the Conve tion c n r of a o side ed the matter, and were Opinion th t such

r ur u gifts we e of the nat e of a monopoly, and very hurtf l an d prejudicial to the liberties and privileges granted to

th e Convention Of Royal Burghs by his Majesty and his .

predecessors ; that the P rivy Council should not give

ff r or e ect to any such g ant , by any decree , and therefore

o f su licatio une rs desired the presenters the pp , as membe

swo rne l r o f the C onvention , and to the wei l Of thai

E it as . sta , to p s frae the said gifts Being present , they 46 THE CONVENTION o r

l m of agreed and renounced c ai in favour the Burghs , in consideration o f which the Convention allowed them 2000

as s fo r merks Scots , disbur ed by them the inbringing of strange ris to make the said red herrings and uther causes

o f to the advancement the trade .

of In order to pay the said sum , a charge was to be made ten shillings Scots for each barrel containing 1000 herrings 2000 made by any curer, until the merks were made up . Attempts were frequently made by the curers to resist

th e o r payment of tax , get it lessened , and accounts were subsequently ordered to be produced to show h o w matters stood . Shortly afterwards the sum had apparently been

u the o ﬂ . made p, and sum wiped

Changes were made on the size o f the barrels for

fo r i herring, white ﬁsh , and beef export , and a spec men barrel was ordered to be kept in each burgh as a test

“ ” o f u ndis was one , and a penalty ﬁve p to be inﬂict ed o n

' makers o fdiﬂ erent barrels .

In 16 17 King James the Sixth made his long promised v i i c l » s t to S otland , and was loyal y received by the inha bitants ; and the citiz ens of Edinburgh received him and

i r u th e ret nue , conducted him th o gh city with great pomp , and entertained him at a sumptuous banquet , where he was presen ted with merks o f double golden 28 angels in a silver basin. On the th June he held his

- twenty second Parliament. At this time the University

“ ’ ” w as r r n m o de ed to be called Ki g Ja es College . The O Y AL BU B G H S o r CO ND 4 R S TLA . 7

C o f r ro~ onvention , cou se , took part in all the p

The Brig over the Nith at Dumfries having been overthrown and raz ed to the ground by the violence o f

n n the water, the Co ventio , at a meeting held in Dumfries

“ o n 4th 1622 ad o f 500 undis July , m e a grant p usual m as oney for repairs ; and about the same time , the

“ Wemyss Harbour was intendit to be b u ildit and re

airit o f p by the Laird Wemyss , the Convention

“ entreats the haill Burrowes to give assistance in so i ” des rable an object.

Edinb u r h o n 9th 1623 At a meeting held at g , the July , i a memor al to the King was agreed to , in reference to the

grievances caused by monopolies and restraints ' placed

i r c upon the mportation of foreign wa es , and whi h were c onsidered prejudicial to the subjects and to the merchant e state , especially to their free trade and negotiations , both as to the exportation of native commodities and th e importation o f foreign Complaints were made by the tanners as to a new form fo r tanning ; raising price

b o o ts re im of the and shoes , by ason of the burdens and

on r positions laid that b anch of trade, and other charges ; ” r the transpo tation of gret coal , thereby raising prices at home ; th e high duties levied on foreign victual ; triple rate ; that the inb ringers o f victual should be

r i to che ished , and no new imposit ons laid , but ought be freely imported , or at least , at the auld accustomed 48 m OONVENTION o r

u as x es n the d ty and to e cise duti upo ﬁsh , and the ti

s ﬁ hes exacted by the Bishop of the Isles . The Burgh

of u c m was ruixied b the C llen o plained , that it utterly y

“ common guid lands being set in feu to gentl emen throu ghout the county ; measures were craved whereby

r lso the burgh lands may be estored , and the burgh a

brought bac k to its former beauty. Complaints that

er s — A r um es m chants of the we t country Glasgow , y , D fri — were assessed by double customs being charged o n l r . b e merchandise impo ted furth of, or to Ire and , to

to n one u transferred foreign countries , while o ly c stom

& c. duty was charged to others ,

“ Truly a ﬁne lis t of grievances ; and sh o wing th e ex actions made at the time by the King and his Co uncil; in order to provide funds to meet demands on the privy At t ur e . t p s the same time exhibiting the pa ience , grea

i o f e of forbearance , and law abid ng character the peopl

Scotland .

O 2l st e n the of August, of the same year , the Conven tion e xpresse d their readiness to pay a share o f ﬁtting

s o f 850. out hips war ,

e th e At almost every me ting of the Convention ,

' members had under their consideration complaints by o ne encroachmenﬁ burgh against adjacent ones, as to on trade o r boundaries ; unfreemen trading ; ﬁnes on burghs fo r their non - attendance at meetings of the

r s r m Convention , or the elea ing of representatives f o R Y AL o s se s o r sco 'rLAN D O B . 49

such attendance on the grou nd of the poverty of th e burgh to sen d them regulations as to the uniformity o f weights and measures ; carefully examining the tax

l s m s fo r rol s , on which asse s ent were levied the common good ; the encourag ement of measures for promoting trade and manufac tures : comm unications from conser

“ ” to rs va t . r so r and fac ors abroad Visito s, te med , were

to of s also appointed examine the setts the burgh , and

of inquire into their ﬁnancial condition , state their m to r . co mon muirs, and repo t thereon But as illus trations have been given of these and other matters c i o t l ondescended on , it s unnecessary to g into de ai

v f of what took place at e ery meeting ; su ﬁce it to say , that every attention was paid to these reports and .

a ff e compl ints , and strenuous e orts mad to place matters

h h r r and r . ight, enforce law and o der We s all t e efore , h r e eafter , only notice what may be considered to be somewhat out o f the ordin ary course o f the business brought before the meetings.

in so l Before do g , however , it wi l have been observed that frequent complaints were brought before the Con vention h o f c , by one burgh against its neig bour , en roach m n o f e ts by tradesmen the burgh complained against ,

h is t at , of tradesmen doing work outside their own

r h bu g , to the detriment of the other ; and it may be

e to t tradesme n w ll explain here , that in hese days a of one burgh was no t allowed to engage in business D 50 THE CO NV ENTION o r in another burgh without also joining the like incorw po ratio n in the burgh he wished to have a place of

s o r a . e busine s in , or workshop, to tr de there Th re were also complaints of unfreemen trading within

A tradesme n o r s m i e burghs. craft an was obl g d to e r n f e nter his pa ticular trade incorporatio , and be or he could engage in business on his own ac count had f to execute certain specimens o his handiwork, and

“ pass as a master ; and without such licence pena lties

in r u s could be ﬂicted and enfo ced by the law co rt , the only exemptions being in favour of those calle d3

’ o r r wh o king s freemen , pe sons had served in the army

o r s. a te navy, or as volunteer Down to so l te a da

1846 i i and as the ncorporations held and ma ntained, could insist on their privileges ; but free trade principles

n e t prevailed at last, and all such restrictio s were sw p

o f away by Act Parliament. Burghs o f Regality and Barony had been excluded

i e ur s from trading priv leg s conferred on the Royal B gh , but in 1672 the former obtained the same privileges ;

r and as these we e exempt from public taxation , the Convention took measures for the restoration o f their

the special privileges , and were largely successful by

f A 16 0 N e oti obtaining o an ct of Parliament in 9 . g a

tions afterwards took place between the Royal Burgh-s

and of Re i Burghs gal ty and Barony, and ultimately ,

n a i o f sum in co sider t on obtaining equal privileges, a

52 m CON VENTIO N o r

and l 6th m Mr to the grant ; on the of the same onth ,

H a m n n at John y, the Co mon Clerk to the Co ventio

u 2 th F eb Edinb rgh , was appointed ; and on the 7 of

i to . r ruary the part es concerned were appointed ap—pea before the Co uncil on the l at of March following the result being that the gift was cancelled ; and - o n the l oth August the Burghs themselves undertook charge of ﬁshin s the g and get the strangers removed. The Records of the Convention from 1631 un til 1649 have been either destroyed or mislaid “ during the ” tro ub ilsum r times , but there is no doubt that a numbe of c e i s meetings were held , as an abstra t of c rta n Act ,

Was dis passed by the Convention between these dates ,

0 s eat covered and submitted to the body in 170 . The e tr o f t on the certain dis ricts reserved for ﬁshing coasts , and also inland lochs ; free ﬁshing on the English coasts ;

o n 8m s of s n r lights Isle of May, ; privilege hippi g ; impo t ing o f victual ; ratifying the Covenant ; none to be ad~ mitted l s o f as burgesses , magistrates , and counci lor

. e burghs , but those that have taken the Cov nant ; David

’ Wedderburn s grammar book to be used in all schools ;

fo r m C am fere 8m c to 00 11s stipend inister at p , dire tions se rvato r there to see that Sabbath was du ly kept in that

8 m 8m. town ; customs ; trade privileges , ,

u rr u 1649 r lv d At Q eensfe y , in Jan ary , it was eso e , that the Convention m eetings be opened With prayer

“ r th by the moderator, except he brings a ministe wi R Y AL BU B G H S or CO T ND 58 O S LA .

“ hi ” A ro 3d to m. pp ved , on the of July, begin and c se it e and r ur lo w h pray r, eve y b gh recommended to do Th f on ve n so at th e ir meetings. e agent or the C tion was instructed to get Commissionersin Parliament to press for the ‘ obtaining of an Act against dilapida tié ns of common moors of burghs by conterminous

proprietors ; he was also ordered to raise suspensions a n e d B urns de gai st unfre men tra ing in Kilsyth and y , F l a kirk and Alloway , and obtain rentals of common l n s o f s u a d The magistrates Gla gow , D mbarton, and Irvine were directed to send form of electing their

n magistrates , for their co sideration at the next meet

- i in no n . g, under a penalty for compl ance On 13t h July an application was made to the Con

ve nt ion f r at Edinburgh by the burgh of Queens e ry, for

“ as st n Tolb uith si a ce to repair the , and liberty to sett co i ' i or o therwme mmon mu r n feu , , for helping and aug ” menting their common good The ﬁrst request was

fo r was continued inquiry , but authority given to sett w th e u ac . as muir, and prod ce t k at next meeting It afte rwards reported to the Convention (4th July

h of u r n that the burg Q eensfe ry, after setti g the common

ma r su e for 32 u ndis earlie 19 i to skipper p y for years ,

ur the tenant had assayed to labo it , but fand sic meikle ” diﬁiculties thairin res ec stance in p to , as to give it i u . r p Commissioners from the bu ghs of Linl thgow ,

u f r i ected t s xii -six D n e mline , and Inverkeithing were d r 54 THE CONVENTION o r

r i 49th 1655 and repo t , and at Hadd ngton ( July ) com

‘ mittee reported that the comm on muir did not exceed

r so l o f o six ac es, and was fu l gret stanes , that lab ur th airi l u o f n wau d exceed proﬁts. The b rgh Perth

fen C om had also made application for leave to , and

u u C ulrom missioners from B rghs of D ndee , Cupar, ,

u e D nfermline , and Burntisland , or any three of th se K burghs , were appointed to visit and report . inghorn and Burntisland also made requests fo r aid to re pair

. was harbours , which were continued for inquiry It also reported that certain goods shipped to C ampfere

r had not been addressed . These we e ordered to be

sum re e r r n disposed of, and the ceiv d the efo to be le t

— o f to of on security , the poor that port have the use the interest until the rightful owner appeared .

2d 1650 was At a meeting held in Cupar, on July , it resolved by the unexpected approches o f the Inglish

to n armies this Kingdom baith by sea and land , threate ing no less than the ruin of both except the Lord

sa mn n i in prevent the y , and ﬁndi g themselves obl ged conscience to prefer the public weil of the Kirk and

Kin dom e t th e g to thair ain private interes , and that affairs now in hand will not co nvenientlie allow t o thame sic lang tym a to agitate and conclude upon the

s thairfoir con state of busine s, have prorogated and tin ned to ﬁrst day of October next .

Th e a o t n sh win b ve ex ract requires little comme t , e g AL o r S LA 5 5 ROY BURGHS COT ND . as it does the state the country was in at the time ;

nd of a all readers history will know , that for several years previous to that date , and for a considerable ti o f descri me thereafter, trade and commerce every p

n r e tio we e in a depr ssed condition. Civil war had

a and r ged , was raging, both in England and Scotland .

a had u Ch rles the First been tried and exec ted , and Oliver Cromwell ruled as Protector of the Common

o f O o f wealth England . n the arrival in Scotland the

’ th e news of that King s execution , Charles Second was

m o f proclai ed as King Great Britain , Ireland , and l d France , and an army raised in Scot an Cromwell , t wi h the forces of the Commonwealth , at once invaded

l e Scot and , and after ultimately d feating the Scotch

r o f army at Dunba , took possession the capital ; and long the country was almost entirely under his — rule English ofﬁcials taking the place o f the former

f o f u o ﬁcers State , Privy Co ncil , and Parliament, and

f r continued so o nearly ten years. The next meeting of the Convention was a general

“ o ne , held in Edinburgh in obedience to Declaration of the Commission ers o f the Parliament of the Common

o f n s Dalk eit wealth E gland , for the tym residing at 25t 1 5 2 which declaration is Of date h March 6 . Twenty one representatives o f sh ires and counties had been

' l m l of Parliarnent e ected , cou to the dec aration , and

“ i r erfa tin ( if th e. appo nted to repai to London for p y g> 5 6 ' TB E O O N vm mN or

— assist 1000 pounds gran ted them to aid in defragting i expenses. The following were selecte d as Co mm s

sione rs for l ur ha z— ss Bai i the who e B g John Jo ie ( l e) ,

i r i A We dda sl Ed nbu gh ; John M lne , Perth ; Sir lexander

A u n r rew burn, berdeen ; George C lle , Sti ling ; And

n A s w d G l s and a iel Gle , St ndrews ; Jame S or , a gow ; D n

a n Wall ce , Haddingto .

At a ' meeti o in ur ng of the C nvention held Edinb gh,

3oth 1652 rom' on November , complaints were made f St Andrews about the heavy expenses laid upon them

for 8m to s l i rs the supplying of coal and candles , , o d e stationed there ; and requesting that su pplication b e made by the Convention to General Major Deans M

to r s ir Dalkeith) , order gentry and the herito s in h e to

u s r st and ls relieve b rgh , as tock and t ade were lo , a o to compel coal owners to supply coals at prices pre

' sent t o scribed by Act of Parliament. Deputation i Dalkeith Palace accord ngly.

“ An Act having been passed by His H icn nes the Lord

Protectour ad i of C ounsail the , with v ce his , discharging

L i e co mmOdi- exportation of sk ns, wool , hydes , and oth r

d of ome . ties , and ordaining same to be ma e use at h ” in c r on h l ! o manufa to ies , at a meeting of Conventi , e d n

d 165 4 s eciaﬂ d awn! the 3 of November , a letter was p y r

‘ u Ar s mo de tatmt p and signed by chibald Tod, Provo t, as f

te r re u -f and b the . r s est y Clerk , add essed to the Prote , q 5 ROY AL co mma or S C OTLAN D. 7

“ osition m al had made . it . alto ether imp m s t, which g

nuse l i lo w c i of th e B u ful , ook ng to the ond tion urghs ” — “ ﬂ contirmed ade nd s in - n ed trouble , tr a hipp g bei g decay ,

“ due And on th e 8 s r i n th of ame month , A t cles ane t

” ‘ ” Trade , and i Instruc tions were forwarded to th e

’ burghs representatives in Parliament at Lo ndon ; and in o f a m February the following ye r, William Tho son ,

“ en s g eral clerk to the Burgh , was desired to give fait hful and true information to His H icnn es the Lord

r t and ' his u lo w s con P otec or Co ncil, of the e tate and dition thair tro u bilsu m tym es h es brought the Estates ” o f s the Burgh to . At this time neither credit nor money could be had in t no bleman s h d Sco land, and a number of and other a sent missives to the Protector about compelling their cre i o ditors to take securities over the r properties, as n a a u h 1648 an d at v l ation of t eir lands as at , twenty

’

. n h s years purchase The Conve tion met to oppose t i ,

“ as most dangerous not only to the whole nation in

n r b ut r l r s ge e al , pa ticu a ly to burgh , destructive to

’ r — t ade poor orphans and widows . A committee was

in d u the appo te to cons lt with most able lawyers , draw u ac m ith ie p a Petition, b ked with most for al and p

eas ns u e n r o , for stopping such dangero s proc edi gs ;

A t W r as s r . gm . di ected to pay all nece sary cha ges

ever l m e . , S a etings of the parties too k place, omnd ems 58 m co m m o n o r

' sideration given to an Act proposed by the Protector. Certain changes were ultimately effect ed on the form

ff o f or and e ect wadsets bonds.

on At a meeting of the Convention held in Glasgow ,

24th O 1657 a u fo r n fo r th e ctober , s pplication a pate t erection of the College of Physicians in Edinburgh was brought under notice by Dr William Burnet and Dr

t fo r Alexander Rat ray , themselves and in name of the

u f o f i physicians in Edinb rgh. Dif erences op nion took

a l e no t place as to cert in c auses, and the Conv ntion was

b ut of w as satisﬁed , the consideration the supplication agreed to be again given On 17th December the appli cation was renewed by Dr Robert C unningham and

o e to Henry Henders n , and a committee was appoint d

m and o . meet them , c nsider , and report The com ittee

e to applicants met several tim s , and a report was made

n O 22d l 1658 et the Conventio n Ju y , resolved to g patent annulled but on 20th January 1659 a new draft

r m old he was app oved of by the co mittee , patent was to

is on e a e . renounced and cancelled , and new gr nt d Th

of t h e course was approved in General Convention , and Commissioners in Parliament instructed to get the same O 8 e carried o ut . n th March the patent was direct d to

a m fo r r be inserted in the Gener l Register, to re ain eve , ” and th airfo ir ordains the saymn to be done The patent

Prote cto u r o f e runs , I , Richard , Lord the Commonw alth

' of En l domh ﬁ o ns gland , Scotland , and Ire and , and the

6 0 TH E cosvas'rro x o r e s L r i i 66 nclo ed in one to ord Laude dale , requesting h m

r n ad r p ese t d ess to his Majesty.

r i L u i e er of Sir Robert Mur ay, Kn ght, ord J st c Cl k

' S was 12th cotland , then at the Court in London , , on

1662 i n t ion auld March , appo nted to act for the Co ven , concur with the Noble and Potent Lo rd th e Earl cf

’ s of fo r S ecs Lauderdale , his Maje ty s Secretary State

i ir r and land , in prosecut ng the just interests in comme ce ,

“ Instructions regarding these were at same time sent .

n on 2d 1673 s e e s At a meeti g held in Perth , July , m

' municatio n was read from the Lord Lyon King - at- Arms;

“ anent the matriculating of the Arms o f the Royal

r all u he r s Bu ghs and it was then resolved , that s ch egi

’ te red k x b e in the Lyon s boo s , so that an e tract could

r to given furth thereof, and all the burghs were di ected take such extracts.

' r for Dortreicht a t le An ag eement making Dort , or , s ap

a of C am fere port , inste d p , had , amongst other matters ,

r e 7th 1669 been brought befo e a m eting , held on July , and acquiesced in ; but C ampfere was restored to its o n e i rigi al position as the staple port , at me t ng in 21st A verbal address from the Convention was , on

' 1679 e of November , agreed to be made to the Duk l Y i M A bany and ork , then resid ng in Holyrood Palace ; in following year a grand banquet was given the Duke and s ur cf his Duchess , the Princes Anne , by the b gh

S cots uk e Edinburgh , at a cost of pounds The D Y AN D L RO AL BURGHS or S O O TL . 6

' a c t a for nd Du hess, with retinue , lef Holyrood Pal ce

L 1682 12th r r 1684 en ondon in May ; and on Feb ua y ,

he t of r u e to t dea h Cha les the Second , the D ke succeed d the thro ne as James the Seventh of Scotland and Second

ofEngland. The to wn of Kelso having suffered se verely by an

“ e ﬁre reco m~ accid ntal , and the Privy Council having .

men ded the inh abitants thereof to the universal! charitie of the whole kingdom for ane vo luntar contribution fo r ” o f t a help and supplie their sad and des itute . condition ,

t e o n eth u 1684 s reco m he Conv ntion , J ly , doe earnestly mend to the whole Burghs that has no t already made

t to nne their collec ion for the said of Kelso , that they speedily make the said contribution in the same manne r

a ur o f was s the B gh Edinburgh collected the same , which by impowering their elders and deacons to go from i ” familie to fam lie to receive the said contribution .

n El 1685 ad O st April , an dress was sent to the King,

“ .O n the extraordinary jo y we have upon your sacred

’ Majesty s happy succession to the Crown of your royal

t 8m. O l his his ances ors, ne was a so sent to Grace

’ Majesty s High Commissioner.

the 7th o f 1686 o July , the Convention took int

consideration a petition presented to th em by the

e G As r o f the Mast r, overnors, sistants , and other membe s

a e t Scots Corporation at London , craving th t the pres n

e n n n - h set “ p al Conve tio would , for the reasons at lengt 6 2 m coervmm o x or

to the said C orpm ﬁ m foa- ane help to wards th e supphe

h a m s to re air to the cit oi London fre um tl and pp p y q y,

gent-lemm and oth ers have in a large measure ex t e nde d

B nrgha conceiving they onght no t to be sho rt in ex t end

. n ‘ Il :

O the 3 Jul 1688 at mee th x e d i n d of y , a g h l in Ed n

and e t was o rom d the pr ses of the mee ing, app inted to p to London with an addw to King James the Seventh

‘ and his ueen on occasio n of b irth o f a rince Q , the the p ,

’ Sir Magnus Prince s expenses to be‘ paid by the Bu rghs

O l oth of m ed £800 n the Nove ber , he was allow in con s e o ﬁ l and c ta l sa vieeS id rati n of his good, pro tab e, ac ep b e , to th e be neﬁ t and advantage of the Burghs ; b ut on the

15th a of July following . this grant was annulled at ve ntio n could lay on burdens without special warrant th h from the G eneral Convention . On e 20t of same

made to S ir Ma n us Prince while in London and a g , O o S TLA 63 R YAL BURGHS r CO ND . b him r i alance was said to be due by , afte reduct on of l h the original grant o f £800 to £300. On the 0t of

1691 Iso be l July , an application was made by Dame

G o r r c r i ourlay P in e , his widow , for he self and ch ldren ,

her n n narrating what husba d had done whe in London ,

s r o f r a epresentative the Bu ghs, and the heavy expenses

had of he been put to, and asking for payment the . al f b ance o the original sum as voted. The age nt of the

n ur s Conve tion was instructed to stop f ther proceeding , against the widow and children for repayment of the

s s excess over the la t vote paid to her hu band , but only on condition that the claim for all eged balance

r l e of o igina sum voted should be giv n up .

Several letters from the Convention to the King , as to

o f the great decay trade in the burghs , by the imposition

t o f of new burdens , and for reduc ion these , and com plaints as to dues levied on Scotc h coal at Newcastle on wa to la & c ~ were s o f y Eng nd , , sent , as al o to the Earl

Mil o r o f p t; Secretary State. Replies were received and i f cons dered at meetings o the Convention.

O n l eth 1689 o f March , the Three Estates the Scottish

Parliament had resolved and declared , that James the

l o f l h is Seventh of Scot and and Second Eng and had , by i abd cation , forfeited his right to the Crown . A new l king ru ed ; the expenditure made in the previous year ,

and the address o f congratulation by the Convention o f

e Royal Burghs to the then ruler, w re useless ; but the 6 4 THE C O v N 'rIO N o r

widow and children of Sir Magnus Prince were made the

’ sufferers of her husband s good and proﬁtable service to

the body.

O n 15th 1689 nv t o July , a petition from the Co en i n

to for o f was forwarded the King and Queen , redress

“ r s of certain g ievances of the Burghs, and a long li t

these are set forth .

O l eth l 1690 O i v n Ju y , Sir James g l ie and Sir William

i fo r Ro s Hamilton , advocate , Commiss oners the yal Burgh , were allowed £800 for attending to the Burgh affai rs in London Burghs not being in con dition to give more

at present.

u o n l oth At a general meeting held in Edinb rgh , Jul y

1691 o f , various business matters were disposed . Amongst

n others , a supplication was given in by John Anderso ,

of as t Provost Gl gow , in name and on behalf of tha burgh , narrating that when the Toun of Glasgow hav ing o f a considerable time bygoneﬂourished in trade and

s inhabitants , and paid a large share of the public burden

o f t due and payable by the State Burghs , true it is , tha of late the said Burgh has become alto gether incapable of subsistence in regard of these heavy burdens that lie

u hem thereupon , occasioned by the vast s ms that have

r borrowed by the late Magist ates, and the misapplying

’ and dilapidation of the Town s patrimony in suffering

to for their debt swell , and employing the common stock

re the their own sinistrous ends and uses , whe in, if O 5 RO Y AL svao ns O F SC TLAND . 6

t s ss ar ul r ul Peti ioner hould be expre in the p tic a , it wo d those whose duty it was to have been the patriats and supporters of the place ; but without any design to

ﬂ or e e re ect xpatiate upon their misd meanours , the

Petitione r . humbly repre sents that there is an absolute and indispensable necessity fo r the present Magistrates

l o f t to se l and dispose a grea part of their patrimony,

s and Provan e pecially the Lands Barony of , towards the defraying o ftheir most urgent and pressing debts and

i e r s nal w thout doing thereof, they cann t p opo e any perso

u t sec ri y from the Towns Creditors , nor will there be any persons found to represent the Town in the omes of

a l Mag istracy till they be secured from leg l di ig ence , which can only be done by disposing of their patrimony to n r d a prese t sale , and therefo e esiring the Convention

s to interpo e their authority , and grant warrant to the present Magistrates and Council of Glasgow to sell and

i i o f e u d spone the r said lands Prov n, and s ch other lands o r fen e m for duti s as belong to the , to be employed pay

en a l e m t of the foresaid debts, s the Supp ication b ars ;

n r e i which having been co side ed , th y interposed the r

u t to the a hority , and granted warrant present Magis

r s to o f e t ate sell and dispone their said lands Prov n , to b e employed for payment of the debts owing be the said ” f s Burgh o Gla gow . Vario us meetings of the Convention were held betwixt E 66 THE CONVENTION o r

16 95 r b usin this date and , and a great deal of gene al m

to —a r m n attended , p oposal to establish a linen an

n factory in Scotland by some Lo don merchants. Petitions were sent the King against the monopoly

n ns e and praying him ot to grant any such patent. A w r

“ was r th e eceived , that nothing would be done to prej udice o r monopolizing of the trade or manufac t ure

O f o ur & c. that ancient kingdom , The trade and commerce o f the Scottish nation with foreign countri es had greatly increased since the acces~

e o f n l sion of King Jam s the Sixth to the throne E g and ,

i b u t free intercourse in trade b e tween the latter k in g do m and Scotland had not been carried into Operation ;

l and and the spirit of jealousy of the Eng ish traders , i the inhabitants Of that k ngdom at large , which had

s i l existed in the days of King Edward the First, t l remained. At a meeting Of the Three Estates Of the Scottish

in O f r 26th Parliament held the Tolbooth Edinbu gh , on

1695 ent June , amongst other business transacted ass was given to an Act for a company trading to Africa and the Indies (now better known as the Darien

Colony Scheme) . It had most extensive powers and privileges conferred under its charter by the Scottis h

(ff Parliament , which was then independent of that

n W uctm E gland , although both kingdoms had the g of its own affairs and internal management The com

68 THE C ONVENTION o r

fo r O f n it sought ; instead recognitio ,

s w m e was di o ned , and the co pany stated not to hav

O f the sanction O f England . The Convention Royal

h £3000 r s the Burg s , which held wo th of tock in com

ff o f nt pany, encouraged the e orts the Scottish Parliame to Obtain the desired countenance O f the English Par liament s o and King William , and addre ses were als

n i forwarded to the Ki g h mself. It is needless to go — into detail O f what Occurred the sad fate that - befell the colony and the company itself the failure of which

n l n e b itter bei g attributed to the Eng ish natio , caus d

o ne i and hostile feeling in Scotland , and at t me threatened to cause an entire separation Of the two

o kingd ms . The ruin Of the shareholders , and the dis content occasioned by the conduct Of the English

’ i s Parliament , and that Government s whole proceed ng , fo r and long retarded the union Of the two kingdoms , it was only after concessions made by England that such was accomplished .

22d u At a Convention held in Edinburgh , on J ly

1695 o f r 200 s , the burgh Queensfe ry was voted merk towards the repair Of their harbour and pier ; and at

o n eth o f o f a meeting there the December same year, it was stated that a proposal or design fo r setting up

' “ a ﬁsherie in the Lnn gdo m O f England had been

r in suggested the e , and the like proposal for one R Y AL B U RG H S o r COT ND O S LA . 69

S l u cot and was bro ght forward . It was agreed to be a r u fterwards conside ed , and whether all the b rghs

s u o r n ho ld be partners , o ly such as those that were w in al ill g to join. Sever meetings were afterwards t 1698 held thereanen In , a number Of the burghs w ere granted various sums to aid in the erection of

s s u r u . chool , bridges , and other seful p rposes Inveru ie

r 200 fo r r eceived merks repairs, and in defending chu ch

and churchyard from overﬂows by the river. Lanark 500 was allowed merks for sundry requirements. The

e n r o n burgh Of Edinburgh , at a me ti g held the e the

24th th e July , petitioned , that the condition Of burgh

was su as ch , without the Convention shall be pleased to take them under consideration and provide some

fo r i means the r subsistence , they will be in danger of

an d i me trO O litan n utter ruin ; be ng the p Of the natio , who has always been ready and still resolved to

r e i n suppo t their neighbour burghs , pray the Conv nt o to fall upon such methods as may tend to their pre servation The application was appointed to be

e for considered , and to head missive Of notic next m h 1 00 . O 9t 7 £300 eeting n July , was allowed Edin

“ r on re re bu gh , report Of a committee , anent the p

sen tation n given in by the good tow , and as a small gratuity in consideration of their losses and damages

u r 1 1 c a . 0 l im to be f rther conside ed In July 7 , other

5 O n 9th 16 8 £ 00 . 9 an io n was granted July , applicat 70 THE CON VENTION o r

o for s t c fr m the Marischal College , Aberdeen , a sis an e

r de red towa ds the repair of the buildings , was consi , and £ 100 granted ; 2000 pounds Sco ts was also allowed f to the burgh for repair o the pier.

O l oth o f 1699 r e ti n the February , befo e a m e ng

r b in Edinbu gh , a proposal was su mitted by James

“ Ed/in btw h Donaldson , anent the publishing Of ane g "

G az ette. Resolved , that the committee appointed by the meeting should give him such encouragement as

i no they should think ﬁt , they always advanc ng

m G n r C o ven money , but re it that part to the e e al n ” 30 . £ to tion In July, was voted for his encouragement

Edin b ur h G a ette continue publishing the g z , until the

i O f n mm all meet ng the next Conve tion , and to reco end the Royal Burghs to agree with Mr Donaldson for the furnishing them with the N ews and G azette by post

E di nb ur h G a ette ur The g z became a success , was p

e n e chas d by the Gover ment, and is at present time carri d on f r o Lo nd n as an O ﬁcial pape , in c njunction with the o

e and Du blim, G az ttes. Some years ago an attempt was m d G th e G a ette as a e by the overnment to extinguish z , a separate paper ; but public feeling in Scotland was

r s w to st ongly oppo ed to the measure , and it was allo ed r i i o was un ema n. A ﬁt of pol tical ec nomy the gro d

“ ” u fo r t t n b ut was rue rged its ex inc io , centralisation the t cause . O r o 1 R YAL BURGHS o sc szLAN D. 7 b artcn as to dues levied by the latter on ships going to

as n o r m s l Gl gow, a co tract agree ent was come to , to ett e

r their disputes. The terms Of the cont act were sub mitte d to n 9th 1700 the Conventio , who, on the July , ratiﬁed the same.

on 9th 1701 At a general meeting, held July , the sum of £800 Scots was authorised to be paid to Mr Eneas

‘ M Leo d fo r , late general clerk , completing Acts , Statutes , i and Constitut ons , and making an abbreviate recording

r whole repo ts Of burghs made by Visitors , with an

nd r u i ex , all produced in their presence. P esent circ m stances O f Burghs will no t allow them to gratify him as ” 100 to his services deserves. merks were also voted be paid to him for writing the said books. The Secretaries Of State fo r Scotland were allowed 2 k 000 . pensions from the Convention , Of mer s annually

o f M In a representation from the Earl elville , that dur ing the time he h ad been Secretary of State he had no t

his fo r two r got pension o three years , same was directed hi — 1 h 1 9 to be paid m 3t July 69 .

O 17th O 1 02 r of n the of ctober 7 , a gene al meeting the

l for Convention was he d in Edinburgh , considering as to the two i Act Of Union betwixt the k ngdoms , when

‘ 5 Advices were given to the Commissioners appointed to represent the Burghs in Parliament , that they were to be careful in the preservation Of the Presbyterian

e r m of u as s gov n ent the Ch rch pre ently established , and 72 THE CON VENTION o r

' o th er privileges ; governm ent Of the Kingdom by o u r o wn Laws and Constitution ; the free communication o f Trade betwixt the two Kingdoms Of Scotland and Eng land ; and particularly as to the Plantations in the East ” 8m 8 m s Indies , , and the Commi sioners were frequently

a e urged to give due tt ntion to these inst ructions. Also 300 merks were allowed to the St Leonard 's College in w St Andrews to ards the reparation Of the same.

al 13th A petition to the Gener Convention was, on the

1 05 u Of July 7 , presented by the magistrates and co ncil e Of Forfar , as to a riot committed by s veral neighbour

e at ing gentlem n upon the magistrates of the said burgh , the cross and upon the High Street th ereof ; th at on account O fthe poverty O f the Burgh at the present time

ff ff n they could not a ord to prosecute the o e ders , and ” craving assistance from the other Burghs. A co m mitte e O h was appointed , to see that justice was tained by the bu rgh ; and the agent was autho rised to advance such sums as the committee saw ﬁt for such purpose .

O 7th r n the of Februa y of the following year , a letter was submitted from H er Maj esty Queen Anne to the

Lords Of the Treasury, anent the Burghs contributing to the expense of outrigging o f the ship Royal William for B ur hs in G e e war, when the g , en ral Convention , agre d

ls n r um . O n eth O f to adva ce ce tain s s the July , a o at

“ i u n re Ed nb rgh , an address to the Quee , upon the g at r 3 RO Y AL ac ce s s o S COTLAND . 7

and glo ripu s successes obtain ed by your conquering

r i u u t - o f a m es in the Netherlands , nder the wise cond c

r of your valiant and victo ious General , the Duke Marle ” was 8 m . n borough , , was agreed to A other address

“ r r on a io advan sho tly afte sent , the occ s n of the great t ages gained in Spain by the Earl of Peterborough and l ” Gal oway. The inhabitants Of Scotland to a great extent bein g against the contemplated terms o f the Treaty Of Union

kin m O f between the n and that Of England , on account

l o ne the proposal to have on y Parliament for both , and t h — hat to be eld in London , thus doing away with the

rl h r r m Scottish Pa iament , which ithe to had had the f a ing O f the laws and otherwise the entire control and management O f all affairs pertaining to Scotland as a f nation , the consequent removal Of state O ﬁcials to

a f London , the centralis tion Of public O ﬁces there , and

au as r l — thereby c sing decre e of t ade in Scot and riots ,

s rm ﬁ htin s ki ishes with the military , g g , and breaking the windows Of the houses of those supposed to be favour a l b e to the Treaty, then in course Of adjustment by the

C o i mm ssioners , and other methods Of showing discontent, were O f frequent occurrence in the capital and all

dist ricts Of Scotland Thirty - one Commissioners for

n a i for England had bee ppointed , and the l ke number

t an O f r a o r Sco l d , and when the conditions the T e ty ,

Ar s as on m s n ticle of Union , agreed by the Com is io ers, 749 THE CONV ENTIO N or and signed by twenty- sev en

ro burdens in the way of excise and custom duties , the p portion payable by $0o of the National Debt of

l h i o wn th e England (Scot and av ng no debt of its ) , and small number of repre sen tatives allo wed to it in t he

i to n nd un ted Parliament in proportion that of E gla , great

nd s o excitementa disturbance t ok plac e. Petitions against the ratiﬁcation by Parliament were sent in from almost every town and burgh in Scotland to the Three Estates

i h nte The Convent on of Royal Burghs , althoug represe d

e it ll i ff there , sent in a special p t ion to the fo ow ng e ect

“ 5 No ve mbe r 1 796 3

’ To i mm His Grace , Her Majesty s H gh Co issioner and

l n the Right Honourable the Estates of Par iame t,

the Address o f the Commissioners to the Gene ral Convention of the Royal Burrows of this ancient

i 29th of Oc s u n K ngdom , convened the tober la t , po the great concern of the Union pre posed betwixt

n c e r s Scotland and Engla d , for onc rting such measu e

for m to as should be esteemed proper the take , with

relation to .th eir trade and other concerns

M EWE — h as of i t it HU BLY SH TH , T at by the claim r gh

of i s tim is the privilege all subjects to pet tion , so at thi e

e s i and we being mostly impower d by our con t tuents ,

w e r en is kno ing the sentiments of the people we r p es t, it

b G e and t h e indisputa le duty to signify to your rac ,

76 m s co s vsm o s o r when regulated as to export and import by the laws o f i and England , and under the same prohibit ons

tr o m : n ri res ictions , cust s and duties And co side ng that the most considerable branches o f our trade are differ

of et ing from those England ; and are , and may be y more discouraged by their laws ; and that all the c o f ou r s oncerts trade and intere t are , after the union , subject to such alterations as the Parliament of Great Britain sh all think ﬁt

“ r We therefore supplicate your G ace , and the

o f do u re l Honourable Estates Parliament , and ass d y e xpect that ye will no t conclude such an incorpora te

un as bu t ion , is contained in the Articles proposed , that ye will support and maintain the true Reform e d

n Protestant religion and Church governme t, as by law e stablished ; the sovereignty and independency of this crown and kingdom ; and the rights and privileges o f

o u Parliament , which have been generously asserted by y in the sessio n o fthis present Parliament : And do

ff a for farther pray, that e ectu l means may be used defeating the designs and attempts of all Popish pre tenders whatsomever to the succession of this crown

and fo r i kingdom , and secur ng this nation against all the attempts and encroachments that may be made by any

s e i l persons what omev r upon the sovere gnty , re igion ,

r u : And laws, libe ties, trade , and q iet of the same we promise to maintain with our lives and fortunes o ru . o r CO ND a BURGHS S TLA . 77

b h all these valua le t ings, in opposition to all Popish and r n s l s othe e emies what omever, according to our aw f and claim o right . Signed by order and in presence of the Convention

” M‘ M. ELLAN P S A L rese . , s The feeling of discontent above referred to again

r o ut i as b oke , when the Scott sh Parliament , which sembled o n 3d October 1706 and continued its sittings

25th o f 1707 110' until the March , by a majority of to 69 o f , sanctioned the terms the union , serious dis

r tu rbances occurring th oughout the whole country .

That feeling was fostered , and aided in the Jacobite

r n of 1 15 1 45 r th e isi gs 7 and 7 , which esulted in ruin of the party .

1st o f 1707 c From the day May , England and S otland

“ were declared to be then and fo r ever after united

one o f into kingdom , under the name Great Britain , f having o ne Parliament o r both . An Act was also passed fo r establishing the Protestant religion and i Presbyterian Church government, with n Scotland ; and

' by the tenor of the said Act it was to be inserted in

i ri it the Act ratify ng the Treaty , and expressly decla ng to be a fundamental and essential condition of the said

Treaty o fUnion in all time coming.

The Act Ratifying and Approving the Treaty o f the

Two o f 16 Kingdoms Scotland and England , January ,

' is to the following eﬁ ect 78 TH E CONVENTION o r

r The ﬁ st Article provides , that the two kingdoms of

l t of Ma England and Scotland shal , upon the ﬁrs day y

l 1707 a r which shal be in the year , and for ever fte ,

one i e be united into k ngdom , by the name of Gr at

Britain ; and that the ensigns - armorial of the said United

u l i and Kingdom be s ch as her Majesty shal appo nt , the crosses o f St George and St Andrew be conj o ined in such

u all manner as her Majesty shall think ﬁt , and be sed in i ﬂags , banners, standards , and ens gns, both at sea and ” land . “ h . t e Article II provided , that the succession of

r e o f mona ch to the Unit d Kingdom Great Britain, and

n i s c of the dominio s thereto belong ng, after her most a red

e u t in Majesty, and in d fa lt of issue Of her Majes y , to rema i i and cont nue to the most excellent Princess Soph a ,

r - th e Elect ess and Duchess Dowager of Hanover , and

i o f he rs her body being Protestants, upon whom the crown o f England is settled by an Act o f Parliament made in England in the twelfth year of the reign of his

s K l i entituled An Act late Maje ty ing Wi liam the Th rd , , fo r th t i a o f secur e fur her l mit tion the crown , and better ing the rights and liberties o f the subjects ; and that all

i t i s e pap s s , and persons marrying pap st , shall be exclud d r and in o r f om, for ever be incapable to herit , possess, enjoy the Imperial Crown o f G reat Britain and th e

m ni n h r or e do i o s t e eto belonging , any part ther of ; and in every such case the cro wn and government shall frem ' O a s o r CO AND 9 R YAL c c e s S TL . 7 tim to i u e t me descend to and be enjoyed by s ch person , b ein as n g a Protestant , should have i herited and enjoyed the same i n case such papist or person marrying a papist was n d o aturally dea , according to the pr vision for the desc ent of the crown of England made by another Act of Parliament in England in the ﬁrst year of the reign of

i u their late Majesties King Will am and Q een Mary, e ntitu led o f , An Act declaring the rights and liberties the ” s s n. ubject, and ettling the succession of the crow

o f Article III. That the United Kingdom Great

r one r B itain be represented by and the same Pa liament, i n to be styled the Parl ament of Great Britai . IV f Article . That all the subjects o the United King

of l dom Great Britain sha l , from and after the Union , ha ve full freedom and intercourse of trade and naviga

or ac tion , to and from any port pl e within the said United

Kingdom and the dominions and plantations thereto b e longing and that there be a communication o f all other

and h rights , privileges , advantages whic do or may

o f belong to the subjects either kingdom , except where " e i o n it is oth rw se expressly agreed in these Articles .

. l Article V provided , that all ships or vessels be ong

’ ing to her Majesty s subjects of Scotland at the date o f ratn the Treaty of Union of the t wo kingdoms in

the i Parl ament Of Scotland, though foreign built, be

deem ed and pass as ships O f the build of Great Britain ;

o r r the wne , or where there are more owners , one o more 80 THE CO NV ENTION o r

h s of the owners , wit in twelve months after the ﬁr t day

m i of i of May next, ak ng oath that at the time ratify ng

: i o f o l n th e the Treaty of Union in the Parl ament Sc t a d,

him em or same did in whole or in part belong to or th ,

o r land i to some other subject subjects in Scot , to be part

cularl o f r e y named, with the place thei respective abod s ,

and that the same doth then at the time of the said dc»

o r e no position wholly belong to him th m , and that

i l a o r foreigner directly or ind rect y hath any share , p rt, interest therein ; which oath shall be made before the chief o ﬁicer o r Ofﬁcers o fCustoms in the port next to the

o f r o r a f c o r abode the said owne owners , and the s id o ﬁ er f l i o ﬁcers sha l be empowered to admin ster the said oath , and the oath being so administered shall be attested by

f o r o ﬁ cers who d the O ﬁcer a ministered the same , and

O mcer o r ffi cer l being registered by the said o s, shal be delivered to the master Of th e ship fo r security o f his navigation ; and a duplicate thereo f shall be transmitted by the said offi cer or Officers to the chief Officer o r officers

r to of the Customs in the Port of Edinbu gh, be there

n entered in a register , and from the ce to be sent to the

o f to n re Port London , be there entered in the ge eral ” gister of all trading ships belonging to Great Britain

c VL i r d h orts Arti le , relat ng to t a e , declared t at all p

r l of the United Kingdom , f om and after the Union , shal

l s n n draw have the same a lowance , e courageme ts, and

m s backs, and be under the sa e prohibition , restrictions , O R O F S TLA 81 R YAL BU GHS CO ND . and o f d and i o m regulations tra e , l able to the same cust s a nd duties on imports and exports, and that Scots cattle ” n l e a s a be liable in o other duties . The c aus l o tre ted as to the importation of victual from Ireland. i V II. Art cle related to excise duties , which were to e be the same in Scotland as those l vied in England , e of or l xcept in certain qualities beer ale in Scot and , therein deﬁned.

V n r c . to s o A ti le III treated as dutie salt, ﬂesh ex

85 0. ported , curing of herring,

The duties levied under Article VII. were the cause of

c much discontent in Scotland , and reated serious dis turban e o c s. Th se levied by the Scottish Parliament

had been very light, while the excise duties in England l were extreme y heavy.

I n Article X. was o e under which the proportion of

ad land tax to be borne by Scotland was ﬁxed. It was w itted at the time that the Commissioners of Scotland had made a good arrangemen t as to this tax But it

n h er o f has been altered , Scotland payi g equal share t i h er . axat on, or rather more than share

X XIV l o n Articles to . inc usive , ﬁxed dues vellum ,

w culme a t indow tax , duties on coals, , cinders , and m l

o f Article XV . provided as to the equality trade throughou t the United Kingdom ; as to duties and cus toms ; equivalent to Scotland as to payment of the Nation al Debt of England ; uses to which equivalent F 82 "m s cox s TIO N o r money was to be applied ; provision to provide against loss to pe rso ns hav ing S cotc h coin by reason of the

i Ar change to that of English curre ncy . Th s ticle also

“ n n s u o f co tai ed a clause , That the capital tock or f nd

A r i a dv e the f ican and Ind an Company of Scotl nd a anc d, together with the interest o fthe said capital stock after f the rate O ﬁve per cent. per annum from the respecti ve

o f n are terms th e payme t thereof, shall be paid to the sh . holders ; upon payment of which capital stock and

r a the interest , it was made a stipulation , and ag eed, th t s c s a from aid ompany be di solved and ce se ; and also , that the time of passing an Act o f Parliament for raising the sum o f 10s m an capital stock , , the said co p y

r shall neither trade no grant licence to trade. It also

l no t be provided , that if the said stock and interest sha l paid in twelve months after the commencement of the Union the said company may from thence forward trad e

i c and g ve licence to trade , until the above capital sto k and interest shall be paid provision made as to public debt of Scotland being adjusted by Parliament ; sums granted towards the encouragi ng and promotion of the manufacture o f coarse wool ; ﬁsheries and such oth e r im provements and manufactures in Scotland as might most conduce to the general good of the United Kingdom ; i Comm ssioners to be appointed fo r carrying o ut same. Mention has been made of the African and Indian

the Company of Scotland , and what befell it through

84 m cos m o s o r

is no w constit e e L a Kin do m and ut d hy th aws of th t g , with the same autho rity and privileges as before the

better adminisn'ation of justice as shall be made by ﬁ ne Parliament of G reat Britain ; and that bered te r none

s all be ame b her a her successurs h n d y M jesty, or royal ,

O r inar L r of s o a e to be d y o ds Se si n , but such who h v

se e in the l e e of s e nci rv d Co l g Ju tice as advocat s , or pri

al r ss fo r the c ﬁ ve rs or as p Cle ks of Se ion spa e of yea , Writers to th e Signe t for the space of ten years ; with

hi r s n h no r r i ne e t s p ovi io , t at W ite s to the S g t be capabl to be admitted a Lord o f the Session unless he undergo a private and public trial on the civil law before the

a ul ca i F c ty of Advo tes , and be found by them qual ﬁed for the said ofﬁce two years before he be named to be a

L of the es et u t a e or ord S sion , y so as the q aliﬁca ions m d , to be m a c t r ade , for c pa ita ing pe sons to be name d Ie rda

O r i r e s o d na y of S s i n , may be altered by the Parliament o f Br ain s o f r ir r Great it ; Court Justicia y, Adm alty Ju is

c ns and ther in eri r u s . m di tio , o f o Co rt , to remain in all ti e " within Scotland . And the Article also con tains a

r n t at no aus s in decla atio , h c e Scotland be cognisable by f ’ the ur o an r . ue en B n le s Co ts Ch ce y Q s e ch , Common P a ,

‘ u l‘ any other ( nut t in Westminste r Hall ; and that the

u r ( o i u , er the l k u sa d co rts any th of i e nat re, after the

io s l r to eo ne see Un n, ha l have no powe g , reverse , or alte r the t o r senttmwe the indicaturcs ac s of within Scotland , n s e o r S LA 86 ur s C T . s o u r. O ND o r sto p the execution of the same ; and that there be a

r a for Cou t of Exchequer in Scotland , fter the Union , deciding questions concerning the revenues and customs

e and excise , thes having the same power and authority in such cases as the Court of Exchequer in Scotland hath

r of powe passing signatures , gifts , tutoris, and in other things as the Court of Exchequer at present in Scot land hath ; and that the Court of Exchequer that now is in

do Scotland remain , until a new Court of Exchequer be settled by Parliament of Great Britain after the Union ;

' and that after the Union the Queen s Majesty and her royal successors may continue a Privy Cou ncil in Scot

n fo r vi c la d , preser ng the public pea e and order, until the

Parliament of Great Britain shall think ﬁt to alter it, or

' ” s e tablish any other e ﬁ ectual method fo r that end .

l s Artic e XX. provided that heritable j uri dictions , s r o o ﬁices f fo r upe i rities , , heritable jurisdiction o ﬁces

and i e life, j urisdictions for l fe , be reserv d to the owners

o f Article XXI . That the rights and privileges the

do Royal Burghs in Scotland , as they now are , remain i ” a . entire fter the Union , and notwithstand ng thereof Article XXIL provides for the election of sixteen Representative Peers from Scotland to sit in the House

- ﬁ ve sit . of Lords , and forty Members to in the Commons

8 m. Members to take oath , The small number of peers for the House o f Lords