[1599/12/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as in the convention held at Holyroodhouse, 29 June the year of God 1598, it was specially thought fit and expedient by his majesty and his highness's estates at that time convened that as well for the defence of this realm in case of foreign invasion as for all other occasions and accidents that might occur, that all his majesty's subjects according to their particular ranks, degrees and qualities should be sufficiently armed and furnished in armour and weapons, as well as offensive as defensive; and therefore it was appointed and ordained that every earl should be armed and furnished with defensive corslet of proof, head pieces, vanbraces, †taslets and a Spanish pike, and that he have 20 stands of armour in manner foresaid for his own household and domestic servants; and that every lord be furnished in manner foresaid for his own person and with 10 stands of the same armour for his household; that every baron and gentleman be likewise furnished with 1 stand of the same armour for every 15 chalders of victual that he may spend of yearly rent; that every baron and gentleman whose living consists not in victual should be provided and furnished with a complete stand of armour of the quality foresaid for every 1,000 merks of his yearly rent; that every gentleman that may spend either in victual or silver yearly the sum of 300 merks be furnished with 1 light corslet and pike or else with a musket with a musket support, bandolier and head piece; that every burgess within any burgh within this realm having £500 worth of free gear be furnished with a complete light corslet, pike or two-handed sword or else a musket with head piece, musket support and bandolier, as in the said act and ordinance at more length is contained. In the which act also there are special penalties and fines enjoined to the contraveners of the same particularly specified therein. And because there is no such quantity of armour made within this realm as in any way may furnish the lieges thereof, so that there was a great necessity of bringing of the same home out of other foreign countries, and Sir Michael Balfour of Burleigh, knight, (not upon any respect of gain and profit that he might reap thereby, but upon the earnest affection and great regard he has to his majesty's service and to the benefit of this realm), before the estates convened in the month of December last, undertook upon him the bringing home of 10,000 stands of armour thereof, 2,000 stand for horsemen, and for the performance thereof, then instantly found certain noblemen and other barons' caution. At the which time, special privilege was granted by his majesty and his highness's estates to the said Sir Michael to bring home the said armour and to sell the same at the particular prices after-specified specially set down and concluded upon by the lords of his highness's secret council, they are to say the horsemens' armour complete armed at all pieces, of the proof of the lance and sword, for £50; the footmens' armour, complete with the pike of the same proof, for £18; the hackbut, with a flask or bandolier, for £6 13s 4d; the horsemens' armour, complete of the proof of the hackbut, for £60. And also, at that same time, his majesty granted a special† prohibition discharging all others whatsoever within this realm for the space of three years next after the date thereof of all bringing home or selling of any armour; and that the said Sir Michael be no loser, but that the said armour, after the same be brought home within this country, may be bought from him. The lords of secret council ordain letters to be directed to officers of arms, sheriffs in that part, charging them to pass and charge all and sundry earls, lords, barons, gentlemen and other burgesses (the inhabitants within the burghs of Edinburgh, Dundee and St Andrews always being excepted) to address themselves to the said Sir Michael, his doers and factors in his name who have presently the charge and burden of the selling of the said armour, and there buy from them the particular number of such quality and sorts as by the said former act of convention made in the said month of June the year of God 1598 foresaid is specially set down, and that for the particular prices above-written, within 10 days next after the charge, under the pain of rebellion etc.; and if they fail etc., to denounce etc. and to escheat etc.