22 September 1617.

Letter from the King as to elections.

JAMES R. Trustie and welbeloued wee greete yow well. Whereas the differents which wer amongst yow now twelue yeares ago for the inequalitie of marchantes and craftesmen vpon the counsell of that burrough was remoued by our speciall commandement and letters, whereby wee willed yow to make choice of the moste wise and discreete men of both sortes, taking the one halfe marchantes and the other craftesmen, since which time wee vnderstande that yee haue liued in good order, and by your peace and quietnes the good estate of that citie is not a litle encrased; and becaus now wee are informed that some turbulent heades go aboute to haue those our directions altered and changed, which will no doubte tende to the disturbance of the happie concorde hetherto maynteyned amongst yow, these are to wille and require yow in the choice of the counsell for this yeare, and your successouris after yow in all time coming, to keepe the order prescribed in our former letters concerning the equalitie of marchantes and craftes, and that no alteration be made touching the nomber of eyther, as yee wille answere to us upon your obedience. And this trusting yee will do, wee bid yow farewell. Giuen at our manour of Theobaldes, the xxij of September 1617. (L.S.) [Addressed:] To our trustie and welbeloued the Proueste, Bayliffes, and Counsell of our citie of Glascow, giue these.