1560, Jan-June
10 January 1559–60.
Ratificatione of certane statutis.
[Acts passed as to bread, malt, and ale, in terms similar to those in October of
previous years. The fourpence loaf baked by baxters within burgh to weigh
twenty-two onnces, and that baked by outland baxters four ounces more. Malt to
be sold not dearer than nine firlots for £3, 10s.; and ale not dearer than 3½d.
the pint.
The provost, bailies and council also ratified the acts made in 1558 "anent the
meill merkatt, tallooun, candill, myddingis on the hie gait, vagaboundis, regratouris,
assisis, and burgessis of this burgh to resort within the samyn, and ordanis thame to
be proclamit of new."]
Wilsoun, villa,
thesaurer.
[The bailies and council having considered a supplication by the farmer of the
"wyld awenturis" for the year to Martinmas 1559 "desyring ane pairt of the
fermes thairof to be rebaitit to him, be ressoun of the gritt trubbils that rais within
this realme and closing of the port of Leyth that na schippis mycht resort thairto
for ane lang tyme," ordanied him to make complete payment in respect he "tuke the
saidis customes with all awenture."]
Anent the
Officeris and
Counsaill.
The ballies and counsall ordanis that na maner persone berand office
or publict government within the toun, nor being vpone the counsaill,
depairt furthe of this burgh and remane thairfra the space of foure dayis
without speciall licence grantit and gevin him thairto.
19 January 1559–60.
[Provost's
house.]
The [bailies and council,] vnderstanding be report of maister William
Setoun, seruitour to my lord provest, that his lordschip desyrit to be ludgit
in maister Thomas Makcalyeonis hous, and that the said maister Thomas
was willing to laitt his said ludgeing for maill, ordanit the said ludgeing
to be maid voyd that my lord provest may enter thairto quhen his lordschip
thinkis expedient, and the ballies and counsall sall caus the said
maister Thomas be payit of samekle maill as James Adamsoun hes
ressauit or is to ressave for his ludgeing quhairin my lord provest now
remanis, efter the rate of the tyme that he sall remance in the said ludgeing;
and efter the making of the ordenance foirsaid compeirit the said maister
Thomas and protestit for remeid and nullitie of the said ordenance gevin
but ony ordour of proces without calling and aganis him that was nocht
subiect to thair jurisdictioun, and thairvpone askit instrumentis.
16 February 1559–60.
Prebendaris
of the queir.
The ballies and counsall ordanis Alexander Park thesaurer to content
and pay to Sir Walter Haliburtoun, Sir George manderstoun and Sir William
Johnestoun, prebendaris of the queir, the sowme of vij merkis for the
Mertynmes payment last bipast of the annualrentis awing to thame be
the toun, and siklyk to Sir James Crawfurde chaplane of the Rude loft the
sowme of x s. for the said termes payment of his annuallrent and vther x s.
for the Lady mes syluer; and dischargis the thesaurer of ony mair payment
to ony of the rest of the prebendaris becaus thai hawe nocht awatit
vpone thair devyne service
Fermoraris of
the pitte
customes.
[The bailies and council, considering that the farmers of the petty customs with
the tron at the Over Bow, for the year to Martinmas 1559, "hes be the grit trubblis
raisit in this realme in the said yere bene damnefeit in thair proffeit of the saidis
customes," remitted to them the sum of twenty merks].
16 April 1560.
Villa, decanus
gilde.
Archibald Dowglas of Kinspinde provest, [the bailies, council and
deacons of crafts,] ordanis James Barroun dene of gild to reparrall the
kirk, to lay the throwchis thairof of new and sparge the samyn, mend the
glasen wyndokis, and mak settis convenient.
Villa, Spens.
[The provost, bailies and council] ordanis maister Johne Spens to
administrat the office of balyerie in place of Adam Fullertoun baillie quhill
his returnying furthe of Ingland.
30 April 1560.
Extent of xvjc
li.
The prouest baillies counsall and dekynnis, at the requeist desyre
and will of the lordis of congregatioun, for furthsetting of this present
interpryis dependand for expelling of the Franche men out of Leith to the
gret commone weill of this realme, ordanis ane generall taxt of sextene
hundreth pund tobe set commonlie upoun the nychtbouris of this burgh,
to be gevin for ane monethsi waigis to foure hundreth men of weir, and
ordanis the samin tobe collectit with all deligence and deliuerit to the
capitanis nominat to haue the gonernance of the said men of weir, and
thair acquittances tobe sufficient discharge to the baillies collectouris and
deliueraris of the samin.
1 May 1560.
Trinitie College.
[The treasurer ordained to pay "iij li. x s. for sand lyme and workmanschip at
the vpbigging of the yettis of the Trinitie Colledge and mending of the sloppis
thairof," and "xxxij s. for bigging vpe of certane sloppis at the Trinitie College in
the monethe of October lastbipast."
4 May 1560.
Army.
The treasurer ordained to pay to "John and Moreis Dowis the sowme of
xxviij s. for playing vpone the swesche and quhissill befoir the nychbouris of this
burgh twa dayis quhen thai we in armorie."]
6 May 1560.
Hammyltoun,
bulliuis.
[John Hammyltoun, for refusing, on being ordered by a bailie, to go to "warde"
for non payment of his extent, ordained "to cum in presens of the precher, efter the
sermon on sounday nixttocum, and thair declair his falt and ask the haill peple
forgifnes for the sklander."]
8 May 1560.
Anent the
precher.
The provest ballies and counsall ordanis Alexander Park Thesaurer
to delyuer to Johne Carnis the sowme of xl li. for furnesching of thair
minister Johne Knox in his houshold, and becaus the said Johne Knox
hes bene furnesit vpone Dauid Forresteris expenssis sen his cuming to
this toun be the space of xv dayis lastbipast, ordanis the said Johne
Carnis to ressave the said Dauid comptis and mak him payment of the
sowmes debursit be him on the first end of the sowme of xl li. to be
delyuerit to him.
Thesaurer,
villa.
The provest ballies and counsaill inhibit and dischargit Alexander
Park thesaurer, personallie present, of payment of ony pentionis or dewiteis
awand furthe of the commoun gude to ony kirkis kirkmen or vtheris that
seruit in sic service of befoir, certefeing the said thesaurer gif he do the
samyn he sall gett na allowance thairof.
Anent the
doun taking of
the Marie
Bell.
The provest ballies and counsall, vnderstanding that the kirk mycht
be servit be thre bellis, ane rung to the prayeris, ane vther for serving of the
knok, and the thrid to be the common bell, ordanis James Barroun dene of
gild to tak doun the ferd bell callit the Marie bell and to kepe the samyn
quhill he ressave further directioun fra the counsall.
10 May 1560.
Gilbert, villa,
extent.
[The provost bailies and council] haveand consideratioun that thair
man be money delyuerit in haist to the lordis of secreit counsall, and that
the extent grantit for obteyning of the samyn can nocht be sa haistelie
inbrocht, thairfoir hes borrowit and ressauit fra Michell Gilbert goldsmyth
the sowme of foure scoir poundis;. . . . and the syluer chandeleris lyand
in keping to the said Michell in the monethe of Junii last bipast to
remane with him as plege.
15 May 1560.
Cowgait port,
John Knox
ludgeing.
[The treasurer ordained to pay "xx s. for making the keyis of the Cowgait
port, and for ane lok to Johne Knox ludgeing."]
26 May 1560.
Waching of
the prisaneris
in the tolbuith.
The prouest baillies and counsall ordanis euerye baillie quhais quarter
wachis that that nycht of his wache he caus four of his quarter to walk within
the tolbuith of this burgh for wacheing of the prisaneris thairinto nychtlie,
at the desyre and wryting of the lordis of secreit counsel, quha being
present wes content to do the samyn, and ordanitt he baillie being present
to mak the wache this nycht becaus it fell him to wache, quhilk he acceptit.
Making of the
bell and
brasyn pillaris
in monitioun.
[The provost, bailies, council and deacons of crafts] ordanis and consenttis
that the bell callit the Marie bell, and the brasyn pillaris of the
kirk of Sanct Geill, sall be intromettit with be James Barroun dene of
gild, and that all intromettouris thairwith deliuer to him the samyn to be
maid in artalyere for the townis vse as he sall think maist expedient to
quhome thai refer quhat pecis it salbe maid into, and gif it may nocht
gudlie be maid in artalyere in this cuntre thai licence him to send the
samyn to Flanderis to be maid or coft thair, and the gud toun sal beir the
aventure thairof.
Anentannualis
awand to kirkmen.
The provest ballies and counsaill ordanis inhibitioun to be till all
personis heretouris of landis within this burgh detbound to kirkmen for
ony dewtie, that thai ansuer na farther quhill generall ordour be tane
thairanent.
1 June 1560.
Precept
Carnis.
[The treasurer ordained "to delyuer to Johne Carnis the sowme of xx li. for
furnesing of Johne Willok, precher."]
10 June 1560.
Anent idolatreris houremasteris and
harlottis.
The provest ballies counsaill and ane pairt of the dekines of craftis,
haveing consideratioun of the grit number of idolatreris quhoremaisteris
and harlottis daylie resortand within this burgh, provokand the indignatioun
of God vpone the samyn ofttymes furtheschawin be the prechouris,
ordanis ane proclamatioun to be maid in dew forme and ample that all sic
personis cum in presens of the minister or the elderis to gif testimonie of
thair conuersioun for the saidis abusis respectiue betwix and Sonday at
none nixttocum, or falyeing thairof the saidis idolatreris to be diffamit be
setting thame vpone the merkatt croce thair to remane for the space of
vj houris for thair first falt carying of the saidis bordelaris houremaisteris
and harlottis throw the toun in ane carte for thair first falt, birnying of
bayth the kyndis of the saidis personis on the cheik for the secound falt,
and banisching the toun, and for the thrid falt to be punischit to the deid.
12 June 1560.
Anent the
Stanis of the
freiris.
The provest ballies and counsaill ordanis proclamatioun to be maid
that na manor [of] persoun putt hand in the stanis of the kirkis of the
freris latlie cassin down, and the stanis that ar tane away befoir to remane
vnder arrestment to be furthecumand to the commoun werkis.
19 June 1560.
Anent the
tolbuythe,
schule, and
clerkis chalmer.
The prowest, baillies, dene of gyld, thesaurare, [council and deacons of
crafts], haifand considderatioun of the gret inquietatioun that thai haif
had in tymes past within the tolbuith of this burgh for laik of rowme to
minister justice and to do thair other effaris at all sic tymes quhen the
sessioun did sit, or quhen other courttis and convocationis war in the
samyn, and alssua considdering the skant of prisoun houssis and incommoditie
of thair clerkis chalmer, and for inhalding of the yeirlie maill of
the samyn and other gret sowmes of money debursit be thame for thair
scole, haiffing mair commodius place and sic rowmes within thair kirk as
may be ane fair tolbuithe for serving of the toun in thair effairis, and of
all other necessar rowmes vpoun the west pairt of thair said kirk, and siclyke
vpoun the est pairt of the samyn ane other convenient rowme for ane
scole to thair barinis, besyde sufficient rowme for the preiching and ministratioun
of the sacramentis; thairfoir, and for diuers otheris ressonable
caussis moving thame, all in ane voce concludis decernis and ordanis James
Barroun dene of gilde with all deligence to repair and big wp ane stane
wall, viz., ane parpall wall of [blank] fute thyk, beginand [at] the southe
kirk dur callit the kirk yarde dur and streicht northe to the northe kirk dur
at the Stynkand Styll for the said towbuyth; and vpone the eist end of the
said kirk ane vther parpall wall of the sam thiknes. beginnand at the eist
cheik of the kirk dur at our Lady steppis, and swa in langis the breid of
the said kirk be just lyne to the southe sydwall of the samyn for thair
schule; and that the said James furnesche big and sett vp all thingis
necessar for the said schole, towbuyth, prisoun hous, clerkis chalmer and
all vtheris necessaris within the samyn.
Wellis,
calsayis,
wallis.
The prouest baillies and counsale and deiknys foresaid ordanis
Alexander Park, thesaurer, with all deligence possibill to put to warkmen
for mending of the brokin calsayis, biggin of the Mwse well, dichting of the
new well, flaging and mending of the calsayis before thame, and
alsua for mending of the hale brokin calsayis of this toun. And
to this effect ordanis the said Alexander to hyre ane maister of wark
vpoun the townys expensis, and efter the completing of the wellis and
calsayis ordanis him with like deligence to caus big the wall langis the
college yairdis fra the Northt Loch to Leyth Wynde, and siclike langis
Leyth Wynde to the biggit land at the heid of the samyn vpoun the
west syde thairof.
Kyrk.
The prouest baillies and counsale and dekynnis foresaidis ordanis
James Barroun, dene of gild, to mak saittis, fwrmes and stullis of the radeast
of the tymmer convenient thairfor lyand within the volt vnder the tolbuith
for the peple to syt vpoun the tyme of the sermoun and prayarris within
the kirk, and all vther thingis till do as salbe thocht gude for decoring
of the said kirk.
Thesaurer,
villa.
The prouest baillies and counsale with the dekynnis forsaid ordanis
Alexander Park, thesaurer, to caus mend the lokis on the eist port of the
Cowgait [and] mak new keyis, becaus the ald keyis can nocht be gottin
sen the Franchemennis last being in the toun. And ordanis the said port
to be oppin at certane tymes of day for lattin furth of the filth in tha
pairttis; alsua to contract with sum honest sure man for keiping of the
said port.
Anent the
hospitall of
Sanct Paulis
Wark.
It being havelie menyt to the prouest baillies counsale and dekynnis
foresaidis be the pure beidmen of Sanct Paullis Wark, thay in the defalt of
Sir William Makdougall thair collectour, quha presentlie keipit himself
within the castell, they could na wayis have thair annuellis and dewiteis,
in defalt quhairof thay war constrenit to beg, and thairfor desyrit thair
lordschippis that thay wald deput and gyf to thame William Stewert ane
of thair clerkis deput to be thair collectour in tymes cuming, quhilk desyre
the prouest baillies counsale and deikynnis foresaid, as patronis to the
saidis beidmen, and having the disposition of thair plaissis and offices,
nominatis makis constitutis and ordanis the said William Stewert collectour
generale of all and sindrye the annuellis mailles and dewiteis pertenyng to
the said beidmen, with command to all and sindrye within thair jurisdictioun
to ansuer and obey him thairof, to be furthcumand to the vtilite and
proffit of the said beidmen, and the said William to haue thairfor all feis
and dewiteis that onye vtheris collectouris had for the samyn in onye tyme
past.
26 June 1560.
Precept,
Carnis.
[The treasurer ordaned to "pay Johne Carnis the sowme of thre scoir poundis
for furnesing of the ministeris."]