LVII: Instrument concerning election of magistrates (1561)

LVII. Notarial Instrument setting forth that a search had been made for the Archbishop, and protesting that he being absent, the Town Council may elect Magistrates. Glasgow, 30 September 1561.

[Latin text]

In Dei nomine, Amen. Per hoc presens publicum instrumentum cunctis pateat euidenter et sit notum, quod anno incarnationis Dominice millesimo quingentesimo sexagesimo primo, die vero Martis videlicet Septembris vltimo, indictione quarta, pontificatus Pij quartj anno tertio. In mej notarij publici et testium subscriptorum presentia, personaliter constitutus, honorabilis vir Robertus Lyndsaye de Dunrod et prepositus burgi et ciuitatis Glasguensis, nomine consulium et procerum ac totius communitatis eiusdem ciuitatis, subscriptam expositionem obediencie declarationem inuestigationem ac protestationem infrascriptam fecit peregit dixit et promulgauit, prout fusius infra in vulgarj describitur, videlicet, The quhilk daye, passit ane honorable man Robert Lyndsaye of Dunrod and prouest of Glasgw, accumpaneit with ane grit part of the counsale and communitie of the said burght and citie of Glasgw, to the castell of the samyn, as to the principall mansioun and duelling place of the bischop thairof, and thair in the clois of the samyn, befoir me notar and witnes vndervrittin, exponit that this daye, videlicet, the first Twysdaye eftir Michaelmes he, togidder with the haill counsale and communitie of the said ciete, according to thair auld custome, had convenit in the tolbuyth of the samyn for chesing of certane persounes to be lytis vpone the office of baillierie of the said towne for this instant yeir, and to that effect had in his handis ane tikat in writt contenand thir names following, videlicet, James Law, Dauid Lyoun, maister Adame Wallace, Andro Dunlop, maister Adame Colquhoun, Archibald Lyoun, James Boyde, Johne Wilsoun, pewderar, and James Flemeyng, induellaris and conburgessis of the said ciete, and that the said counsale and towne was willing to obtemper and obey the decreit of the lordis of counsale and letteris of foure formes rasit thairupoun at the instance of ane reuerend fader James archibischop of the said citie, and to schaw thair obedience theirunto the said prouest, in name and behalf of the said haill counsale and communitie, socht and scersit the said bischop at his foirsaid castell and mansioun place, presentand thair the foirsaid tikat contenand the said names of lytes and requirit and desyrit the said archibischop, or ony haveand sufficient power of him to that effect, to name and cheis out ony twa of the foirnemmit personnes to beir the office of ballierie of Glasgw for this instant yeir; and becaus the said archibischop, nor na wther persoun haifand power foirsaid, was thair present the said prouest in semlable maner passit to the Metropolitane Kirk of Glasgu to the qweir dur thairof and in lik maner exponit, socht, and serchit as is afoir rehersit; and becaus the personall presence of the said bischop, nor wthir haifand power as said is, culd nocht be had, thairfore the said prouest, in name and behalf foirsaid, protestit solemnitlie that thair absence war haldin for thair presence, and that their absence suld nocht be hurt nor preuidice to thame bot that thai mycht thame selfis cheis and elect ony twa of the personnes foirsaid to vse the said office for this yeir becaus (as he said) the foirsaid towne and burght micht nocht want sick to beir the said office for administratioun of justice betwix nychtbour and nychtboure, and that they had done their exact diligence in serching of the said bischop, and was willing to obey and obtemper the said decrete and Quenes letteres passit thairupoun, and that thair chesing, for caussis foirsaid, was nocht preiudiciall nor hurt to the samyn nor to the said bischopis richt that he had thaironto. Super quibus omnibus et singulis premissis prefatus Robertus, prepositus, a me notario publico subscripto sibj fieri petijt vnum et plura publicum et publica instrumentum et instrumenta. Acta erant hec in clausura dictj castri et in dicta ecclesia Glasguensis respectiue et successiue circiter horam vndecimam ante meridiem, sub anno, die, mense, indictione et pontificatu, quibus supra; presentibus ibidem, honorabilibus et discretis viris, Gabriele Symple de Craigbait, Andrea Hammiltoun de Cochtnocht, magistro Johanne Hall, Willelmo Hegait, Johanne, Grhame, Gavino Grhame, Thoma Forrett, Mattheo Heriot, Felano Johnsoun, Gilberto Craig, Jacobo Riche, conburgensesdicte ciuitatis, Johanne Youngar in Partik Johanne Lyndsaye et Alexandro Lyndsay fratribus dicti Robertj, cum multis alijs testibus ad premissa vocatis habitis et requisitus.

Et ego vero Henricus Gibsoun artium magister clericus ciuitatis Glasguensis, etc.

[Translation]

In the name of God, amen. By this present public instrument be it evidently known and patent to all men, that on Tuesday, to wit, the last of September, the year of our Lord's incarnation one thousand five hundred and sixty-one, the fourth indiction, the third year of the pontificate of Pius the Fourth; in presence of me, notary public, and witnesses underwritten, personally compeared an honourable man, Robert Lyndsaye of Dunrod and provost of the burgh and city of Glasgow, and in name of the councillors and magistrates and whole community of the said city, made, executed, said, and published the underwritten statement, declaration of obedience, search, and protestation underwritten, to wit. Upon which all and sundry the premises, the foresaid Robert, provost, asked of me, notary public underwritten, one and more public instruments to be made to him. These things were done in the close of the said castle and in the said church of Glasgow, respectively and successively, about the eleventh hour forenoon, year, day, month, indiction, and pontificate as above; present there honourable and discreet men, Gabriel Symple of Craigbait, Andrew Hammiltoun of Cochtnocht, Master John Hall, William Hegait, John Grhame, Gavin Grhame, Thomas Forrett, Matthew Heriot, Phelim Johnsoun, Gilbert Craig, John Riche, co-burgesses of the said city, John Youngar in Partik, John Lyndsaye and Alexander Lyndsay, brothers of the said Robert, with many others, witnesses to the premises called, had and required.

And I Henry Gibsoun, master of arts, clerk of the city of Glasgow, etc.