The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 29 March 2024
[1593/4/59]1
2Act in favour of the burgh of Edinburgh concerning the reparation of their tolbooth and walls
Our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament, considering that according to the lovable custom and ancient laws of his highness's most noble predecessors of worthy memory, there being no thing so much to be respected in a reformed commonwealth, both in time of peace and war, as the good and sufficient estate of the house of justice, otherwise called the tolbooth, together with the walls and ports of the principal towns thereof, most fit and expedient, therefore it is now, in this perilous age, that the house of justice, otherwise called the tolbooth of the burgh of Edinburgh, being the supreme house of justice within this land, with the ports and walls around about the same for defence thereof, be reduced in such good and sufficient estate as thereby justice may be commodiously administered, trespassers and malefactors escape not out of ward and thereby eschew the punishment due for their demerits, and the lives of all them that has their residence within the same may be preserved from the cruel malice of their enemies when the time of assault now approaching shall come to pass, for which effect and eschewing of sundry other inconveniences which may ensue hereupon there is no readier nor more fit remedy less hurtful to the lieges nor more consonant to equity and reason than to enact a reasonable tax and imposition out of lands and rents lying within the said burgh, and therewith to repair the said tolbooth with all requisite and necessary commodities end easements, as well as for administration of justice as detention of malefactors committed to ward from escaping forth thereof, and therewith also to construct, beat and mend the said ports and walls in sufficient broad height and strength with fencing places in war-like manner, able as well as to resist and withstand the enemy without as to apprehend and retain the trespassers within, as has been observed in his highness's most noble predecessors' times of before, and lately in his majesty's own time for edifying of a tolbooth in the Canongate; therefore his highness and his estates foresaid give, grant and commit to the said provost, bailies and council of the said burgh of Edinburgh present and being for the time full power and commission by themselves, tax masters, collectors and under-receivers, one or more in their name, to ask, crave, receive, intromit with and uptake a reasonable tax and imposition out of all lands and rents lying within the said burgh of Edinburgh pertaining to whatsoever person or persons without any kind of exception according to the value of the said lands and rents within the said burgh, after the form and tenor of a tax roll to be made and set down by them relating thereto, and for the same tax and imposition, if need be, to poind and distrenzie, that therewith the tolbooth of the said burgh may be sufficiently repaired with all necessary and requisite commodities and easements, as well as for administration of justice as detention of malefactors committed to ward from escaping forth thereof, and therewith likewise to beat and mend the said ports and walls in sufficient broad height and strength with fencing places in war-like manner, able as well as to resist and withstand the enemy without as to apprehend and retain malefactors within, according to the observation of his highness's most noble predecessors and his majesty's own late observation had relating thereto, and to equity and reason.
- NAS, PA2/15, f.20r.
- The letter 'P.' written in the margin.