The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707, K.M. Brown et al eds (St Andrews, 2007-2024), date accessed: 12 May 2024

[1705/6/163]1

Act for two fairs in favors of John Murray of Touchaddam

Our sovereign lady and estates of parliament, considering that fairs and mercats in convenient places tend much to the good and advantage of the inhabitants thereof and of her majesties' other leidges dwelling near thereto, and that it is very fit for these ends to authorize two fairs yearly, on the dayes following, upon the lands and barony of Balquidrock, in the shire of Stirling, and belonging to John Murray of Touchaddam, do therefore, by thir presents, appoint two fairs yearly, one upon the first Tuesday of July and the other on the second Thursday of November, to be kept in all time comeing, upon the said lands and barony of Balquidrock; and have given and granted and hereby give and grant to the said John Murray, his heirs and successors, the right and priviledge of keeping the said yearly fairs for all kinds of merchandice, with all the tolls, customes and casualities thereof, and all other liberties, priviledges and advantage used and wont to belong to any haveing the priviledge of keeping fairs and mercats within this kingdom.

Protestation for the burgh of Stirling against the said act

There was a protestation against the said fair of Balquidrock granted to the laird of Touchaddam, taken by the commissioner afternamed for the burgh of Stirling, who gave in the same in writeing of the tenor following.

I, Colonell John Erskine, lieutenant governour of the castle of Stirling, commissioner to the parliament for the burgh of Stirling, do, in name of the said burgh, protest against the fairs craved by John Murray of Touchaddam to be keeped within the barony of Balquidrock belonging to him, lying within two miles of the said burgh of Stirling, in respect the said burgh has an charter from King Charles the second bearing that his majesty, nor his successors, should not erect a burgh of barony or regality nor grant a priviledge of weekly mercats or yearly fairs within two miles of the said burgh, and upon the said charter the said toun has a decreet of declarator and, thereupon, I ask and take instruments, that the said burgh may not be prejudged of their rights and priviledges, in the hands of Sir James Murray of Philiphaugh, one of the senatours of the colledge of justice and lord clerk register, in witness whereof I have written and subscribed thir presents. At Edinburgh, the fourteenth of September, one thousand, seven hundred and five years. Sic subscribitur, Jo[hn] Erskine. And thereupon took instruments. Extract.

  1. NAS. PA2/39, f.72-72v.