[1607/3/26]¹

Act in favouris of the towne of Dunbartane, anent ane taxatioun thairto

15. Oure soverane lord and estaittis of this present parliament, haveing diligentlie and advysitlie considerit the estait of the burgh of Dunbartane being in danger to be ruynatit be the violent course of the river of Levin and rage of sea, whereby, gif tymous remede be not provydit in verie schorte tyme, the haill towne sall be caryit away and distroyit; and for preventing thairof, his majestie, haveing of befoir grantit commissioun to certane nobill men of the counsaill and estait for viteing the decay and apperand losse of the said burgh throw the occasioun foirsaid, and for treating and consulting what expenss and sowmes of money wer requisite for the help and saiftie of the said burgh, and ane trew and richt tryell being tane thairintill be the saidis nobill men, barounes and utheris skillit persones whais advyse wes tane thairupoun that na less nor the sowme of threttie thowsand pundis Scottis money was abill to beir out and furneis the necessar charges and expenses in performing these warkis that ar hable to saif the said burgh frome utter destructioun, thairfoir oure said soverane lord and estaittis foirsaidis findis meitt and expedient that ane taxatioun of the sowme of tuentie fyve thowsand merkis sall be leveit and upliftit of the haill lieges within the kingdome of Scotland and divydit as followis, viz: the sowme of tuelf thowsand and fyve hundreth merkis thairof to be payit be the spirituall estait, aucht thowsand thrie hundreth threttie thrie merkis iij s. iiij d. be the barounes and frehalderis, and the sowme of four thowsand ane hundreth threscoir sex merkis aucht schillingis ten penneis be the burrowes of this realme, and hes ordanit the samin sowme to be payit betuix and the first day of Februar nixtocum. And the saidis estaittis, haveing gevin full power and commissioun to the commissionaris of the burrowes of this realme to nominat suche persones as they sould think good to be collectouris of the samin taxatioun, they have nominat and maid choise of Thomas Fallisdaill, baillie of Dunbartane, and Johne Sempell of Corrith, burges thairof, to be collectouris of the samin; and for inbringing of the spirituall mennis pairtis of the samin taxatioun, it is statute and ordanit that lettres be direct chargeing all and sindrie archibischoppis, bischoppis, abbottis, priouris and utheris beneficit personis contenit in the taxt rollis, thair chalmerlanis, factouris and intromettouris with thair levingis, to mak payment of the sowmes that they and everie ane of thame ar taxt unto, to the saidis Thomas Fallisdaill, baillie of Dunbartane, and Johne Semple of Corrith, burges, thair collectouris foirsaidis, thair deputtis and officiaris in thair names haveand thair power to ressave the samin at the terme abone specefeit, under the pane of rebellioun etc., and gif they failyie, to denunce and escheat etc., and that the prelatis and beneficit persones for thair releif have lettres chargeing thair vassellis, subvassellis, ladyes of terce, conjunct fearis, lyfrentaris, fewaris, takismen and pensionaris to mak payment of thair pairtis of the samin taxatioun pro rata within tuentie dayes nixt eftir the charge, under the pane of rebellioun etc., and gif they failyie, to denunce and escheat etc, and, gif neid beis, to poind and distrenyie thairfoir as they sall think maist expedient; alwayes declaring that the productioun of sufficient horningis aganis the saidis fewaris, vasellis, takismen and pensionaris shall be ane releif to the saidis prelattis and beneficit persones and shall exoner thame pro tanto fra the payment of the samyn taxatioun, provyding that the samin horningis with thair taxt rollis authenticklie maid and subscryvit be the saidis prelattis and beneficit persones and be thair fewaris, vassellis, takismen and pensionaris contening the perticular sowmes that everie one of thame ar taxt unto be delyverit to the collectouris of the samin taxatioun within fourtie dayes nixt eftir the terme abone specefeit appointit for inbringing thairof, utherwayes they sall nawayes be oblist to ressave the samyn, nather sall the prelat and beneficit persone be exonerit be productioun of the samin at ony tyme thaireftir. And forder, that the saidis prelattis and utheris beneficit persones may have thair releiffis of thair saidis vassellis, subvassellis, ladyes of terce, conjunctfearis, lyfrentaris, fewaris, takismen and pensionaris to thair greater ease and less truble to thair saidis vassellis and utheris foirsaidis, and to the effect that everie man proportionalie may pay his pairt of the samyn taxatioun according to the quantitie and availl of the frie rent he hes of his landis, pensioun and teyndscheves pertenyng to him, alsweill the prelat him self as the takismen and pensionar, it is thocht expedient, statute and ordanit that the saidis prelaittis, everie ane of thame, sall severallie convene his haill fewaris, vassellis, takismen and pensionaris at sic convenient place as he thinkis meittest, and cause summond thame personalie or at thair duelling places to that effect; and being convenit, the saidis prelattis and beneficit persones shall schew to thair saidis vassellis, fewaris, takismen and pensionaris the quantitie of the said taxatioun imposit upoun thame authentiklie subscryvit be the clerk of the samyn taxatioun, and they with one consent sall distribute the samyn to be payit be everie man alsweill be the prelat as be the vassell, fewar, takisman or pensionar, according to the greater or smaller quantitie of his frie rent that he hes ather of his landis, teyndis or pensioun; with certificatioun to ony ane of the saidis fewaris, vassellis, takismen and pensionares that comperit not at the day appointit to the effect foirsaid, that sic as sall compeir with the said prelait and beneficit persones shall procede in the equall distributioun of the samin taxatioun alsweill amongis thame that ar present as the absentis, whilk shall be als lauchfull in all respectis as gif the haill number wer convenit. And for imbringing of the barones and frie halderis pairtis of the samin taxatioun and of the taxatioun of oure soverane lordis propir landis, that lettres be direct chargeing all and sindrie schireffis, stewartis and bailles, thair deputtis and clerkis, fewaris, chalmerlanis and ressavearis of oure soverane lordis propir lande, that they and ilkane of thame within the boundis of thair offices raise and uplift the said sowme of fyve schillingis money of everie pund land of auld extent lyand within the boundis of thair judisdictionis, and imbring and delyver the samyn to the saidis Thomas Fallisdaill and Johne Sempill, collectouris generall appointit for ressaving of the samin taxatioun, or to thair deputtis and officiaris in thair names haveand thair poweris to ressave the samin at the termes abone specefeit, under the pane of rebellioun etc.; and gif they failyie thairin, the said terme being bipast, to denunce and escheat etc., and for thair releif that lettres be direct chargeing all and sindrie erlis, lordis, barones, frehalderis, fewaris and rentalleris of oure soverane lordis propir landis to mak payment to the saidis schireffis, stewairtis, bailleis, thair deputtis and clerkis, chalmerlanes and ressaveris of oure soverane lordis propir lande, ilkane of thame for thair awin pairtis respective, of the said sowme of fyve schillingis for everie pund land of auld extent pertening to thame within tuentie dayes nixt eftir they be chargeit thairto, under the pane of rebellious etc.; and gif the failyie, to denunce and escheat etc., and, gif neid beis, that the saidis schireffis, stewartis, bailleis, thair deputtis and clerkis, chalmerlanis and ressaveris of oure soverane lordis propir landis poind and distrenyie thairfoir, as they think maist expedient. And that the saidis erlis, lordis, barones, frehalderis, fewaris and rentalaris of oure soverane lordis propir landis have lettres to charge for thair releif thair vassellis, subvassellis, ladyes of terce, conjunctfearis and lyfrentaris to mak payment of thair pairtis of the samyn taxatioun within tuentie dayes eftir the charge, under the pane of rebellioun etc., and gif they failyie, to denunce and escheat etc, and, gif neid beis, to poind and distrenyie etc. And for imbringing of the burrowes pairt of the samin taxatioun, that lettres be direct chargeing the provest and bailleis of ilk burgh to mak payment of the taxt and stent thairof to the saidis Thomas Fallisdaill and Johne Sempill, his hienes collectouris generall foirsaidis, thair deputtis and officiaris in thair names haveand thair power to ressave the samin, under the pane of rebellioune etc.; and gif they failyie, to denunce and escheat etc., and for thair releif that lettres be direct chargeing all and sindrie inhabitantis within ilk burgh to convene and elect certane persones to stent thair nichbouris; and the said electioun being maid, to charge the persones electit to accept the said charge upoun thame in setting of the said stent upoun the inhabitantis of ilk burgh, and to convene and sett the samyn and mak ane stent roll thairupoun as efferis within tuentie four houris nixt eftir they be chargit thairto under the pane of rebellioun etc.; and gif they failyie, to denunce and escheat etc.; and siclyk the said stent roll being maid and sett as said is, to charge the burgeses, nichbouris and inhabitantis of ilk burgh to mak payment of thair pairtis of the said stent to the saidis provest and bailleis conforme to the taxt roll to be gevin out thairupoun within thrie dayes nixt eftir the charge, under the pane of rebellioun, and gif they failyie, to denunce and escheat etc., and, gif neid beis, that the saidis provest and bailleis poind and distrenyie thairfoir as they sall think maist expedient. It is alwayes provydit that na persone quhatsumevir be stentit or taxt within burgh except according to the availl and quantitie of his rent, leving, gudis and geir that he hes within burgh, nawayes respecting his landis nor possessiones whilkis he hes to landward, for the whilkis he will be oblist to pay taxatioun to uthairis officiaris. Attoure, his hienes and the saidis estaittis decernis and declaris that the charges to be gevin for payment of the samyn taxatioun sall be execute befoir the terme of payment abone specefeit, and that the denunciatioun of horning following thairupoun shall not be execute till the terme of payment be past, whilk denunciatioun sua following upoun the charges gevin befoir the said terme of payment the saidis estaittis decernis and declaris to be valide and sufficient. Attoure, his majestie and the saidis estaittis, considering the great abuse that hes bene useit in all tymes bigane be sindrie of the liegis of the realme, aganis all gude conscience, in causing of thair pure fermoraris and labouraris of thair ground, being removeable, wha ar subject in payment of verie deir fermes, to releif thame of the haill burding of the same taxatioun, whilk hes bene the occasioun of the empoverischeing of ane great number of the saidis pure labouraris and fermoraris and bringing of thame to ane utter wrak and ruyne, whereas of ressone the saidis tennetis sould be altogidder frie fra the payment of ony taxatioun and the samin sould be payit be sic as hes frie rent, landis and gudis of thair awin; for remede whereof, it is statute and ordanit that na persone whatsumevir exact or compell his tennentis or fermoraris removeable wha payis him ferme for his landis occupyit be thame, to pay ony pairt of this present taxatioun or to sute releif of the samin at thair handis; and gif the samin beis fundin done be ony persones that they sall be callit and convenit thairfoir befoir his hienes justice and his deputtis as violent and maisterfull oppressouris of his hienes subjectis, and punisheit thairfoir according to justice. Attoure it is concludit, determined and resolvit that na suspensioun of ony lettre or charges to be directit for payment of the samin taxatioun sall be grantit be the lordis of counsaill and sessioun, bot discharges thame simpliciter of the granting of the samyn alwayes as the equitie of the cause requiris. His majestie and the saidis estaittis hes gevin and grantit power and commissioun to Alexander, erle of Dunfermeling, lord high chancellar of Scotland, Mark, erle of Louthiane, James, lord of Balmirrenoch, lord president of the college of justice, Johne, lord Halyrudhous, Schir Thomas Hammyltoun of Monkland, knycht, his hienes advocatt, Schir Johne Cokburne of Ormestoun, knycht, justice clerk, Schir Richard Cokburne of Clerkingtoun, knycht, lord privie seall, Maister Johnne Prestoun of Penycuk, thesaurar of the new augmentatiounis, and Schir Johne Skene of Curryhill, knycht, clerk of register, gevand thame (at the leist ony four of thame being altogidder convenit alanerlie) power and commissioun to grant the saidis suspensiounes of the charges direct for the saidis taxationis and to decyde the saidis suspensionis according to equitie and justice, dischargeing the saidis lordis of counsaill and sessioun of melling thairwith and of thair offices in that pert. Attoure, it is specialie provydit that na discharge sall be gevin be his majestie to ony personis subject in payment of ony pairt of the same taxatioun, exemand thame fra payment of thair pairtis thairof; and incais ony sic discharge sall be sua purchessit, ordanis the saidis collectouris of this present taxatioun to misknaw the samin, and to cause execute lettres of horning aganis the persones purchessaris thairof, as gif the samin discharge had never bene purchessit. Attour, the saidis estaittis geves full power and commissioun to the commissionares of the haill burrowes of this realme, be thame selffis or be sic utheris as they sall depute to that effect, to sie the wark for the help and saiftie of the said burgh of Dunbartane to procede and tak effect as they sall think expedient, and to buy, provyde and furneis all sortis of materialis, and to conduce and sie warkmen and all utheris personis meit for perfyting of the foirsaid work, and to nominat and chouse maisteris of work and oversearis of the samin quha sall have the credit of debursing of all sowmes of money to be bestowit thairupoun and sall be comptable to the saidis burrowes for the samin; lykas the saidis estaittis decernis and ordinis the saidis twa collectouris of the taxatioun abone specefeit to mak compt and rakning of the haill recept and debursment of the samin to the commissionaris of the burrowes at thair generall conventioun, the saidis collectouris being lauchfullie warnit thairto upoun fourtie dayes warning befoir the tyme of thair convening.