[1706/10/450]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our soveraign lady and the estates of parliament, considering that the burgh of Kirkaldie having, by the building of ane harbour, tolbooth and other publick works, contracted debts far beyond their common good, wherby, and by the great loss the inhabitants have suffered in shipping during the late and present war, they are so impoverished that the burgh is in great hazzard of going to utter ruine to the publick loss of the nation. And seing ane imposition in favours of the burgh of two pennies upon each pint of ale and beer browen and vended, within the priviledges of the same for a suitable time, would be a ready mean for preventing therof; and that the far greatest part of the burgesses and inhabitants (who only can be the sufferers) have, by a writ under their hands, signified their consent therto. Therfor, and for the better enabling the said burgh to perform that dutie and service to the publick, which upon all occasions they have been ready to do, her majestie, with advice and consent of the said estates, authorize and impowers the magistrates and toun counsell of Kirkaldy (or such as they shall appoint) to collect and ingather ane imposition of two pennies (distinct from the excyse payable to her majesty) upon each pint of ale and beer browen and vended, within the priviledges of the said burgh, for the space of twenty-five years from and after Whitsunday next in the year jM vijC and seven, to be applied for the payment of the publick debt of the burgh in the first place, and for repairing the harbour and other publick ends of the burgh in the next place, with full power to the magistrates and toun counsell, or their collector, to poynd and distrenyie, and to use such order for inbringing therof as they are in use to do for any part of their common good; with the burden of twenty five pounds sterling yearly to be payed to the seven macers of parliament for the first four years, and ten pounds sterling yearly to Doctor Thomas Bower, professor of mathematicks in the King's Colledge of Aberdeen towards a sallarie, to himself and successors in the said profession, from the said term of Whitsunday for the haill subsequent years contained in this act; which her majesty, with advice forsaid, decerns and ordains to be payed to him and his successors in office by the magistrates and their collectors at two terms in the year Whitsunday and Martinmass by equall portions accordingly, and that the said two pennies of the pint shall be applied to the uses abovementioned by the said magistrates at the sight of the earles of Rothes, Weems, Leven, Lord Sinclar, or any two of them, their heirs and successors, who are hereby authorized to call the said magistrates and their collectors to accompt for the same.