The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 20 April 2024

[C1639/8/33]1

[Custom upon coal; exorbitant customs of the king of Denmark etc. to be represented to the king; acts amended and approved]

Regarding the supplication presented by the coalmasters craving a discharge of the custom unwarrantably exacted by the conservator upon coal, ordains Walter Cant, compearing for the conservator, to inform himself of the conservator's right and possession and what has been the custom in former times.

Article presented by the burghs craving that the estates would intercede with his majesty for dealing with [Christian IV], king of Denmark and [George William], marquis of Brandenburg, duke of Prussia for Pillo2, to discharge their exorbitant customs, recommended to [John Stewart, earl of Traquair], the commissioner's grace, to supplicate his majesty for that effect, and the burghs appointed to give their reasons and particular information to his grace.

Regarding the article presented by the burghs craving a general pardon of penal statutes, read, voted and passed in articles, excepting as is excepted in the act of 1631 but omitting the exception of wearing guns and pistols.

The article presented by the burghs, regarding the residence of the sheriff clerks and stewart clerks in the head burgh of the shire and stewartry and the holding of head courts and ordinary courts there, read, voted and passed in articles as it is amended, excepting the nether ward of Lanark, whereof the clerk has always resided and the courts been always held at Hamilton. Excepting also such places as upon remonstrance to the council shall be found necessary and convenient to the lieges for holding courts or residence of the clerks outwith the head burghs, without prejudice always to the sheriffs and stewarts to hold other courts when they find expedient, in any other place convenient.

[Article and supplication approved]

Article presented by the burghs ordaining all actions not exceeding £100 to be pursued in the first instance before the defender's judge ordinary, discharging all supreme or other judges from meddling with the same in the first instance, without prejudice of their power to reduce. And also declaring that an imposition of faith shall not be a sufficient cause to make the commissioners judges in actions not merely consistorial, except according to the injunctions given to the commissioners and ratified in parliament in 1592. Read, voted and passed in articles.

The supplication presented by the hat-makers, craving liberty to have a deacon yearly at the election of the magistrates, read, voted and passed in articles.

  1. NAS, PA6/3, 'August 31-October 22 1639', f.11(a) v.
  2. A town in Prussia.