vltioni subiaceat. Cunctis autem eidem loco sua iura seruantibus sit pax domini nostri Jhesu Christi quatenus et hic fructum bone actionis percipiant et apud districtum iudicem premia eterne pacis inueniant. Amen. Et sic finit cum caractere et subscriptionibus ipsius Pape et octo Cardinalium. Datum Sign. per manum Rolandi sancte Romane ecclesie presbyteri cardinalis et cancellarii iiijto Ydus Augusti Indictione quinta Incarnationis Domini anno millesimo centesimo quinquagesimo septimo Pontificatus vero domini Adriani Pape quarti anno tertio.

II.1

Carta Regis Willelmi confirmantis donationes predicti Dauid Regis.

Willelmus dei gratia Rex Scottorum. Omnibus probis hominibus totius terre sue clericis et laicis. Salutem. Sciant presentes et futuri me dedisse concessisse et hac Carte mea confirmasse. deo et beate marie. et beato Machorio. et Matheo Episcopo Aberdonensi totam villam de veteri Aberdon. dimidiam aquam de North. Slaty. Goule.

JESUS CHRIST Our Redeemer, and in the last judgment let him fall beneath the outstretched hand of the Avenger. But to all in the same place who preserve their rights be the peace of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST SO that they may partake of the fruit of their good work and receive their reward of eternal peace from the outstretched hand of the Judge. Amen.

And it ends thus with the seal and signatures of the Pope himself and of eight Cardinals. Given at Signia by the hand of Roland, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church and Chancellor, the 10th of August, the 5th Indiction, in the year of the Incarnation of Our LORD 1157, in the third year of the Pontificate of our lord Pope Adrian IV.

II.

King William the Lion confirms the gifts of King David I. [1172-1199]. William by the grace of God King of Scots to all good men of his whole land churchmen and laymen, Greeting. Know all men present and to come, that I have given, granted and by this my present charter confirmed, to God and the blessed Mary, and Saint Machar, and Matthew, Bishop of Aberdeen, the whole town of Old Aberdon, the half of the North water, Slaty, Goule,

1 Registrum Episc. Aberd., i., p. 8.

Murcroft. Kynmonedy. Malmeulach. Schiram de Clat. Schiram de Tulynestyn. Schiram de Rane. Schiram de Dauyot cum pertinentiis et ecclesiis. decimam canum nauium que veniunt apud Aberden. decimam annone in eodem loco / decimam meam de redditibus de Aberden. decimam thanagiorum reddituum et escaetarum me contingentium infra vicecomitatum de Aberden et de Banff. Tenendas et habendas dicto episcopo et eius successoribus in puram et liberam elemosinam adeo libere et quiete sicut aliqua elemosina liberius et quietius tenetur et possidetur. Testibus Alano hostiario. Willelmo Comyne. Johanne Camerario. apud Forfar tricesimo die mensis Augusti.

III.1

Jacobus dei grã Rex Scotorum Omnibus &c. sal?m Sciatis q pro singlari devocoe qua gerim erga gloriosissima uginē mariā patronā ecctie cathedralis Aberdoneñ in laudēt honorē eiusd ac p spčali fauor zelo et dilecoe quos habemus erga reuerend in xpo přem Wittm de Elphinston eiusd ecctie cathelis modernu epm et prelatū qsiliariū ñrm

Murcroft, Kynmonedy, Malmeulach, the parish of Clat, the parish of Tulynestyn, the parish of Rane, the parish of Dauyot, with churches and pertinents, the tenth of the customs of ships arriving at Aberdeen, the tenth of the fruits in the same place, the tenth of my rents of Aberdeen, the tenth of the thanage rents and escheats falling to me within the Sheriffdoms of Aberdeen and of Banff. Holding and having the said bishop and his successors in pure and free gift as freely and quietly as any other gift is freely and quietly held and possessed. Witnesses: Alan, doorkeeper; William Comyne; John, Chamberlain. At Forfar the thirteenth day of August.

III.

King James IV., inter alia, creates the city of Old Aberdeen a free burgh of Barony. 26th December, 1489.2

James, by the grace of God King of Scots, to all, etc., greeting.

Know

ye that, for the singular devotion that we bear towards the most glorious Virgin Mary, patron of the Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, in praise and honour of the same; and for the special favour, zeal and affection that we have towards the reverend father in Christ, William of Elphinston, now bishop and prelate

1 From copy of Charter in Aberdeen Town House Charter Room: A1, 362.

2 Translation as given in Charters and other Writs of the Burgh of Aberdeen, p. 323.

intime dilectu et pro suis fideli et gratuito ŝuicio magnisq, laboribus ac qa pluribus expens et in pte recompensatois earud diùs tpibus in legacionib; et ambassiate ad francie anglie Regest Regna burgundie austrie duce ac ad partes alias necnon in não Suicio infra nîm Regnũ p Repucat tranquillitate eiusd Approbaim ratificaim et cũ aūisamēto nři qsilii de nouo dedim qcessim mortificaīmus t qfirmaim et hac pñti carta nĩa approbam ratificam dam qcedim et p nobis et successorib; nřis mortificam et ad manu mortua p ppetuo qfirmam omes t singlas donacões qcessiones fundacões t infeodationes p predecessores aut pgenitores nãos inclitissimos siue alios anos aut barones vel quascumq, alias psonas spuales a' temporales āte qfeccoem pñtis carte nõe factas epis et plate ac ecctie catheli aberdonen de quibuscūz Pre ānuis redditib; molendis piscacōib; libere foreste warenis ecctis capellaniis t possessionib; quibuscūz datę vnitis aut mortificate eid ecctie catheli aberdoneñ seu infra eand p aniùsariis seu ats quouismodo cũ omib; Puilegiis imunitatib; libertatibus et comoditatibus quibuscuz ad hmoi spectañ seu qualitcü; spectar valen in futur p ipm reuerend in xpo prem suosq, successores epos

of the said Cathedral Church, our much beloved councillor; and for all his faithful and gratuitous service, and great labours and heavy expenses (and in part repayment thereof) incurred at divers times in missions and embassies to the kings and kingdoms of France and England, the dukes of Burgundy and Austria, and to other foreign parts, and in our service within our kingdom on behalf of the commonwealth and the peace thereof; We have approved, ratified, and, with consent of our council, of new given, granted, mortified and confirmed, and by this our present charter do approve, ratify, give, grant, and for us and our successors mortify, and for ever confirm in mortmain, all and sundry gifts, grants, foundations and infeftments made by our most renowned predecessors or ancestors, or by other lords or barons, or by any other persons whatsoever, spiritual or temporal, before the expeding of our present charter, to the bishops and prelates and Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, of lands, annual rents, mills, free fishings, forests and warrens, churches, chaplainries, and possessions whatsoever, given, united or mortified to the said Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, or within the same, for anniversaries or other purposes, with all privileges, immunities, liberties, and conveniences whatsoever, belonging or that may in any way belong in future thereto : to be held, possessed and had by the said reverend father in Christ, of us and our suc

aberdonen tenend possedendt habend de nobis et successob3 nřis ī purat petua elimosina adeo libet quiete in omibus et p omia sicut carte euidēcie inde qfecte et preseñ nostr donat mortifica in se pportant et testantur Concessim qt tenor pñte carte nie qcedim q Ruptores violatores dictary imunitatū capiatur i nřis idictamēte p cticos nře Justiciarie et crime p illos inde comiss p pñcto nři dictamis in future reputetur et dicti delinquetes p eod ad morte puniētur Acecia dedim et qcessim t hac pñti carta nĩa dam et concedim predicto reuerendo při suisq, successo; ac capitulo et cañoice dicte ecctie cathels aberdoneñ nuc pñtib3 t future plenariū Puilegiu libertate et ptatem quecu; victualia vina aut alias mcacias infra portū nîm de aberdene seu extra eund apportat a quibuscūz nfis ligeis seu extraneis alior regnor illuc aduenietibus p eory oportūis vtilitatib; et ab ipsory suory dōiciliory sustentacões honestas emēdi Et dict victualia vina seu mcancias iteru mce vendēdi a' desup quouismodo mcandi;andi put tempibus retroacte inuiolabilit obsuatu Ac insup q nobis nroq, qsilio p antiqua nĩa Registrat ats euident luculent q qstat quod serenissimu pdecessorē nĩm Dauid

fuit

cessors, in pure and perpetual alms, as freely and quietly, in all and through all, as the charters and evidents thereon expede, and our present gift and mortification in themselves set forth and testify. And we have granted, and by the tenor of our present charter do grant, that transgressors and violators of the said immunities be taken on our indictments by our justice clerks, and the crime so committed by them be henceforth held as a ground of indictment; and the said delinquents be punished therefor even to death. And also we have given and granted, and by this our present charter do give and grant, to the foresaid reverend father and his successors, and to the chapter and canons of the said Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, for the time being and to come, full privilege, liberty and power to buy all sorts of victuals, wines and other merchandise brought within the port of Aberdeen, or outwith the same, by our lieges whatsoever, or by strangers from other kingdoms coming. thither for their own profit and for the honourable support of themselves and their households; and to sell again the said victuals, wines or merchandise; or to traffic therewith in any way, as in times past has been inviolably observed. And moreover, whereas by our ancient records and otherwise it is fully and clearly evident to us and to our Council that our umquhile most serene predecessor David, King of Scots, of glorious memory, did infeft the

Scotory regem gloriosissimū infeodasse canoniã de Aberdone cũ ptinen vulgariť nūcupat le ald aberdone in sedē epalēt ciuitate imppem cũ omibus jurib; libertatib; et puilegijs ad cītatē spectañ Ipamq; canoniā reputam et declaram sic infeodată esset fuisse et eand ecia de nouo infeodaim cũ oibus jurib3 libertab; et puilegijs ad ciuitatē spectañ ut pmittitur et adeo libere sicut aliqua ciuitas infra regnū năm infeodatur aut possidetur Et pro maiori firmitate ac clariori libertate pdicte cite et p vtilitate quiete t necessaria sustentane Pfati reuende in xpo pris suor4q successory ac capituli canonicory et capellanory dicte ecctie cathelis Aberdonen eoryq, Suitory et familiariu apud dict

ciuitatet villa de le ald aberdone residenciù creaui et feci et tenor pñty carte nře camt facim pdict ciuitatēt villa de le ald aberdone in vnū merūt liberū burgū in baronia imppem Concessim ecia t qcedim inħitantib; pdict citatē villāt burgu et in postru īhabitat plenaria pťatem et libertem emēdj et vendendi in ipo burgo vina cerā panu laneūt lineū latū et strictū aliaq, mcimonia Ac ħindj et tenēdj pistores brasiatores carnifices tā carniū q pisciù macellarios aliosq; artiu oparios ad lib'tate burgi i baronia qualit'cuz spectañ Necnō qcessim

Chanonry of Aberdeen with its pertinents, commonly called Ald Aberdon, as the See of a bishop and as a city for ever, with all rights, liberties and privileges belonging to a city: the said Chanonry we do acknowledge and declare to have been and to be so infeft; and the same also we have infeft of new with all rights, liberties and privileges belonging to a city as aforesaid, and as freely as any city within our kingdom is infeft and possessed. And for the greater security and ampler liberty of the foresaid city, and for the behoof, ease and necessary maintenance of the said reverend father and his successors, and of the chapter, canons and chaplains of the said Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, and their households and servants residing in the said city and town of Old Aberdeen, we have created and made, and by the tenor of our present charter do create and make the foresaid city and town of Ald Aberdon a true and free burgh in barony for ever. We have also granted and do grant to the inhabitants of the foresaid city, town and burgh, now and to come, full power and liberty to buy and sell within the said burgh, wines, wax, cloth, woollen and linen, broad and narrow, and other merchandise; and to have and to hold bakers, brewers, butchers and sellers of flesh and of fish, and other craftsmen in any way belonging to the freedom of a burgh in barony. As also we have granted and do grant to the foresaid reverend father and his

B