[1644/1/70]¹

James Boswald

Forasmuch as James Boswald, merchant in Edinburgh, having, by warrant and contract made between him and the lords of his majesty's privy council, transported 3,000 bolls of oatmeal to Ireland and delivered them at Carrickfergus for the use of the Scottish army there to Alexander Muir, receiver of the victual of the said army, as the note of receipt under the hand of the said Alexander of 7 September last bears, for each boll of meal thus transported the council was bound to pay to him, his heirs, executors or assignees 17 merks Scots money, the one half thereof upon demand (which was accordingly paid at the transporting of the said meal), and the other half after the report of the note of receipt of the meal in Ireland, with the ordinary annualrent so long as the said sum should be unpaid after the times set down above. And the estates of the kingdom presently convened, remembering that in consideration and for payment of the great sums of money owing for victual and other necessaries furnished to that army they granted a loan to be uplifted in this kingdom, and finding it just and reasonable that the said James Boswald be speedily paid of the other half of the price of the said meal so timeously transported by him as said is, do therefore give warrant and command to the general collector of the loan and tax and his deputes to pay and deliver to the said James Boswald, his heirs, executors and assignees the sum of £17,000, as being the just price of 1,500 bolls of meal at 17 merks the boll, with a quarter's annualrent thereof from Martinmas [11 November] to Candlemas [2 February] last, extending to £340, and that they pay this out of the first and readiest of the loan not formerly disposed upon by public warrant, for the which this act shall be their warrant. And it is hereby declared that what proportion hereof shall not be paid as said is, the sum with the annualrent thereof shall remain as a public debt due by this kingdom to him and his aforesaids, who shall have payment thereof from the public.