[A1605/6/1]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[A1605/6/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Right trusty and right well-beloved cousins, councillors and others our trusty and well-beloved subjects, the estates presently assembled, we greet you heartily well. We have thought convenient at the return of [Alexander Seton, earl of Dunfermline], our chancellor, that you should be assembled to the intent you might know by his report (as we doubt not but every one of you has been severally informed by the commissioners) of our good affection towards you and the honour, benefit, credit and advancement of that our kingdom, which is in all respects no less dear unto us now than even then when we dwelt in the midst of you. And, least our absence might breed in the hearts of the better sort an opinion of our neglect of that estate, and in the worst an esperance of impunity, we desire you all in general, and every subject of that country in particular, to be fully persuaded that our greatest care is and has ever been since our coming here that justice in all degrees may be administered with greater honour and integrity, the execution thereof going forward with greater severity, and generally that our authority may be now so much the more reverenced amongst you as our power is greater to repress the insolence of the most lawless misdoer and headstrong oppressor in such sort as honest men may confidently repose their honest proceedings in the assurance of our princely love, and tyrants and malefactors be afraid to attempt anything contrary to our laws to the harm or prejudice of their neighbours, being assured not to escape the rigour of such punishment as the nature of their offence deserves. And therefore we recommend to you that, since we have in all assemblies, both public and private, maintained the honour of that country, the generous disposition of you as subjects to our obedience and the observance of the laws, by your misbehaviour you make not the contrary† appear, but that every one of you in your own degree strive, in a laudable emulation of obedience, policy and all virtuous industry, to raise and increase his own estate. The nobility, as they are in credit and honour next unto us, by your good example teach your inferiors how to live civilly with that due respect to our obedience which appertains, and to be by your force and power assisting to our justice and officers of the same in all things tending to the preservation of the peace and observation of the law. The barons and gentlemen with the like care to respect the commonwealth, not in show or words, but in effect, thinking that every insolence or contempt which begins but in one, if it be not suppressed at the beginning, may inflame the whole body whereof they are the greatest part. The burghs to their power to convene with both in a steadfast desire to be reputed wholesome and profitable members, that amongst them virtue and policy may flourish, by setting up of profitable trades to the good of the country and suppressing the contrary, following the laudable example of this their neighbouring country and other comely places where they traffick abroad. That the whole body may join in one to the rooting out of all barbarity which has been hitherto maintained in any corner of that country, but especially in the borders and highlands, that, by labouring your own wool, the trade of the cloth manufactory already begun, which has made this your neighbouring country famous over all the world, may have a progress, and other trades of the like nature undertaken, so that thereby your idle people may be set on work, your poor supplied, and your commodities, which by your negligence have enriched others, may redound to your own benefits and wealth. That the isles may be reduced to our obedience, colonies of civil and industrious people may be planted there, whereby not only our patrimony may be increased and many honest men placed in fertile and profitable positions, but also that commodious trade of fishing so long neglected may be so heartily embraced and prosecuted to your unspeakable advantage, with such dexterity as the reproaches of barbarity and poverty which have heretofore been laid against you may cease in time coming, and the name of your nation made as famous for policy and wealth as it is and has been held by all the world for valour and antiquity. All these and other points of the like consideration, tending to God's glory, our own honour, and the good of the commonwealth in general, as well as the benefit of every subject in particular, we recommend to be considered of by you at this your solemn meeting, that we, being acquainted with your proceedings, may interpose unto them our allowance and confirmation. If there be anything to which the authority of the parliament will be requisite, the same will be prepared against the next session thereof. Assuring you all that following the next course of justice and obedience and having the care which you ought of the flourishing of virtue and policy amongst you, your honour and liberty in respects shall be as dear to us as our own life or estate. And so, remitting the rest to the sufficiency of our chancellor, we bid you all, right trusty and well-beloved cousins and councillors and well-beloved subjects, farewell. From our palace of Whitehall, 11 February 1605.
[A1605/6/3]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
In the foresaid convention of estates, which sat only one day, namely 7 June 1605, to which [John Graham], earl of Montrose was commissioner, the acts following were made: (l.) regarding the cloth manufactory; (2.) regarding the fishing; (3.) against transporting cattle and sheep; (4.) against exportation of tanned leather; (5.) regarding the prices of boots and shoes; (6.) regarding weights and measures; (7.) regarding the prices of horse meat; (8.) regarding beggars; (9.) regarding noblemen's wines.
[A1605/6/4]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Item, regarding the complaint made in name of the noblemen, barons and gentlemen, complaining that they and the merchants from whom they bought their wines for furnishing of their own houses were troubled by the customs officers for payment of the new impost of £14 for every tun of their said wine, albeit the same impost was specially discharged to them by act of secret council, for remedy whereof, the estates declare, statute and ordain that, in case any customs officers shall after the publication hereof wrongfully take from any merchant the said new impost of £14 for any wine to be sold by them to noblemen, barons and gentlemen, for furnishing of their own houses, that the customs officers doing so shall incur the pain of £100 for the impost of every tun of wine that he shall so wrongfully take as said is, the one half of the said pain to his majesty and the other half to the grieved party; providing always that the nobleman's, baron's and gentleman's ticket upon the quantity of the wine received by him, subscribed by himself and the merchant, according to the act made thereupon, be presented and produced to the said customs officer within that same year that the wines [...] as said is [...] them.
[A1605/6/5]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
†The estates think fit that the art of cloth making be brought in and entertained in this country, and that the first offer thereof be made to the burghs, who, not accepting or not prosecuting the same, that it shall be granted to other undertakers, with all privileges and liberties requisite for furtherance thereof.
†Act regarding the urging the burghs with undertaking of the bush fishing, and, in case of their refusal or sloth, that order may be taken by the estates.
†Act against the transporting of cattle and sheep.
†Against exportation of tanned leather.
†Act regarding the prices of boots and shoes, to be set down by the magistrates of burghs and one or two gentlemen of the shire.
†Regarding weights and measures, ordaining the act of parliament made thereupon to be put into execution between now and 20 September.
†That no shoemakers within burgh tan leather, nor no tanners of leather within burgh have liberty to work the same.
That magistrates of burghs set down yearly prices upon horses, corn and straw.
†That all masterful and strong beggars found after 20 August next may be taken by any man, and, being brought to any sheriff, bailie of regality or burgh, and getting them declared masterful beggars, may set his burning iron upon them and retain them as slaves; and, if any of them thereafter escape, the owner may have restitution of them as of other goods.
†That noblemen and gentlemen shall have the wines bought by them for their own houses free of the new impost of £14 for each tun upon their ticket and the merchants.