[1681/7/57]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Our soveraigne lord and estates of parliament, takeing to their serious consideration the vigilancy and care of the magistrats of the city of Edinburgh and the great and vast pains and expences bestowed by them in acquireing fountains, wells and springs of water and liberty for carieing the said water by pypes and conduits from severall heretors through their lands and grounds to the toune of Edinburgh, for the generall good and conveniency of all his majesties' subjects resideing in or repairing thereto, which might be rendred ineffectuall by the malice and wickednes of some persons through their breaking or imbeziling of the same, unles the same were prevented and provided against; therfore, our said soveraigne lord, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, for the saids magistrats further encouragement to insist in so good and necessary works, doeth not only ratifie, approve and confirm the rights made to the said citty of Edinburgh thereof, in the haill heads, articles, clauses and conditions thereof, and all acts of privy councill made in their favours for secureing thereof, but also doeth strictly prohibit and discharge all persones whatsomever from taking up, brakeing, imbazelling or anyways spoiling their saids fountaines, cisternes, leaden and other pipes and conduits belonging or which hereafter shall be acquired and belong to the said citty of Edinburgh, which are or shall hereafter be made use of, for conveying the water to the said citty or any part thereof, or doe any thing which may impead the said work and current of the water, certifieing such as shall be found to transgress, that they shall be lyable to such pains and punishments as the law doeth provyd in such caices, which shall be inflicted upon them with all rigor. And for their farder encouragement, in so good and necessar a work, our soveraigne lord, with advice and consent foirsaid, doeth authorize and empower the saids magistrats of Edinburgh to beit, mend and help the cisterns, pypes and conduits of the said water, wherever the samen shall happen to break or spring, without waiting for the heretors leave and liberty wher the samen shall happen (they always paying and satisfieing the saids heretors and others for any damage and loss which they shall happen to sustaine therby, at the sight and determination of tuo honest men to be neutrally chosen be both parties). With power also to the saids magistrats of the said citty of Edinburgh, sherriffs and others in authority within their respective jurisdictions, to search for and apprehend all persons who shall be informed to be guilty of the said crime, and upon evidence of their guilt to committ them to prisone till they be proceeded against and judged according to law.