[1597/11/54]¹

All burgesses suld be taxt and stentit be thair magistratis according to the rentis within burght

Oure soverane lord and thre estaitis of this present parliament, understanding that at sic tymes as taxationis and stentis occurris within this land that the proveist and bailleis of burrowis and sik as thai appoint steuartis within the samin without all gude ordour and discretioun stentis sinderie of the burgeses, inhabitantis of the burrowis, quha hes thair speciall rentis and levingis to landwart outwith brught according to thair habilitie, alsweill to landwart as to brught, albeit ressoun and equitie wald crave that thai suld be onlie stentit according to thair rentis and halding within brught becaus thair rentis and leving lyand to landuart ar stentit with the barronis, gentilmen and frehalderis within the schyreis quhair thay ly. It is thairfoir statut and ordaind that in all tyme cuming it sall not be lesum to the proveist and bailleis of brughes nor na stentaris within the same to stent onie personis thairin according to thair levingis and rentis lyand outwith brught² as thai do within uthair personis of thair rank and substance that hes na rent nor leving outwith brught, and na uthairwyis.