[1581/10/45]¹

Concerning the convention of burghs

²Forasmuch as it was found necessary to our sovereign lord and his highness's predecessors that the commissioners of burghs convene at such times as they should think good, in what burgh they thought most expedient, with full commission to treat upon the welfare of merchants, merchandise, good rule and statutes for the common profit of burghs, as at more length is contained in the acts of parliament made thereupon and concerning the privilege of burghs, therefore our sovereign lord, with advice of his three estates of this present parliament, ratifies and approves the said acts, and, for better observation of the said conventions by such burghs as have heretofore not sent their commissioners at any time thereto, has statute and ordained that in time coming when any conventions of burghs are appointed to the most part of the said burghs, or by the burgh of Edinburgh and any six or eight of the rest, the burgh warned thereto by any missive bill of the provost and bailies of the burgh where the said convention is to be held, or otherwise lawfully cited thereto and not compearing by their commissioner sufficiently instructed, shall pay to the charges of the burghs that shall convene the sum of £20; and ordains the lords of council and session to grant and direct letters of horning or poinding against the burghs absent from the same convention and judged by the remainder burghs to have incurred the said pain and fine, and this at the instance of the burgh of Edinburgh, without further process and calling of party thereto, the said lords seeing the act authentically subscribed by the clerk of that convention that they are absent and convicted as said is.