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Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, ratifies and approves the charter made and granted by his majesty's royal grandfather King James VI, of glorious memory, under his highness's great seal, of the date 8 December 1571, whereby his majesty, for the well and profit of the inhabitants of the village of Bowden, lying within the lordship and regality of Kelso and sheriffdom of Roxburgh, and of other of his majesty's lieges repairing thereto, and for the better provision of his majesty's subjects in the country there about, and also for faithful and thankful service done by the late Sir Walter Kerr of Cessford, knight, heritable bailie of the abbacy and regality of Kelso, whereof the said village of Bowden was a part, gave and granted heritably to the inhabitants of the said village of Bowden then present and for the time being, the liberty, privilege, full power and free licence and special mandate of a weekly market on Friday for the selling and buying of fish, butcher-meat, oxen, sheep and all other cattle, wheat, meal, malt, bear and all other victuals, linen and woollen cloth, skins and other merchandise and goods, together with two free fairs yearly, one thereof on St Peter's day, 29 June, and the other of them on Lady Katherine's day, 25 November,† to be held and kept within the said village of Bowden, and with power to the said late Sir Walter, his heirs and assignees heritable bailies foresaid, to depute and appoint necessary keepers of the said weekly markets and yearly fairs as appropriate, in all and sundry heads, points, articles and clauses therein-contained, after the form and tenor of the same in all points, and declares, statutes and ordains that this present general ratification thereof is and shall be as good and sufficient, in all respects and to all purposes and intents, to William [Ker], earl of Roxburghe, his heirs, successors and assignees now superiors and heritable bailies of the said village of Bowden and inhabitants thereof, as if the same charter were word for word inserted herein; with the which his majesty, with advice and consent foresaid, has dispensed and, by this ratification, dispenses for now and ever.