[A1630/7/58]¹

Letter: king's letter to the estates

Regarding the King's Calsay in Cowiemonth

The which day the missive letter underwritten, signed by the king's majesty and directed to the estates presently convened, was presented to the said estates and read in their audience, of the which the tenor follows:

Charles Rex, right trusty and right well-beloved cousin and councillor, right trusty and well-beloved cousins and councillors, right trusty and well-beloved councillors and right trusty and trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas we have been humbly moved in behalf of our trusty and well-beloved Robert Buchan that either some monies might be levied from all such persons there as would willingly contribute to the repairing and upholding of the way called the King's Calsay in Cowiemonth (being the ordinary road from the north to the south parts of that our kingdom), or if any lands can be found to have been formerly appropriated for upholding thereof that the rents of the same may be converted to that use, the intention seeming to tend to a public good, many persons being much troubled (as we are informed) in their passage by decay of that way; we have been the rather pleased to take notice of this purpose and to recommend it to you that if you find the passage fit to be helped you consider of the expediency of the demands, and if any of them (thought most fit by you) can be lawfully and conveniently granted, that by that means you give order to proceed in such manner as by you shall be thought most fit and requisite to be prescribed for the repairing and upholding that way hereafter. And if any motion or expedient shall be proposed to you by the said Robert touching this purpose, we are willing (that if you find the same fitting to be granted) that you give way thereto in regard of his earnestness to see that work effected, whereof (in respect as we are informed of the nearness of his dwelling to that passage) we think fit that he have the charge. Which recommending to your care, we bid you farewell. From our court at Whitehall, 28 June 1630.

Which missive being heard and considered by the said estates, and they well advised therewith, the estates give commission and warrant by this commission to the justices of peace within the sheriffdoms of Aberdeen and Kincardine and the provost and bailies of Aberdeen to consider, try and inform themselves by the best way and means they can of the charges and expenses which the mending of the said way called the King's Calsay in Cowiemonth will necessarily require, and to report to the lords of his majesty's privy council their opinion relating thereto to the intent order may be taken how and by whom the monies shall be advanced and the work perfected.