[1661/1/230]¹

Act for [William Keith], earl Marischal anent Old Deer

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, taking to their consideration how necessary and convenient it will be for his majesty's subjects within this kingdom that there be a free market or fair held yearly within the town of Old Deer, or a little above the same, whereunto all his majesty's lieges may resort for buying and selling of such horse, nolt, sheep and all sorts of merchant commodities whatsoever as shall be brought thereto by any persons; therefore, his majesty, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, does allow to William, earl Marischal, his heirs and successors, to have a free fair yearly kept and held at the said town of Old Deer, or a little above the same, which shall be and begin upon the first Tuesday of July and to continue all that week over, with full power to the said William, earl Marischal, his heirs and successors by themselves or such as they shall appoint, to collect, gather, intromit with and uplift the tolls, customs, casualties and other dues of the said fairs used and wont, conforming to the ancient customs in like cases, and recommends to the lords of his majesty's exchequer to pass a signature hereupon in favour of the said William, earl Marischal and his foresaids, in due and competent form as appropriate.