evidence laid before us. Nevertheless the provost, bailies councillors burghers and inhabitants of the said burgh in times long past have kept . . the old freedom of our free burghs on the rolls of our frie burghs by keeping, for their part, the meetings of our general parliaments and conventions. . . of frie burghs [All this, it will be seen, is in direct contradiction of Nicolas's statements]. . . . Therefore we . . . confirm all the old privileges infeftments and rights granted by our predecessors and anew grant . . . with all houses, buildings, churches, commons, fishings, lands, moors, mosses, enjoyed and perambulated yearly. . . . with privilege of the free markets following . . Mydsomer or Feast of St John, Saint Barquhan's day which is the third day after the feast of Peter ad vincula called lambes [where Scotch words are inserted they are reproduced], the feast of Saint Duthosius. . and the feast of St. Makharboche which is before our Lord's nativity. And also by the tenor of the present charter we change the market of.. burgh which always before was held on the Lord's Day thenceforward. to be held on the Lord's Day Lord's Day thenceforward. . to be held on the Sabbath Day called Setterday [Markets every Lord's Day! while Glasgow bailies scoured the streets to see that none were even absent from sermon, and "Sabbath" is kept to its proper meaning. Charter proceeds] . . . . with power to the said provost bailies and councillors . . . of electing provost bailies dean of guild treasurer councillors and officers. . of holding courts as often as to them shall seem good and with power of importing and selling wax wine linen and other kinds of wares. . . of collecting and transporting stapill guddes pak and peill and petty customs .. just as if the infeftments of said burgh had not been destroyed and burnt. . . . witnesses John Lord Hamilton commendator of the monastery of Aberbrothok, Earl Archibald Angus Lord Douglas Dalkeyth and Abernethy and Lord John Maitland of Thirlstane, our Chancellor and Secretary, the most reverend and venerable fathers in Christ Patrick Archbishop of St Andrews, Walter prior of Blantyre keeper of our Privy Seal, our beloved Privy Councillors Alex. Hay of Eister Kennat clerk of the council; Ludovic Bellenden of Auchmoule knight clerk of Justiciary, and Master Robt. Scott, Director of our Chancellery.. at Holyroodhouse 10th Jany. 1587. [Here are all the points in the dispute with Nicholas settled in favour of the burgh. In No. 34 we have seen the clerical provost become a mere sacristan; now we have the power of electing civil provosts-for the first use of it, see No. 940. At the very same time we have the first notice of the new authority in the Church. B. No. 43, 1588.-Decree of Council.] James &c. . . showin to us be our lovitis Mr Thomas Craig procurator for the Kirk Mr Johne Robertsoun Commissionare of the Kirks of Ross and Mr Johne Ross moderator of the presbiterie of Tayn and remanent brethrene of the same that quhair the chaptor [chapter-house] of the colledge kirk of tayn being a place dedicat properlie for conventioun of the commissionare and brethrene of the said presbiterie.. to yr. synodall assemblies and ordor tacking wt. disobediand persones of the discipline of the Kirk for committing of vice worthie of puneishment contrar to the word of God and uyris necessar causes qlk place the foresaidis brethrene pntlie occupeand that roume [place] ar gratelie frustrat and hinderit in yr. calling and libertie thay aucht to have.. wtin the boundis of the presbiterie anent the premises Becaus Alexander Ros of Balnagown hes withhalden and reteinit the said Chaptor this lang tyme bygane lykas he yit withhaldis. . the same and maks his girnell and ladner hous yrof wt. uyr. prophain usis and keipis. to that effect and will nocht deliver the same to the saidis complenaris as proper and convenient place... And siclyke their being foundat besyde the said colledge Kirk and Chaptor ane hous of auld dedicat for a scuilhous callit the boith [with mark of abbreviation, i.e., bothan or little cottage] is alsua occupat pntlie be Johne Ross of Littill Allane... a certaine tyme bygane and albeit yt. the same be maist necessar for upbringing of the youth in edificatioun of verteu and gude letteris he aluterlie refussis to deliver.. bot. . deteines the same to his prophane usis and sua the zouth is greitlie frustrat of learning and has na uyr. commodious place. . to yr. grite hinder and skaith gif sua be as is alledgit. therefore. . we charge you straitly ye charge the saidis Alexr. Ross. . and Jhone Ross ceis from furder occupeing, lauboring. . . . of the said chaptor and scuilhous and red [clear out] thameselfis guids and geir yrfra. . to be occupat for the use and exercises that the same wer dedicat to of auld . . . under pane of rebellione and putting . . to our horne. Or els . . compeir.. before. . our counsale . . . and schaw reasonable caus why the same should not be done. . . at Edinburgh fyvetene day of August 1588. . . [Here are ministers, presbytery, moderator, and not a bishop, but a commissioner, an office necessary for the passage from the old order to the new, but to be discontinued later on. old "chaptor" still stands a few yards apart from the old church-roofless, but with its walls still good. The schoolhouse has entirely vanished. Both may have lain idle for a time in the interval between the abolition of the priesthood and masses and the incoming of exhorter, reader, and minister, and meantime been occupied by these lairds on some pretext not stated. The case of which above is the decision must have been pending for some time. The old school stood till early in last century at the western wall of the burying ground, close to the present entrance. Next year there was a change of commissioner. The B. No. 44, 1589.-Receipt.] I Maister George Munro Chancellar of Ross and Commissioner to the Kirkis within ye diocie yrof. . ressavit fra . . George Ross of B. . . twentie pounds. . in part payment of ane hundret pounds assignit to me outt of. . ye twa pairt of ye bishoprik of Ross for my commissioner fie of yis crope and yeir ane thousand fyve hundret fourscore nyne. At ye Channorie of Ross Witness Androw Myll minister at Avache Maister Androw Crambie minr. at Kylmuir Wester. . [He signs in full as above; writing very small clear, and neat. He is next in B. No. 45, 1590.-Copy of decree or letter of Council.] James &c. . . showin to us be our lovitt Maister George Munro minister at Tarbatt and Ferne appointit. . at ye said kirks and for service at the cuir yrof thair is assignit to him. . dewties of ye Erle of Gowries tack.. Kirk of Tarbatt quhairunto he is newlie provydit. . twa hundret pounds out of ye auld assumptions of ye bishoprik of Ross . . under ye payne [Here we see one fra ye laird of B. twal bollis beir. . Innes of Inverbrakie sax... out of ye teynds of ferne in.. Tarbat twa chalderis 14 bollis and ye third of ye cheplanrie of Rarichies . . twa bollis. . out of ye personage of Kylmuir Ester xx libs wt. ye manses and glebis of ye saids Kirkis . . We chairge the Erle of Gowrie and Dame Dorothy Stewart ladie Gowrie his tutrix. . the bishope of Ros Chamberlaine George Ross of B. Walter Innes of Inverbreakie, Mr Thomas Ross. Commendator of Ferne. ye Cheplane of Rarecheis and persoun of Kylmuir . . that they. mak thankfull payment. . to. . complener of . . . horne . . Merche, 1590 . of the most notable figures of the transition time in Ross. He was 3rd son of George Munro, IV. of Milntown, brother of Andrew Munro and uncle of Master George Munro, both in No. 25. He studied for the Reformed ministry, and was presented to the Chancellorship in 1570, but, we see above, was a man of many offices-minister of Tarbat, Ferne, Suddie, and Kinnettas, besides Commissioner with a general superintendence. In 1581-2 he was employed to organise the erection of presbyteries, Tain amongst them, in the three counties. We see in No. 45 that he was as determined in exacting his dues as the old Abbot; in fact, he makes both Bishop and Abbot pay their shares. Next we see him in No. 46, 1597.-Letter of Collation, complete and well preserved.] Maister George Munro Commissioner off ye Kirkis wtin ye dioces off Ross and Maister John Mackenzie Moderator of the presbiterie of ye Chanonrie thairoffTo our lovittis () or to ony minister within the said diocie. Grate mercie and peace from our Lord Jesus fforsameikle as the thesaurie of Ross is now vacand in his hienes hands be deceis of umquhile [late] Mr |