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Sheweth,
that whair these thrie hundreth yeirs bygain, since the erectioun of the said burgh, the government thairof hes consistet of the magistrats and counsell, merchands and gild brether and of two craftismen who wer onlie to be admitted on the towne counsell, and the ordouring of the craftes in the exerceise of thair traid belonged to the magistrats and towne counsell; according to which practice and constitutioun, the whole inhabitants have hitherto leived in great peace and happines, untill, of lait, during the confusioun of these tyms, some factious and turbulent persons, haveing power with the last usurpers and thair comanders, contrair to thair oath and dewtie, did subvert the ancient government of the said burgh and did introduce fyve craftismen to be on the towne counsell, and to voice and ellect magistrats contrair to former actes and constitutiones of parliament, as Q[ueen] Marie, par[liament] 6, caput 52; and farder appoynted deacones of all treades, howbeit naither in number nor abillitie capabell nor sufficient, and also ane successive deacon convener yeirlie to be chosen over them to have the sole power and jurisdictione in maiters of their treades, againes all which proceidar your petitioners and James Mylne, George Smyth and Thomas Ramsay, counsallors for the tyme and of our number to whom we adhere, being the most considerable pairt and bodie of our towne, did solemlie dissasent and protest against, except they had obteaned thair sealles of causs or ordoure of deaconrie from his sacred majestie or his comissionar. For remeid heirof, we have often these two yeirs supplicat the honorable conventioun of borrowis, bot are still by them postponed and deferred, intending onlie to mediat or efter submissioun to agrie, wheroff thair is bot small hoipes, bot not to determin in a judiciall way the bussines contraverted; and now seing your grace and this honorable court of parliament is competent judge to decerne in this and the lyk caices, especiallie sieing our magistrats and that pretendit deaconrie did disclame any other persone or conventioun of borrows to judge thairin:
may it thairfoire pleis your grace and [...]† to appoynt the government of the said burgh to [...]† befoire the laite innovatioun, and invadeing of the [...]†, and to continew in all tyms heirefter, according to the ancient custome and priviledge observed; and that the persons who war then in place, and for ther knowin integretie and affectioun to his majestie have ever since beine debarred, may be reestablished, with power to choise fitt persons in place of those who are sensyn removed, and so to continew ther ellectiones heirefter, as they have beine in use befoire, according to the custume and priviledge of the burgh observed; and your petitioners sall ever pray.
13 February 1661
It is the opinion of the comissioners for the articles that the tryell of this bussines be remitted to the present comissoners of the borrowis, with power to thame to call the parties, and after heiring of thame to report to the parliament once the nixt weeke thair opinion concerning the same, and what they conceave should in justice be done therin.
13 February 1661
The lord comissioner and estates of parliament approve this report, and doe heirby empower and give comission to the present comissioners of the borrowis to heare both parties and to report as is abovexpressed.
Cle[rk] reg[ister]