The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 14 October 2024

[A1641/8/106]1

[Report from the committee for considering the supplication for repairing the bridge at Perth]

Report regarding the bridge of Perth2

3 November 1641

Sederunt of the committee appointed by the parliament for considering the supplication given in for re-edifying of the bridge of Tay: present, [John Drummond], earl of Perth and [George Hay, earl of] Kinnoull, [Sir Thomas Myreton], laird of Cambo and [Sir Gilbert Ramsay of] Balmain, with [Patrick Leslie], commissioner of Aberdeen, [James Sword, commissioner for] St Andrews and [James Glen, commissioner for] Linlithgow.

The foresaid committee, having considered the supplication given in for re-edifying of the bridge of Tay, find the same a work so necessary for the good accommodation and service of the whole kingdom, being the prime passage between the north and south parts of the kingdom, as the same does concern his majesty and the parliament to take to their consideration for the good of the country. And for advancing and effectuating of this work, the committee foresaid thought it expedient to represent to the consideration of the king's majesty and parliament the overtures following namely:

1. The said committee think that £100,000 Scots may be a competent sum to be put in fund for advancing of this work.

2. Seeing his majesty has been pleased graciously out of his royal bounty and pious charity for so good a work to promise the sum of 50,000 merks for advancing thereof, the committee foresaid think it expedient that his majesty may be supplicated to give order regarding the payment of the said sum in such manner and way as his majesty in his princely wisdom shall think expedient.

3. And as for the other 100,000 merks, the committee think expedient to represent to his majesty and the parliament that a full year's crop and rent of the whole bishoprics of Scotland may be allowed and dispensed with by his majesty and the parliament for advancing of this work, wherein there can be no great damage to those who are to have the benefit of the said bishop's rents, seeing they will fall in to the universities and other pious uses for which they are to be destined after the expiring of this present year's crop and before the said universities etc. can be visited and put in right order.

4. The committee thought it likewise expedient to represent to the consideration of his majesty and the parliament if the quots of testaments and annuities of teinds for so many years bygone and to come as shall be thought fit for making up the said sum may be allotted for advancing so good and necessary a work.

5. It is also thought fitting to be represented to his majesty's and the parliament's consideration if a part of the bygone taxations resting unpaid may be assigned and allotted for helping to make up the foresaid sum for so pious a work.

6. It is likewise thought expedient by the committee that it be represented to his majesty's and the parliament's consideration if a taxation may be equally imposed upon the whole kingdom of 20 shillings upon each pound land for the space of a year, or of 10 shillings upon each pound land for the space of two years. Which sum (as is thought) may make up the foresaid sum of 100,000 merks in the surest and most equal way.

7. For the place and manner of building the said bridge, the committee think it fit that the same be left to the consideration of workmen and artificers of best judgment and understanding by the advice of the committee that shall be appointed by the king and the parliament for having care of the said work.

These overtures above-written are only humbly represented to the consideration of his majesty and the parliament to be considered as they find fitting, that his majesty and the parliament may make choice of which of these overtures they think most expedient without prejudice of any other or better overture for effectuating of the said so necessary, so pious and so charitable a work.

4 November 1641

It is the opinion of the barons that all bygone taxations and annuities bygone and in time coming being discharged, the whole kingdom will voluntarily tax themselves for so much as will re-edify the bridge.

5 November 1641

Read in audience of his majesty and estates of parliament, who appoint a duplicate thereof to be given to every estate and also to [Sir Thomas Hope of Craighall], king's advocate.3

  1. NAS, PA6/5, 'November 5 1641'.
  2. This clause is written on the rear of the document.
  3. There are three copies of this report contained in PA6/5. All seem basically identical with the exception of spelling, punctuation etc. The text used here comes from the third manuscript, the only version with endorsements from parliament.