[A1526/11/1]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[King James, etc. With the advice of the lords of council and the three estates in parliament, pondering the divine service celebrated by the prior and convent of the monastery of Pittenweem, otherwise the Isle of May, founded by our progenitors, and wishing to continue and further the same in honour of God, the saints, our ancestors and successors, etc., we granted and grant by this charter to John Roul, prior, and the convent, the lands of Pittenweem, Anstruther on the east of the burn, Milltown, with the mill, Falside, Lingo, Grangemuir, Cranriggis,† the Island of May, the crofts of Crail, Pittotar, with the pertinents, in the sheriffdom of Fife; the lands of Easter and Wester Rhynd, sheriffdom of Perth; the lands of Mayshiel and Barro, sheriffdom of Berwick; the croft of Belhaven, sheriffdom of Edinburgh and constabulary of Haddington; the croft near Arbroath, sheriffdom of Forfar, with pendicles, outsets, tenants, etc., which were previously the patrimony of the monastery, and which we create and annex in a free barony known as the barony of Pittenweem. And with the advice of the lords of council and the three estates in parliament, understanding that the town of Pittenweem was created a free burgh of barony by James III, we create the same town a free burgh of barony in perpetuity, granting that the burgesses may freely sell wine, wax and other merchandise, and for having bakers, brewers, sellers of broad and narrow cloth, fishmongers, vendors, and whatever artisans customary in other burghs, with power to create bailies, sergeants, clerks, judges and other officers in the burgh for administration and the burgh courts, chosen annually, with other liberties in the charter of creation of the town of Pittenweem. And with power for the prior and convent to infeft the inhabitants in the burgh and its lands. With the power to have a market cross and weekly market on Saturday and Monday and a public fair twice a year, namely at the feast of St Mary Magdalane in summer [22 July] and octaves of the same, and in the feast of St Clement in winter [23 November], and octaves of the same. And the escheats of inhabitants convicted in justice ayres are given to the monastery. Holding all the same with the customary rights, in fee and heritage. Rendering three suits at the three chief places of the sheriffdom of Fife. Under the great seal. At Edinburgh, 13 November 1526, fourteenth year of the reign.]