Nominandi, Secundum quam, Episcopi ante abolitionem hujus ordinis in Scotia, in usu fuerunt Magistratos et Concilium in Electione suorum Successorum annuatim indulgere, per Episcopum perenne approbandos et ad suum beneplacitum mutandos ET ULTERIUS cum per leges et acta parliamenti in Scotia Nos jure Coronæ Archiepiscopum Episcoporum Decanorum et Capitulorum in omnibus juribus Superioritatis hæeditariis officiis aliisque, locum tenemus IGITUR Nominavimus et Constituimus Sicuti per præsentes Nominamus et Constituimus personas sequentes, Balivos, Conciliarios, Decanorum Conventorem et Artificum Decanos viz Magistrum Alexandrum Fraser juris civilis in nostro Collegio professorem, Magistrum Joannem Gordon Clericum Commissariotus, Gulielmum Gordon de Govil et Andream Dyce mercatorem Balivos, Collonellum Joannem Midleton de Seaton, Magistrum Joannem Paton de Grandhom Rectorem et Magistrum Alexandrum Fraser dicti Collegii pro: Gymnasiarcham, Jacobum Grey juniorem, Alexandrum Aberdeen, Georgium Gordon, Alexandrum Irvine et Jacobum Panton mercatores et Patricium Duff de Premnay Conciliarios Georgium Mackie Decanorum Conventorem, et Petrum Christall Fabrum Lignarium, Joannem Mowat Fabrum Ferrarium, Jacobum Dickie Vestiarium Robertum Leslie Calcearium et Dunbar Textorem Artificum

ful, conform whereunto the Bishops, before the abolition of that order in Scotland, were in use to allow the Magistrates and Council to elect their own successors yearly, always to be approven or altered at the Bishop's pleasure. And further by the laws and acts of parliament in Scotland, We, by right of the Crown, coming in place of archbishops, bishops, deans and chapters in all right of superiority, and other hereditary offices. Therefore We have nominate and constitute, as by these presents We nominate and constitute the following persons to be ballies, councillors, deacon-convener and deacons of trade viz Master Alexander Fraser, Professor of Civil Law in our College; Master John Gordon, Commissary Clerk; William Gordon of Govil and Andrew Dyce merchant to be ballies; Colonel John Midleton of Seaton; Master John Paton of Grandhom, Rector, and Master Alexander Fraser, Professor in the said College; James Grey younger; Alexander Aberdeen; George Gordon; Alexander Irvine and James Panton, merchants, and Patrick Duff of Premnay councillors; George Mackie, deacon-conveneer, and Peter Christall, wright; John Mowat, smith; James Dickie, tailor; Robert Leslie, shoemaker, and Dunbar, weaver, deacons of trades. Giving, granting and

Decanos DANDO Concedendo et Committendo illis potestes usuales et necessarias infra dict. Burgum Sicuti per priores Magistratos et Concilium dicti Burgi gavisæ erant junctim et separatim Secundum eorum respectiva officia et fidei commissa pro meliore dicti Burgi regimine CUM POTESTATE illis per Suffragiorum pluralitatem suos Successores annuatim Eligendi, usque dum Nos, hæredes et successores nostri, dictam potestatem Revocare, vel aliquam aliam directionem in hac re, dare aptum videbimus AC ETIAM nobis nostrisque prædict. potestatem Reservan. aliquem ex dict. Magistratibus vel Concilio quibus Eligi contigerit alterandi et deponendi et vel alium in suum locum constituendi, vel alium in ejus vice Eligi Ordinandi, ut nobis visum fuerit IN CUJUS REI TESTIMONIUM præsentibus Sigillum nostrum per unionis tractatum custodiendum et in Scotia vice et loco Magni Sigilli ejusdem utend. ordinat. appendi mandavimus APUD Aulam nostram de St. James's Decimo tertio die mensis Decembris Anno Domini Millesimo septingentesimo vigesimo nono Regnique nostri anno tertio.

Per Signaturam manu S: D: N: Regis suprascript.

committing to them the usual and necessary powers within the said burgh as were enjoyed by the former magistrates and Council of the said burgh, jointly and severally conform to their respective offices and trust committed to them for the better government of the said burgh. With power to them by majority of voices yearly to elect their own successors aye and while We, our heirs and successors, see fit to revoke the forsaid power or give any other direction in the said matter. As also reserving power to Us and our forsaids of altering or deposing any of the said magistrates or council who may be elected, and either to place another in his room, or to order another to be elected for him as We shall see fit. In witness whereof, We have ordered our seal appointed by the Treaty of Union to be used and kept in Scotland in place of the Great Seal to be appended to these our presents. At our palace of St. James, the thirteenth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and twenty nine and of our reign the third year.

EXTRACTS FROM COUNCIL MINUTES.

At Abd. the tuentie nynt day of December in the yeir of god Jm xvje and tua yeiris in presens of Sir Thomas Gordoun of Cluny provost of Auld Abd.

The said day the haill consall and communitie of auld Abd. hes electit and chosin Sir Thomas Gordon of Cluny knyt prouest of Auld Abd. and Mr Samuel Mackgill Alex' Mutray and George Merser bailleis of Auld Abd. quha accept the saidis offices and gev the aithes de fideli administratione. I 2.

The Court of Auld Abd. haldin in the Consistorie place th'off be the prouest and balleis of Auld Abd. the secund day of Ja' 1603. Followis the names off the Conscill for this yeir.

The said day it is statuit and ordaint be the prouest and balleis that the pound of candill be sauld in this toun for four [d]

Item Ten kaikis to be bakin in the pect meill and contein xv vnce off guid weill bakin breid and ordanis Jon Torry and Thomas Ortoun to be visiters throff and ordanis tham wt Thomas Ramsay George Gordon and the balleis to be cunstederis of the aill and to pas ilk thurisday throw the toun to that effect Item it is statuit that na darrer aill be sauld within this toun nor xvjd. the poynt and the beir for xviijd the poynt ilk persoun contrauenit to be vnlayit for xxs. I I.

31 JANUARY 1603.

The said day the personis vnderwritten ar found to be insufficient ny'bouris except thai sett sufficient cautioun actit in the townis buikis

that thai and ilk ane of tham sall keip guid ny'bourhed within the toun vther wayes sic as setts nocht caution to be banisit the toun viz John Clark Alex' Schand, Agnes Roull Margeret Mitchell Isobell Chalmer James Georg Robt Watson Wm Telzeorir Alex' Chalmer Jonet Cabell Jon Tulloche Isobell Dauidson Guideon Smyt Isobell Wobster Ad Herwy Meriorie Bannerman Andrew Reid Andrew Touch Robert Chalmer Margaret Dauidson Barbara Smyt Rob' Cutberd Margaret Clark. I 3.

The said day it is statut and ordanit that na darer draiff be sauld within this toun nor four d. ilk pect and q'sumeuir person or personis happinis to sell the mastris of draiff to outlandis men the draiff to be confiscat and giff any person hes draiff and sellis it nocht for ane plack the pect to inlandis men gif thai refuse thai sall pay th'for fourtie s. of vnlaw toties quoties. I 4.

8 MARCH 1603.

The said day it is statuit and ordainet that the common mercat be haldin oulklie on monday according to the fundatioun And that the merchantes and craftismen cum to the cross wt merchandice on the mercat day at sex houris in the morneing and to continow qll tuelf houris ilk persoun disobeyand vnder the paine of tuentie s. I 5.

8 JULY 1603.

The said day it is statut and ordainet that everie indweller in this towne sall bige vpe the bakdykis for outhalding of strangeris of this towne. I 5.

The said day Kathrein Mathowsoun Janet Lowrie Cristeaine Hay Janet Daesoun Jeanne Quhyt Janet Kaibell Mergaret Duncan Meriorie Smythe Jesobell Kelman Bessie Newaill ilk ane of them ar decernit in the vulaw of sex s viij d to be instantly poyndit th'foir because thai sauld caikis darther than the statutis of the towne. I 7.

The said day it is statut and ordanit that everie caik baxter that is admitit sall baik sexteine vnce of breid in everie caik sic as they baik ilk persoun disobeyand vnder the paine of xl s. 17.

24 JANUARY 1604.

The said day the bailyeis demitit th' office of bailyiarie in maner and forme as is set down in the last court and desyrit the consall u' the

E

new consall to be electit to elect and chuis vther bailyies for the yeir to cum qa be th' voites electit and chusit Mr Alex' Irveing Mr Robert Gardyne Berold Innes and Alex' Lillie bailyies to the said court of michelmes nixt. And the said Mr Alex. Irveing Mr Robert Gardyne Berold Innes and Alex' Lillie being pnt. acceptit the said office in and vpone them and gaif th' aythes de fideli administratione and immediatlie efter thair acceptatioun constituit and creat Edvard Still and David Mudie officeris and Alex' Thomesoune dempster vnto the tyme forsd. qa acceptit and gaif th' aythes. I 9.

2 FEBRUARY 1604.

It is statuit that nein v'in this towne by ather meill fisches eggis or ony vther kynd of varris vnto the tyme it remain the space of tua houris at the cross vnder the paine of fywe poundis at the least. It sall not be lesum to them to gange from their awin hous to by the sd. viveris except it be ather at the said cross or than offerit to them at th' said houss. I 10.

Item it is statuit that all quart poynt chopein and muchkein stoupis be presentit the nixt court and the owneris th'of to gif th' aythes that they vse no vther in selling th' drink nor beis presintit vt certificatioun thai salbe brokin that receawis not the townes mark. I II.

Item it is statuit that nein v'in this towne sell drink efter nyne houris at evin nor be sein vagen vnder paine of ten merkis to be exactit toties quoties. I II.

29 JUNE 1604.

The said day Jon Guthrie college porter is convicted in amerciament of court for miscalling of Thomas Kempt be callin him theif knaif draving of ane sanger to him and th'foir the bailyes decernit him to pey xl s. I 17.

12 AUGUST 1604.

The said day it is statut be the bailyies w' consent of the inhabitants of Auld Abd. that th' salbe na stranger receawit in this towne w'out leif of the bailyeis in respect of the pnt. plage of pestilence ilk persoun contravenand induring the tyme of the plage vnder the paine of the soume of ten li. and efter the plage that na stranger begger be