[1587/7/146]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†The king's majesty and three estates of this present parliament give and grant full power and commission to his trusty and well beloved councillors and others, William [Maxwell], lord Herries, Master Robert Douglas, provost of Lincluden, collector general, William Kerr of Cessford, Andrew Kerr of Faldonside, Sir James Home of Cowdenknowes, knight, Alexander Home of Huttonhall and Alexander Home of North Berwick Mains, or any five, four or three of them, to convene together in what place and as often as they think expedient between now and 1 October 1587, and to advise upon the best and most likely means that may be upon such of the acts of parliament and others concerning customs and such things as they may gather upon their own experience for defence of the realm in time of war and quieting of the border in time of peace, and to make overtures thereupon at their good discretion; and bring and present the same before his majesty and lords of his secret council between now and the said day, to be seen and considered by them, to the effect that further order may be taken thereupon as appertains, and that letters be directed hereupon, if need be, in the appropriate form.
[1587/7/147]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament, under the complaints of diverse his highness's subjects toward the unequal stenting in sundry taxations that have been raised of late years for his highness's service and common affairs of the realm, some lamenting that they are now taxed which were never in use to be taxed of before, some left untaxed more able to pay than they that are taxed, some because that the taxations which should be paid by the prelates and freeholders themselves are laid upon the poor labourers of the ground, some because they are burdened with far greater relief to the prelates than of equity and reason they ought, and partly because of the alteration likely to be through erection of some parts of the kirkrents in temporal lordships, with provision that the same shall tax with the estate of the barons in time coming, and sundry other occasions; for remedy whereof, our sovereign lord, with advice of the said estates, gives, grants and commits full power and commission of parliament to Adam [Bothwell], bishop of Orkney, Alexander [Seton], commendator of Pluscarden, Robert [Boyd], lord Boyd, James [Stewart], lord of Doune, Master John Lindsay, parson of Menmuir, Master David Carnegie of Colluthie, John Arnott [of Birswick], burgess of Edinburgh, and William Fleming, burgess of Perth, to convene within the burgh of Edinburgh when they shall be required thereto, or find most commodious time thereof at any time between now and 1 June 1588, and there to consider the occasions of the said complaints, see the retours and old tax rolls, as well of the spirituality as temporalities and burghs, what was the ancient form of setting of taxations in time past and how far the same differs from the form used within this realm these few years past; and thereafter, at their good discretion, to set and establish such a form and order of taxation of the lieges of this realm in time coming as shall appear to them most equitable and indifferent for all estates; with power also to the said commissioners to hear the complaints of all parties having interest in setting of the said form of taxation, and to decide therein summarily as they shall think most agreeable with equity and justice, and to make acts and ordinances thereupon, which being duly formed and subscribed with the hands of any five of them, his highness ordains to be delivered to [Alexander Hay of Easter Kennet], his clerk register, to be registered in the books of parliament and published, shall have like force and execution as if the same were done by our sovereign lord and his three estates in full parliament, until the next parliament and thereafter until the aforesaid order be discharged.
[1587/7/148]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament give and grant full power and commission to his well beloved Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie, knight, treasurer depute, Sir Archibald Napier of Edinbellie, knight, general of his highness's coin-house, John Aitchison, his highness's late master coiner, and Thomas Aitchison, present master of his said coin-house, with one or two of the council of Edinburgh, or any five, four or three of them, the said Sir Robert Melville always being one, to convene as often as they shall think expedient between now and 1 June 1588, and to set and appoint what duty of bullion his highness ought to have brought to his coin-house for all manner of goods customable passing out of this realm; and whatever the said commissioners decree and ordain to be done in the premises, their ordinance being duly made, subscribed by them or any three of them (the said Sir Robert being one of them as said is), the same to have as great execution, force and effect as if the same were done by his highness and his estates in full parliament, until the next parliament and until the said ordinance be discharged or altered by parliament.