[1649/5/241]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estaits of parliament, having hard and considerit the suplicatioun givin in to them be the shyre of Bamff, schewing that the inhabitants of the shyre are so infestit be the hielanders who comes daylie doun in pairties and robbis and spoyles them in that degrie, that it is impossible for the poor people to subsist without they be gairdit fra the incursiouns of the saidis hielanders, who are so givin to rapin and stouth that they cannot content themselffis with thair owine bot delyts to pry upon thair nighbors, to whom they leave nothing without they be with stood. For remeid quherof, and upon the earnest desyr of the most pairt of the inhabitants of the said shyr, they have agried with ane watch who, upon the chairgis of the inhabitants of the shyr, sall indevor to fence them from the incursiouns of the saidis hielanders, and for bettir payment of the watch, they have stentit the saidis inhabitants and hes appointit collectors for uplifting therof, this being in thair opinioun the maist equall payment for payment of the said watch and securing of the inhabitants of the said shyr fra the foirsaidis barborus incursiouns of the hielanders, is a work so pious and conducing to thair weill that the samyne callis to the saidis estaits of parliament for approbatioun. Thairfoir humblie suplicating the saids estaits of parliament to be pleasit to tak the premises to thair consideratioun and witnes the samyne be ratifieing and approveing the stent roll sett doune be them to the effect foirsaid, that these who are stentit may be maid lyable to thair proportiouns and that they may have power to poynd the deficients for a thrid moir for thair not giving dew satisfactioun, conform to the said stent roll, that the said watch be not disapointed; utherwayis the inhabitants of the foirsaid shyr will be so disablit be the saidis hielanders that it will be impossible for them to subsist or interteine themselffis and ther famellies, much les to dischairge any dewtie to the publict, as the said supplicatioun mair fullie beirs. Quhilk, with the report of the committie of bills theranent, being takin into consideratioun be the saidis estaits of parliament, they find the desyr thairof just and reassonable and necessar for the good of the shyr. Thairfoir they have ratified and approvin and ratifies and approvis the foirsaid stent roll whairby the heritors and inhabitants of the said shyre hes conveined and stentit themselffis and the remanent of the saidis heritors and inhabitants therof for payment of ane proportionall soume of money to ane watch for keiping and gairding the said shyr from the depredatiouns and the incursiouns of hielanders and laules men, and sicklyk givs powar and warrand to the collectors, messingers of arms, officers and uthers to poynd the deficients for a thrid moir nor thair proportiouns incaice they shall not pay thair proportiouns in dew tyme.