[1597/11/53]¹

Of personis duelland within brught subject to the help of the pure to waching and warding

Forsamekill as thair is diverse inhabitantis that dwellis and remanis within the frie burrowis with thair famelies and ar of ressonabill substance, as alsua hes rentis and levingis within the samin brught yit refusis to contribute for the intertenement of the pure waching and warding within brught with the rest of the nichtbouris or to beir thair pairt of sic uthair deuties as concernis his majesties service, thairby leving at libertie, nathair knawing the magistratis in kirk nor polecie, to the greit hinderance of his majesteis service and the haill realme. For remeid quhairof, it is statut and ordanit be oure soverane lord and thre estaits of this present parliament that all sic that hes thair residence and duelling within the said burrowis be thair famelies and may spend ane hundrethe pundis of yeirlie rent within the samin or stented be the discreit nychtbouris to be wortht tua thousand markis in frie gudis salbe subject to be burdenit with the rest of the inhabitantis for the advancement of the glorie of God and his majesties service and weill of the brught quhair thai duell, providing that this act be not extendit to sic as ar exemit for his majesties service as ane of ilk occupatioun for that caus, nathair to onie persoun that ar memberis of the college of justice and admittit be the lordis of sessioun.