Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/483

 us. xii. DEC. is, 1915.? NOTES AND QUERIES.

475

saries of life for the people ; markets for the sale of bread were to be held, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and " for flesh " on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. There was a prohibition against butchers killing beasts on the east side of Holyrood Wynd, and the order went forth that the meat market was to be removed from the High- gate to some more convenient place. The Council, or at least some of their members, had to regulate the fixing of the prices of wine, for on one occasion when, neglectful of their duty, they were summoned before the " Lordis of Secreit Counsall," it trans- pired

" that thai had maid na actis nor ordinances upoun the prices of the wynis this instant yeir ; and as for the cry and proclamatioun maid in thair names by the belman, it wes hot be word and na act nor writ maid thair upoun."

An interesting document which is worthy of being preserved, as showing the feeling in the capital over the murder of " King Henry " in his lodging at the Kirk of Field, and the subsequent marriage of Mary and Bothwell, is an Act of Sederunt of the Council in the following terms :

" Apud Edinburgh, secundo Julii Anno Domino

,T m V c LXVH.

" The quhilk day, the Pro vest, Baillies, Counsall, and Deaconis of the Burgh of Edinburgh, being convenit in the Counsalhous of the samyn ; comperit nobil and mychty lordis, the Lordis Erllis of Mortoun and Atholl, having with thame the maist honorabill and godlie band laitlie maid and subscriyit be thair Lordschippis and utheris of the nobilitie of this realme, beeand in effect that the saidis Erllis, Lordis, Baronis, and utheris subscriyaris of the said band, for thame selffis, kin, friendiss. and all that will do for thame, bindis and obleissis ilkane of thame to utheris, upoun respect of thair dewitie towart thare Soverane, the common weill of this thar native cuntre and honour of the same ; that thai alto- gidder, as said is, with thair haill force, power, and freindis, sail persew the cruell murtheraris of the King oure said Soveranis husband to thair uttirmest, seik and procure the dissolutioun of the unlauchfull mariage maid betuix her Hienes and the Erll Bothuile by all meanis lauchfull ; as alswa oure said Soverane to be relevit of the thraldome, bondage, ignominy, and schame quhilk scho hes susfrenit and underlyis be the said Erllis occasioun ; and the person of oure undoutit and innocent Prince reposit to full suirtie, and relevit of the eminent danger quhilk now he stands in ; and finalie, justice restorit and uprychtlie ministrat to all the liegis and subjectes of this realme. The quhilk maist godlie and honorabill band, in presens of the said Provest, Bailies and Counsall, being rede and considderit, thay all, in ane voce, understanding the samyn to be bayth honorabill and godlie, ratifiis and approvis the samyn, and grantis and consentis and promittis thair assist- ance and fortificatioune to the saidis Lordis in furthsetting, persewing, and avanceing of the

premissis to thair utter power ; and for assistance heirof hes requestit and desynit the rycht honorabill Sir Symon Prestoun of Craig millar knycht, Provest, for thame, and in thair names,, with the saidis Lordis to subscrive the said band, quhilk sal be als sufficient as gif thai had subscrivit the samyn with their proper handis ; and for- observing heirof, ordanis this present ordinance to be insert and registrat in the Counsall buke of the said burgh, and for the mair suir testificatioune- of thair consentis, as said is."

At times royalty had interested itself in the election of magistrates and counsellors. In 1578 the King directed missive letters to- be sent to the

" pro vest, baillies, counsall, and deykinis of craftis of the Burgh of Edinburgh a'nent the chesing sic Magistrate for the yeir to cum as his- Hienes tuke to be maist efficient to his service and to contene the said burgh at the obedience and command of his Hienes self." The command, as was most proper, was formally considered, and reply made of the procedure followed in the Burgh, intimation being given that when the leet was com- pleted it would be submitted to his Majesty r - and that " alwyse, quhat his Majestie wald thame to do in that and all uther thingis they suld be fund obedient subjectis." The leet was forthwith submitted for his inspection, and it having met with hi& approval, orders were given for the choosing of the persons so nominated. The following were the names which met with such august approval :

" Alexander Clerk, bxirges of the said burgh provest ;

" Johnne Robertsounne, Andro Sclater, Johnne Arnot, and Maister Michaell Cheesholme, baillies ;

" Luke Wilsoun to be continewit, or electit of new, dene of gild ;

" James Ross to be continewit, or electit of new, thesaurar ;

" Maister Johnne Prestoun, Johnne Johnnes- toun, broder to the Laird of Elphingstoun, Thomas Wans in place of David Williamsoune, . Robert Cunninghame in place of Johnne Robert- soun, Adame Craig, Goldsmyth, and James Inglis, Skynnar, in place of Thomas Aikanheid, for the new Counsale."

Certain procedure of election is enjoined, the new " officiars " to be elected " within thre houris nixt efter thay be chairged thairto, under the pain of rebellioun, and putting of thame to the horn." The persons so " nominat to be electit " are to accept office in the same time under like penalties ; and special charge is given to " the marchandis, craftismen, and haill inha- bitantis of the said burgh, to reverence and obey thame during the nixt zeir, as thair lauchfull magistrattis,

and the said magistrates are not " to presume or tak upoun hand to depart furtH. of this realme " without special licence.