[1584/5/100]¹

Ratificatioun of the decreit arbitrale betuix the merchandis and craftismen of Edinburgh

Oure soverane lord, be advyse of his hienes thrie estaittis of parliament, ratefeis, apprevis and confermis the decreit arbitrall gevin and pronuncit be his majestie betuix the merchantis and craftismen of the burgh of Edinburgh for perpetuall unioun of the said burgh, efter the forme and tennour of the said decreit in all pointis, off the quhilk the tennour followis:

At Edinburgh, the nyntene day of Junii, the yeir of God j^M v^C lxxxiij yeiris, in presence of the lordis of counsale, comperit personallie Maisteris Johnne Schairp, Johnne Prestoun, Thomas Craig and Johnne Skene, procuratouris speciallie constitute for the provest, baillies, deaconis, counsale and communitie of the burgh of Edinburgh, be the act of counsale underwrittin, maid in presens of the saidis provest, baillies, deaconis, counsale and commwnitie contenit thairintill of the dait abonewrittin, and gaif in the said act of counsale, with the decreit arbitrall efter mentionat, gevin and pronuncit be his majestie and juges efter following, subscrivit be thame and pairteis efter rehersit, and desyrit the samine to be insert and registrat in the bukis of counsale, to haif the strenth, force and effect of thair act and decreit in tyme to cum, and lettres and executoriallis to be direct upoun the pairteis specifiit thairintill, in maner contenit thairin; the quhilk desyre the saidis lordis thocht ressonable, and thairfoir hes ordanit and ordanis the said act and decreit arbitrall to be insert and registret in the saidis buikis, to haif the strenth, force and effect of thair act and decreit in tyme to cum, and hes interponit and interponis thair decreit and auctoritie thairto; and decernis and ordanis lettres and executoriallis to be direct upoun the haill pairteis specifiit in the said decreit arbitrall, for fulfilling thairof in all pointis in maner specifiit thairintill, of the quhilk the tennour followis: The quhilk day, Maister Michaell Chisholme, Andro Sclater, Johnne Adamesoun, baillies, Maister Johnne Prestoun, deane of gild, Mungo Russell, thesaurare, Johnne Johnstoun, Johnne Harwood, Johnne Robertsoun, Williame Mawld, Williame Neisbitt, Alexander Naper, Johnne Morisoun, Robert Ken, Henry Chairterhous, merchandis, James Fergussoun, boware, Johnne Bairnisfather, tailyeour, and the deaconis following: Gilbert Prymrois, chyrurgiane, Johnne Watt, smyth, Edward Galbrayth, skynnair, Edward Hart, goldsmyth, Williame Hoppringill, tailyeour, Thomas Diksoun, furriour, and siclyik James Ur, flescheoure, Williame Weir, cordiner, Adame Newtoun, baxter, Williame Cowtis, wobster, Andro Williamesoun, wrycht, Williame Somer, bonet maker, remanent deacanis of the craftis, for thame selffis and the haill body and communitie of the toun, alsweill merchandis as craftismen, makis and constitutis Maisteris Johnne Schairp, Thomas Craig, Johnne Prestoun, assessouris, and Maister Johnne Skene, procuratour fiscall, or ony twa of thame, thair procuratouris, to compeir befoir the lordis of sessioun and counsell quhatsumevir day or dayis convenient, and thair, in name and behalf of the provest, baillies and counsell of the merchandis, and of the saidis deaconis for the craftis on the uther pairt, to consent to the registering of the decreit arbitrall gevin be the kingis majestie and arbitouris specifiit thairin betuix the merchantis and craftismen in the buikis of counsale, interponing of thair auctoritie thairto, with executioun to follow thairupoun in maner specifiit in the said decreit, and generallie promittentes de rato. Extract furth of the counsale buik of the burgh of Edinburgh, be me, Alexander Guthrie, commoun clerk of the samine, witnessing thairto my signe and subscriptioun manuell. Sic subscribitur, Alexander Guthrie.

Heir followis the tennour of the said decreit arbitrall:

At Halyroudhous, the tuentie twa day of Apryle, the yeir of God j^M v^C fourscoir thrie yeiris, we, Robert Fairlie of Braid, Sir Archibald Naper of Edinbillie, knycht, and James Johnnestoun of Elphingstoun, juges arbitratouris, chosin for the pairt of Maister Michaell Chisholme, Andro Sklater, Johnne Adamessoun and Williame Fairlie, baillies of Edinburgh, Maister Johnne Prestoun, deane of gild, Mungo Russell, thesaurare, Johnne Johnnestoun, Robert Ker, younger, Henry Chairterhous, Johnne Morisoun, Williame Maule, Johnne Harwod, Johnne Robertsoun, Williame Inglis, Alexander Naper, Williame Neisbitt, merchantis, being on the counsale of the said burgh, for thame selffs and in name and behalf and as comissioneris for the haill merchantis indwelland in the said burgh on the ane pairt, and Johnne Cokburne of Ormistoun, Maister Robert Pont, provest of the Trinitie College, and Maister David Lyndsay, minister at Leith, juges arbitratouris, chosin for the pairt of James Fergussoun, boware, Johnne Bairnisfather, tailyeour, twa of the craftismen being on the counsall of the said burgh, Gilbert Prymrois, deacone of the chyrurgianis, Johnne Watt, deacon of the hammermen, Williame Hoppringill, deacon of the tailyeouris, Edward Galbrayth, deacon of the skynneris, Edward Hart, deacon of the goldsmythis, Adame Newtoun, deacone of the baxteris, Thomas Dicksoun, deacon of the furiouris, Andro Williamsoun, deacone of the wryttis, Williame Bickartoun, deacon of the masonis, James Ur, deacone of the flescheouris, Williame Weir, deacone of the cordineris, Thomas Wrycht, deacone of the wobsteris, Williame Cowtis, deacoun of the walkeris, and Williame Somer, deacoun of the bonnetmakeris, theme selffis and in name and behalf and as commissioneris for the haill craftismen, indwellaris of the said burgh on that uther pairt, and the rycht, potent and illustres prince, James, be the grace of God, king of Scottis, oure soverane lord, oddisman and ourisman² chosin be advyse and consent of bayth the saidis pairteis, anent the removing of all questionis, differences and contraverseis quhilkis ar or hes bene betuix the saidis merchantis and craftismen concerning quhatsumevir caus or occasioun quhairupoun debait or questioun did aryise in ony tyme betuix thame; and thairupoun, bayth the saidis pairteis being bound, obleist and sworne to stand, abyde and underly and fulfill the decreit arbitrall and deliverance of us, the saidis juges and ourisman, but appellatioun, reclamatioun or contradictioun, as at mair lenth is contenit in ane submissioun maid thairupoun, bayth the saidis pairteis clames and greiffs gevin in be thame, with the anseris maid thairto and thair rychtis, ressonis and allegationis, being hard, sene and considderit be us, and we, thairwith being ryplie advysit efter mony and sindrie conventionis and metingis, with lang travellis tane heiranent, hes all in ane voce accordit and aggreit upoun the heidis and articlis following: first, to tak away all deferences quhilkis hes bene heirtofoir concerning the personis quha had the governament of the towne, thair nowmer, power or auctoritie and maner of electioun, it is finallie concordit, decernit and concludit thairupoun as followis: the magistrattis and office men, sic as provest, baillies, deane of gild and thesaurare, to be in all tymes cuming of the estait and calling of merchantis, conforme to the actis of parliament; and gif ony craftismen exerceand merchandices sall for his guid qualiteis be promovit thairto, in that cais he sall leif his craft and not occupy the samine be him self nor his servandis during the tyme of his office and sall not returne thairto at ony tyme thairefter quhill he obtene speceall licence of the provest, baillies and counsall to that effect. The counsell to consist of ten merchantis, to witt, the auld provest, foure auld baillies, dene of gild and thesaurare of the nixt yeir preceding and the uther merchantis to be chosin yeirlie to thame, and als to consist aucht craftismen thairof, sex deaconis and twa uther craftismen, makand in the haill the said counsell auchtene personis; and this by the office men of that yeir, to witt, the provest, baillies, deane of gild and thesaurare. And as to the maner of the electioun, it is first generallie accordit and cocludit that nor maner of personis be chosin provest, baillies, deane of gild or thesaurare, suppose they be burgesis of the burgh and abill thairfoir, without they haif bene ane yeir or twa upoun the counsale of befoir; and anent the counsale, the auld maner of geving in of tikkettis be the deaconis out of the quhilk the twa craftismen wer yeirlie chosin to be abrogat, dischairgit, ceis and expyir in all tymes cuming, swa that the saidis twa craftismen salbe chosin yeirlie without ony ingeving of tikkettis indifferentlie of the best and worthiest of the craftis be the saidis provest, baillies and counsale allanerlie; and nane to be of the counsale above twa yeir togidder, except thai be office men or be vertew of thair offices be on the counsale. Siclyik anent the lyittis of the baillies thay sall not be dividit nor cassin in foure rankis, thrie to everie rank, as they wer wont to be, bot to be chosin indifferentlie, ane out of twelf lyittis, ane uther out of ellevin lyittis, the thrid out of ten, and the fourt out of nyne lyittis. Anent the deaconis, that nane be electit deacone except he that hes bene ane maister of his craft twa yeir at the leist, and that nane of thame be continewit in thair office of deaconschip abone twa yeir togidder. Last, in generall, that nane haif vote in lyting, voitting or electing of the provest, baillies, counsall and deaconis, deane of gild or thesaurare, bot the personis heirefter following allanerlie in maner efter specifiit; and to proceid in the said electioun, it is fund guid to begin at the chesing of the deaconis of craftis, quhilk ar fourtene in nowmer, to witt, chirurgyanis, goldsmythis, skynneris, furiouris, hammermen, wrychtis, masonis, tailyeouris, baxteris, flescheouris, cordineris, wobstaris, walkeris, bonnetmakeris, sua the deaconis now present sall stand and continew quhill the thrid counsall day befoir the auld tyme of the electioun of the new counsall, quhilk wes on the Weddinsday nixt preceding the feist of Michaelmes, upoun the quhilk thrid counsell day the provest, baillies and counsale now standand extending to nyntene personis, and frathynefurth yeirlie and ilk yeir, the provest, baillies and counsale constitute of the said tuentie fyve personis, sall call in befoir thame the saidis deaconis of craftis, everie one severallie, and requyir thair opinioun and jugement of the best and worthiest of thair craftis; thairefter the saidis provest, baillies and counsell sall nominat and lyte thrie personis of the maist discreit, godlie and qualifiit personis of everie one of the saidis fourtene craftis, maist expert hand lawboraris of thair awin craft, burgeses and frie men of the burgh, quhairof the auld deacone salbe one, and caus deliver thair names to the deacoun everie one according to thair craft; quhilkis deaconis on the morne thairefter sall assemble and convene thair craftis, and everie craft be thame selffis furth of thir names sall elect a persoun quha salbe thair deacone for that yeir, and upoun the nixt counsall day efter the said electioun the auld deacanis, with sum of the maisteris of thair craftis, sall present the new deacone to the counsell, quha sall authorize thame in thair office. Nixt, to proceid to the electioun of the new counsell the said day of presenting of new deaconis, the provest, baillies and counsell, now standand of nyntene personis, and frathynefurth the same day yeirlie, provest, baillies and counsall of tuentie fyve personis, sall cheis furth of the said fourtene deaconis, sex personis, to be adjunit with the new counsell for the yeir to cum, and to haif speceall vote in lyting and chosing of the provest baillies and counsale; and the same day the auld sex deaconis quhilk wes upoun the counsell the yeir preceding to be removit and haif na forder voit for that yeir, except sum of thame be of the nowmer of the new electit deaconis. Thairefter, upoun the Weddinsday nixt preceding Michaelmes ilk yeir, the provest, baillies, deane of gild, thesaurare and ten merchantis of the counsale and the saidis sax deaconis and two craftismen, and in the haill twenty fyve personis, and tuentie sax woittis be ressoun of the provestis twa voittis ordinarlie standand at all tymes, sall convene and cheis the new counsale to the nowmer of auchtene personis, to wite, the auld provest, baillies, deane of gild and thesaurare of that yeir; and the saidis sax deaconis to mak threttene personis thairof and to thame to be chosin the merchantis and twa craftismen, and thir personis to be callit the new counsell; and gif any persoun of the merchantis chosin upoun the new counsall happynnis to be put on the lyit of ane uther office and promovit thairto, ane uther salbe chosin in his rowme be the saidis provest, baillies and counsall. Thridlie, to proceid of the chesing of the lyittis to the magistrattis and office men, sik as provest, baillies, deane of gild and thesaurare upoun the Fryday nixt thairefter, thair sall convene the said new counsale of auchtene personis and the auld counsale constitute of twelf personis, viz., ten merchantis and two craftismen, the said new and auld counsale makand tuentie merchantis and ten craftismen, and in the haill threttie personis, by the provestis odd voite, quhilkis personis solemnitlie protesting befoir God that thay sall cheis the personis quhome thai find maist meit, without favour, haitrent or ony kyind of collusioun, then sall begin and cheis the lyittis to the saidis magistrattis and office men to everie one of thame thrie lyittis: that is to say, to the provest, two lyittis with him self; to the foure baillies, everie one of thame thrie lyittis, the auld baillies not beand one, except thay be new chosin thairto; to the deane of gild, two lyittis with him self; and to the thesaurare, two lyittis with him self; quhilkis haill lyittis salbe of the ordour and calling of merchantis, as said is. Fourtlie, to proceid to the electing and chesing of the saidis magistrattis and office men upaun the Tyisday nixt efter Michaelmes yeirlie, thair sall convene the saidis threttie personis of the new and auld counsale, and with thame, the rest of the deaconis craftis quhilkis ar not of the counsell, extending to aucht personis, the haill personis swa convenand extending to threttie aucht personis by the said od vote thairof, tuentie merchandis and auchtene traidis, quhilkis personis sall begin at the lyittis of the provest and everie one in thair awin rank gif thair vottis to sik as thai find maist meit far the weill of the toun according to thair conscience and knawlege, but feid or favour; and on quhome the grittest nowmer of voittes sall fall, that he be sworne, ressavit and admittit provest for that yeir. And swa to proceid throw the lyittis of the baillies, deane of gild and thesaurare quhill the said electioun be compleitlie endit, the said provest, baillies, deane of gild, thesaurare and counsell electit as said is, makand in the haill tuentie fyve personis, thai onlie and na utheris salhave the full governament and administratioun of the haill commoun weill of this burgh in all thingis as the provest, baillies and counsell thairof or of ony uther burgh had of befoir or may haif heirefter be the lawis or consuetude of this realme, infeftmentis and privilegis grantit to this town be or soverane lordis maist noble progenitouris, exceptand alwayis thir causis following, in the quhilk, the haill fourtene deaconis of craftis salbe callit and adjonit with thame to gif thair speceall voit and consultatioun thairunto, to witt, in the electioun of the provest, baillies, deane of gild and thesaurare as said is, in setting of fewis or ony maner of takkis, attoure the yeirlie rowping upoun Martimes, evin in geving of benefices and uther offices within burgh, in granting of extentis, contributionis, enprunteis and siclyke, bigging of commoun werkis and in disponing of commoun guid abone the sowme of tuentie pundis togidder, provyding nevirtheles that the deaconis not of the counsale, nor ony of thame being personallie wairnit to that effect, and absenting thame selffis swa oft, the last deacone or ony uther that wes in lyte with him that yeir sall supplie thair rowme; and thai being personallie warnit and absent, the rest compeirand salhave power to proceid; gif ony of the provest, baillies and counsall be absent, the rest quha ar present sall cheis ane uther in thair rowme. And to avoyde all suspicioun that hes rissin in tymes past throw the particular assembleis, conventionis and convocationis contrarie the actis of parliament and to the truble of the quiet state of this burgh, it is aggreit and concludit that nether the merchantis amangis thame selffis, nather the craftis and thair deaconis or visitouris, salhave or mak ony particular or generall conventionis as deaconis with deaconis, deaconis with thair craftis, or craftis amangis thame selffis, far les to mak privat lawis or statutis, poind and distreinye at thair awin handis for transgressionis, by the advise and consent of the provest, baillies and counsall, exceptand alwayis that the dean of gild may assemble his brether and counsell in thair gild courtis, conforme to the auncient lawis of the gildrie and privilegis thairof; and that ony ane craft may convene togidder amangis thame selffis for chesing of thair deacon at the tyme appointit thairto and in maner befoir expressit, making of maisteris and trying of thair handie work allanerlie. And gif ony brether or deacone of craftis sall find out or devyse ony guid heidis that may tend to the weill of thair craftis, thay sall propone the same to the magistrattis, quha sall sett fordwart ane act or statute thairupoun and interpone thair auctoritie thairto as it beis fund ressonable. Item, as tuicheing the commissioneris in parliament generall counsallis and comissioneris in conventioun burrowis, it is thocht guid be the commonaris that in all tymes cuming the ane of the saidis commissioneris for the burgh of Edinburgh salbe chosin be the saidis provest and baillies furth of the nowmer and calling of craftismen, and that persoun to be ane burges and gild brother of the burgh of the best expert wyis and honest reputatioun. Item, it is aggreit that the auditouris of all the townis comptis sall heirefter be chosin of equall nowmer of merchantis and craftismen be the provest baillies and counsall. Item, toward the lang contraverseis for the gildrie, it is finallie, with commoun consent, appointit, aggreit, and concludit that alsweill craftismen as merchandis salbe ressavit and admittit gild brether, and the ane not to be refusit nor secludit thairfra mair nor the uther, thay being burgeses of the burgh als meit and qualifeit thairfoir; and that gild breder to haif libertie to use merchandice, thair admissioun and tryell of thair qualificatioun to be in the power and handis of the provest, baillies, thesaurare and counsell with the deane of gild and his counsall, quhilk sall consist in equall nowmer of merchantis and craftismen, gild brether not exceding the nowmer of sex personis by the deane of gild himself; and that na persoun, of quhat facultie soever he be, sall bruik the benefite of ane gild brother without he be ressavit and admittit thairto as said is. Item, that na maner of persoun be sufferrit to use merchandice or occupie the handie wark of ane frie craft within this burgh or yit to exerceis the libertie and privilege of the said burgh without he be burges and frieman of the samine. Item, becaus the merchantis and craftismen of this burgh ar now to be incorporat in ane societie and to mak ane haill toun and commoun weill, it is thocht expedient and concludit to be abrogat the former custome of dividing and setting of extentes quhairin the merchantis payit the fourt pairt and the craftismen the fyift pairt; and thairfoir it is aggreit that as thay watche and waird togidder, swa in all extentis, empruntis, contributionis and the like subsideis to be imposit upoun the burgh, merchantis and craftismen to beir the burdene and charge thairof indifferentlie overheid according to thair habilitie and substance, throw the haill quarteris of the toun, without devisioun of the rollis in merchandis and craftismen³ in ony tyme cuming, the extentouris salbe of equall nowmer of merchandis and craftismen, aucht personis of the ane calling and aucht personis of the uther, to be electit, sworne and ressavit be the provest, baillies and counsell out of the maist discreit and skilfull of all the toun, void of all partiall affectioun and hetrent; and that na maner of persoun usand the tread of merchant, craftismen and occupeand the friedome of the burgh and habill to⁴ ony extent, not beirand the office of provest or baillies in the meantyme, salbe ony wayis exemit fra the reall and actuall payment thairof. Item, as the haill bodie of the toun consistand of merchandis and craftismen dois beir ane commoun burding of watching, wairding, extenting and of the like portebill chairges having a commoun guid proper to none, swa equall⁵ it is for making of ane⁶ unitie and cheritable concord that thair be in the haill toun sum collectioun and⁷ ane purs not peculiare to ony ane, bot commoun to all, off the hail dewiteis and casualiteis callit the entres silver of prentises, upsettis, oulklie penneis, unlawis and siclyk to be collectit in all tyme cuming and ressavit bayth of the merchantis and craftismen and put in ane commoun purse; and to this effect, the merchantis to tak and haif prentises alsweill as craftismen and to be astrictit and obleist thairto, and na prentise alwayis to be ressavit of ather of thame for schorter tyme nor the space of fyve yeir compleit; and for the better knawlege to be had heirof, and for observing of guid ordour in collectioun of the same, that thair be ane commoun buik maid and kepit be the commoun clerk of this burgh, present and to come, quhairin the names of all prentises to merchantis and craftismen, the name of thair maister, day of thair entres and space of thair prentischip, salbe insert and buikit, for the quhilk the clerk salhave of everie persoun at thair buiking vj d., and for the outdraucht xij d., quhilk buik salbe to the prentice a sufficient probatioun of his entrie and a charge to the collectouris of the dewitie; gif ony man be a prentice heirefter and not put in the said buik, his prentieschip salbe to him of na effect. Alswa be ressoun everie industrie is not of like valour and substance, it is declarit that⁸ ilk rank or degrie of prentices sall pay, to witt, the merchand prenteis and sik kynd of people as wer wont to extent with thame and ar not under⁹ the saidis fourtene craftis to pay at his entrie the day of his buiking to the said collectioun xxx s. and at his upsett or end of his prentieschip fyve pundis; the prenteis to a skynner, chyrurgyane, goldsmyth, flescheour, cordiner, tailyeour, baxter and hammermen at thair entrie and buiking to the said collectioun xx s. and for thair upsett fyve pundis; the prentice to a masoun and wrycht at his entrie xiij s. iiij d. and at his upset iij lib. vj s. viij d.; the prentice to a wobster, waker, bonet maker and furrour at his entres x s. and for his upset l s.; and thir dewiteis to be¹⁰ by thair oulklie penneis and dewiteis of thair burgeschippis. And to caus all personis to be mair willing to enter thame selffis in prentieschip with the burgeses and frie men of this burgh, this privilege is grantit to the saidis prentises that they sall pay na mair for thair burgeschip to the deane of gild [but]¹¹ v lib. by the dewiteis foirsaidis; and in augmentatioun of the said collectioun, quhen ony personis salhappin to be maid burgeses of this burgh quha wes na prentice to a merchand or craftisman, frie burges of the said burgh, or hes not compleit his prentieschip, sall pay to the said collectioun at his admissioun the dowble of the haill prenteis or entres silver, upsett and buiking by the dewitie payit to the deane of gild for his burgesschip or gildre, quhilk is tuentie pundis for his burgeschip and xl lib. for his gildrie, the previeleige alwayis of the bairnis of burgeses and gildbrether not beand prejudgit heirby, quha sall pay the auld and accustomat dewitie to the deane of gilde allanerlie, thair dewiteis and collectionis or casualiteis of entres silver, upsettis, oulklie penneis, unlawis and siclyke, to be ressavit in all tyme cuming of all merchantis and craftismen, indifferentlie put in the commoun purse and employit be advise and command of the provest, baillies and counsale for support and releif of the failyeit and decayet burgeses, merchandis and craftismen, thair wyiffis, bairnis and auld servandis and uther puir induellaris of the toun; the provest, baillies, counsall and haill dekinnis everie yeir eftir electioun of the magistrattis sall cheis the collectouris of the said deweteis and casualiteis of equale nowmer of merchandis and craftismen and to devyse and sett doun sic guid ordour as thai sall think meit and expedient for the perfite and reddie inbringing thairof; and lastlie the said collectouris sall mak yeirlie comptis of thair intromissioun thairwith at the tyme of the making of the townis comptis, and find cautioun at thair admissioun for compt rakning and payment. Item, it is ordanit that baith the saidis pairteis, merchandis and craftismen present and thair successouris, sall inviolably observe and keip this present appointment and decreit arbitrall and everie heid, clause and article contenit thairin, lyk as his majestie and the saidis jugeis willis and ordanis thame with willing hartis to put in oblivioun all bipast enormeteis, imbrace and interteny luif and amitie and, as thai ar of ane citie, sua to be of ane mynd, than sall they be acceptit of God, stop the mouthis of thame quha take occasioun be thair divisioun to sklander the treuth, then sall thai be mair able to do our soverane acceptable service and have a standing and flourischeing commoun welth, and finallie his majestie and the said jugeis will esteme thair lang travell fruitfullie bestowit. Attour, his majestie and the said jugeis ordanis practise and executioun of this present appointment and decreit to be and begin eftir the day and dait heirof, and to continew and be observit and keipit as a perpetuall¹² in tyme cuming; and quhasoever contravenis the samin salbe reput and haldin ane trublar of quiet stait of the commoun weill, incur the note of infamie and forfalt and tyne thair fredome for evir, and utherwyse to be perssewit and punishit as seditious personis conforme to the lawes of this realme, with rigour and extremitie. And ordanis thir presentis to be ratefeit and apprevit in his hienes nixt parliament, and in the meanetyme the samin to be actit and registrat in the buikis of counsale and sessioun and have the strenth of actis and decreitis of the lordis thairof, and that thair auctoritie be interponit thairto and lettres and executoriallis to pas thairupoun in forme as effeiris; and for acting and registring the samin makis and constitutis Maisters Johnne Scharpe, Jhonn Prestoun, John¹³ Craig, Jhonn Skene, procuratouris conjunctlie and severalie in uberiori forma promittend' de rato. In witnes quhairof, the said jugeis and owirsmen, togidder with the saidis commissioneris, in taken of thair consentis and acceptatioun of the premises, hes subscrivit thir presentis with thair handis as followis, day yeir and place foirsaidis. Sic subscribitur, James R[ex], Robert Fairlie of Braid, Ard Naper of Edinbellie, knycht, James Jhonstoun of Elphingstoun, Jhone Cokburne, Robert Pont, David Lindesay, Alexander Clark, provest, Maister Michall Cheisholme, baillie, Andro Sklatter, baillie, Johne Adamsoun, baillie, Maister Johnne Prestoun, deane of gild, Mongo Russell, thesaurar, Robert Ker, youngar, Henrie Chartouris, Johnne Morisoun, Johnne Harwod, Johnne Robertfoun, Williame Nesbit, Alexander Naper, James Fergusoun, Williame Mawle, Johnne Jhonnstoun, Edward Galbrayth, Gilbert Primroise, Johnne Wat, James Ur, with my hand, Williame Pringill, Eduart Hart, Johnne Bairnsfather, tailor, Thomas Diksoun, Andro Williamsoun, Thomas Wricht, Williame Bikartoun, Williame Somer, Allane Newtoun, Williame Weir, Williame Coatis, with our handis, at the pane led be the notaris underwretin¹⁴ because we can nott writt oure selffis. Ita est Maister Alexander Guthre notarius publicus ac testis in premisis de mandatis dictarum personarum scribere nescien' ut asserverunt ac testantibus his meis signo et subscriptione manualibus acta 14 et 25 Maii 1583. Ita est Maister David Guthrie connotarius in premisis de mandato dictarum personarum scribere nescie' ut asserverunt teste manum propria.