[1587/7/151]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Concerning the supplication given in to our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament by the provost, bailies, council and community of the burgh of Aberdeen, making mention that where our sovereign lord's most noble progenitors, considering the good service done at all times by the said burgh, endowed the same with diverse commodities, liberties and immunities for the aid and support thereof, which they have possessed in all times past, and by reason of the barrenness and sterility of the country where the said burgh is situated, there is no fertility of corns nor victuals growing about the said burgh, nor yet within 10 or 12 miles distant from there, but such as grows in the countries of Buchan and Garioch and others north of the said burgh, which come, resort and repair to the said burgh by the bridge of Don, which is the only passage and way that the whole furnishing of the victuals, repairing of merchants, country men and other strangers to the said burgh and other parts, towns and countries south of the said town of Aberdeen is made by the bridge of Don, being two miles distant from the said burgh; yet, nevertheless, being now fast decaying and the north end thereof already fallen down, through which the rest of the same is likely to fall suddenly, likewise presently in time of windy and tempestuous weather no man is liable to travel thereon, neither on foot nor horse, the which decay and ruin of the said bridge, as the same will be most damnable to the whole barons, gentlemen and others, our sovereign lord's lieges dwelling in the north parts and in use to frequent to the said burgh for selling of their victuals and other traffic of merchandise, as also to all such as dwell north of the same in all countries, coming and resorting to the south parts of this realm, so will the same tend to the wrack and destruction of the said burgh if the same be not prevented by some solid and substantial order in this present parliament, namely, by the granting of a taxation throughout the whole north country for reparation of the said bridge, to the which taxation the said provost, bailies, council and community are willing to contribute according to their power and ability, albeit they are otherwise obliged with upholding of the bridge of Dee and thereupon made the more unable to help to the reparation of the said bridge of Don, as the said supplication at more length bears; our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, has given and granted full power and commission to [George Gordon], earl of Huntly, [Francis Hay], earl of Erroll, [George Keith], earl Marischal, [Sir Patrick Gordon], laird of Auchindoun, the laird of Ury, the laird of Ravenscraig, the laird of Drum, the laird of Esslemont, the laird of Foveran, the laird of Uchquhone, and a commissioner for the said burgh of Aberdeen, or any three of them jointly, to pass to the bridge of Don at any time they please appoint and there to examine and consider the said bridge and to confer thereupon with the most honest, ancient, landed gentlemen adjacent thereto, and see if the said bridge possibly may be helped and by what best means the same may be done, and to report their opinion and proceedings in the premises to the lords of secret council; and in case after their said report the said bridge be found possible to be mended and repaired, our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, gives and grants full power and commission to the lords of secret council to grant and appoint a reasonable general stent and taxation upon such parts of the country as they shall think most expedient for help and support of the said decayed bridge, and to make special act and ordinance upon the said taxation containing the form and order of payment and collection of the same.
[1587/7/152]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Concerning the supplication given in and presented to our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament by the inhabitants of the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Fife, Perth and others within this realm in the north parts thereof, making mention that where the whole passage, at the least the greatest part thereof, of the inhabitants of the said sheriffdoms resorting to our said sovereign lord and burgh of Edinburgh, where his majesty's laws are administered and principal town and seat of justice is, were by the bridge of Cramond, which now and has been this long time fallen down and no passage had or may be had thereby, through which, by the great abundance of water at the said bridge commonly running since the fall thereof, there are diverse persons perished therein and no common passage thereat, neither on foot nor horse, to the great hurt, wrack and discommodity of the whole lieges of the said sheriffdoms and others resorting thereto, whereupon they submitted themselves to his majesty of before, when remedy was promised to be provided, albeit as yet overseen, as at more length is contained in the said supplication; our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, has given and granted power and commission to [Robert Seton], lord Seton, the laird of Dundas, the laird of Craighall, the laird of Barnbougle, [Touris], laird of Inverleith and a commissioner for Edinburgh, or any three of them jointly, to pass to the bridge of Cramond at any time they please appoint, and there to examine and consider the said bridge and to confer thereupon with the most honest and ancient landed gentlemen dwelling adjacent thereto, and to consider the estate of the said bridge and if the same may be helped, and by what best means the same may be done, and to report their opinion and proceedings in the premises to the lords of secret council; and in case after the said report the said bridge be found remediable, our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, gives and grants full power and commission to the lords of secret council to grant and appoint a reasonable general stent and taxation upon such parts of the country as they shall think most expedient for help and support of the said decayed bridge, and to make special act and ordinance upon the said taxation containing the form and order of payment and collection of the same, or else to grant power and licence to the said lords of secret council to set, impose and lift certain new customs for a certain space of all sheep, cows, oxen, horses, sacks of wool, hides and such others that pass long ways the said bridge to the effect above-written, in case the same be found expedient by the said lords of secret council after conference had by them thereupon with the aforesaid commissioners, and to make special ordinance upon the said customs containing the form and quantity of the said customs and how long the same shall endure, likewise and in the same manner as the said three estates might have done themselves.
[1587/7/153]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, has given and granted power and commission to the right honourable Robert [Boyd], lord Boyd, William Cunningham of Caprington and Hugh Campbell of Tarrinzean, or any two of them jointly, to pass to the burgh of Ayr any time they please appoint to that effect, and there to examine and consider the harbour and sea port and bridge of the said burgh, and to confer thereupon with the most ancient and honest burgesses and landed gentlemen dwelling adjacent to the said burgh of Ayr, and to consider the estate of the said harbour and bridge and if the same may be helped, and by what best means the same may be done, and to report their opinion and proceedings in the premises to the lords of secret council; and in case after the said report the said harbour and bridge is found remediable, our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, gives and grants full power and commission to the lords of secret council to grant and appoint a reasonable general stent and taxation upon such parts of the country as they think most expedient for help and support of their said decayed harbour and bridge, and to make special act and ordinance upon the said taxation containing the form and order of payment and collection of the same, or else to grant power and licence to the provost, bailies and council of the said burgh of Ayr to set, impose and lift certain new customs for a certain space on all sheep, cows, oxen, horses, sacks of wool, hides and such others that pass long ways their said bridge and are bought in their said market to the effect above-written, in case the same be found expedient by the said lords of secret council after conference had by them thereupon with the aforesaid commissioners, and to make special ordinance upon the said customs containing the form and quantity of the said customs and how long the same shall endure, likewise and in the same manner as the said three estates might have done themselves.
[1587/7/154]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Our sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the three estates of this present parliament, has given and granted power and commission to the right honourable Robert [Boyd], lord Boyd, William Cunningham of Caprington and Hugh Campbell of Tarrinzean, or any two of them jointly, to pass to the burgh of Irvine any time they please appoint to that effect, and there to examine and consider the water mouth, harbour port and harbour of the said burgh where their ships and barks are accustomed to repair, unload and load, and thereupon to confer with the most honest and ancient burgesses of the said burgh and landed gentlemen dwelling adjacent thereto and see if the said harbour possibly may be repaired, and what sums and means would repair the same, and to report their opinion and proceedings in the premises to the lords of secret council; and in case after the said report the said haven and harbour be found remediable, our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent of the said three estates, gives and grants full power and commission to the said lords of secret council to grant and appoint a reasonable general stent and taxation upon such parts of the country as they shall think most expedient for the special help and support of their said decayed harbour and haven, and to make special act and ordinance upon the said taxation containing the form and order of the payment and collection of the same for their said support, likewise and in the same manner as the said three estates might have done themselves in this present parliament; and ordains letters to be directed hereupon, if need be, in the appropriate form.
[1587/7/155]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Forasmuch as there is an article presented to our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament for the better execution of justice, a matter most necessary to be well considered of, therefore his highness, with advice of his said estates, gives, grants and commits full power and commission and authority to his well beloved and trusty councillor Master David MacGill of Nisbet [and Cranstoun-Riddel], his highness's advocate, and Master John Sharp of Houston, also advocate, to consider the said article in all circumstances thereof and thereupon to make and form a special act and present the same to the lords of council and session, which being found expedient and allowed by them shall have the strength and effect of an act of parliament until his highness's next parliament and further, until the same be annulled and discharged by parliament.
[1587/7/156]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†Forasmuch as there are diverse good laws, acts and statutes made in this present parliament and in the last parliament held at Linlithgow in December 1585, which necessarily would be imprinted, that the effect thereof the better come to the knowledge of the whole lieges, therefore, our sovereign lord, with advice of the three estates, gives and grants full power, commission and authority to [John Maitland of Thirlestane], his highness's chancellor, [Thomas Lyon of Baldukie], treasurer, [David MacGill of Nisbet and Cranstoun-Riddel], advocate, [Sir Lewis Bellenden of Auchnoull], justice clerk, [Alexander Hay of Easter Kennet], clerk register, James Meldrum of Seggie, Master John Lindsay, parson of Menmuir, Master David Chalmer, chancellor of Ross, Masters John Sharp, Thomas Craig and John Skene, advocates, or any three of them, the chancellor always being one, to review and consider the whole laws, acts and statutes made in the two last parliaments and how many of them necessarily would be imprinted, that, according to their advice and declaration, the clerk register may give out an extract and copy to the printer, with such goodly diligence as may be used.