[1607/3/24]¹

Act in favouris of the frie burrowis regall aganis unfremen

13. Oure soverane lord and estaittis of this present parliament ratefeis, apprevis and confermis all actis, lawes, decreittis and privileges grantit or gevin in favouris of his hienes frie royall burrowes; and considering the great hurte and skaith daylie sustenit be the burgeses inhabitantis of his majesteis royall burrowes, wha underlyis and beiris all burdingis imposit upoun the estaitt of burrowes in all his majesteis services, throw the continuall incresce of unfrie traffiquerris duelland in diverse pairtis of this realme not being burgeses of the saidis royall burrowes, and nevirtheless keip and haldis oppin buthis, buyis and sellis merchandice and utherwayes uses the liberteis and privileges of frie burgeses as gif they wer burgeses and actuall residentis within the saidis royall burrowes, in manifast defraude of oure soverane lordis customes and to the prejudice of the liberteis of the saidis frie royall burrowes; and thairfoir statutis and ordinis that all unfrie persones not beand actuall burgeses of the saidis frie royall burrowes, wha beiris not burding and payes not taxt and stent to his majestie, sall desist and ceis fra useing of ony trade of merchandice or of the liberteis and privileges foirsaidis of the saidis frie royall burrowes under the panis contenit in the actis of parliament maid anent unfrie traffiqueris of befoir, and that lettres of horning be direct heirupoun, chargeing whatsumevir unfremen and usurperis of the privileges of the saidis burrowes to find sufficient cautioun for obedience of this act, and als that lettres of horning be direct upoun all actis and decreittis of burrowis gevin at thair conventionis betuix burgh and burgh and burgeses of frie burrowes upoun ane simple charge of ten dayes without calling of pairtie.