[A1597/3/7]¹

Act regarding the coin

The king's majesty, his nobility, council and estates presently convened, considering the great scarcity of coined money presently current within this realm and the manifold hurts and inconveniences which not only his highness but all estates of persons have sustained and daily sustains by the want of gold, silver and alloyed money to make exchange therewith of all sorts of wares and merchandise, the profit of his majesty's coin being one of the chief rents and casualties belonging to his highness's crown, of the which profit his majesty has been disappointed this long time bygone, for remedy whereof in time coming, his majesty, with advice of his said nobility, council and estates, has given and granted and by this act gives and grants his full power and commission, express bidding and charge to his trusty and well-beloved Walter [Stewart], commendator of Blantyre, his highness's treasurer, Master John Lindsay of Balcarres, his majesty's secretary, Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie, knight, Sir John Cockburn of Ormiston, knight, justice clerk, Mark [Kerr], lord Newbattle, Master Thomas Hamilton of Drumcairnie, advocate, Master John Preston of Fenton Barns, Master Edward Bruce, commendator of Kinloss, Sir Archibald Napier of Edinbellie, knight, Master David Carnegie of Colluthie [and Kinnaird], Thomas Acheson, Thomas Foulis, Henry Nisbet, John Arnott or any seven of them jointly, to convene within the burgh of Edinburgh upon 1 April next to come, or any other day or days thereafter they shall think most convenient, and there to advise, confer and conclude regarding the proportion and circumscription of a new coin to be set out and have course amongst his highness's lieges hereafter, keeping always the price and fines of the silver money presently current within this realm. The same conclusion to set down and put in form and acts and proclamations thereupon to make as use is, declaring by this act that whatsoever the foresaid persons, or any seven of them jointly as said is, shall do and think fit to be done herein, that the same shall stand and have full force and effect at all time thereafter. Likewise his majesty, with advice of his said estates, presently ratifies and approves the same and generally all and sundry other things to do and use that herein and for execution thereof is necessarily required to be done, firm and stable holding all and whatsoever things the said persons or any seven of them shall do herein.