X: Charter granting rights of trade in Argyll and Lennox (1242-3)

X. Charter by King Alexander II. granting to the Bishop of Glasgow and his successors that the bishops burgesses and men of Glasgow should have rights of trade and merchandise in Argyle and Lennox, etc. Edinburgh Castle, 11 January 1242–3.

[Latin text]

Alexander Dei gracia Rex Scocie, omnibus probis hominibus totius terre sue, salutem. Sciant presentes et futuri nos concessisse, et hac carta nostra confirmasse, venerabili patri Willelmo episcopo Glasguensi, et eius successoribus episcopis Glasguensibus, inperpetuum, utburgenses et homines sui de Glasgu in Ergadiam et in Leuenax et per totum regnum nostrum ire possint, ad emendum et vendendum et omnimodas mercatorias exercendas cum voluerint, ita libere et quiete, plenarie et honorifice et sine aliquo impedimento balliuorum nostrorum de Dunbretan, seu quorunicunque aliorum balliuorum nostrorum, sicut dicti burgenses et homines de Glasgu antiquitus liberius, quietius, plenius et honorificencius facere potuerunt, antequam aliquem burgum apud Dunbretan fundari fecimus. Concessimus eciam et hac carta nostra confirmauinms omnibus venientibus ad nundinas et forum de Glasgu, et inde recedentibus, firmam pacem et proteccionem nostram, firmiter prohibentes ne quis ad dictas nundinas et forum de Glasgu venientibus et inde recedentibus malum iniuriam molestiam inferat aut grauamen, contra hanc concessionem nostram quominus ad dictas nundinas libere, et ad forum de Glasgu cum voluerint venire, et inde recedere possint sine alicuius balliui impedimento, super nostram plenariam mercimoniam decern librarum. Testibus, Dauid, episcopo Sancti Andree, Georgio episcopo Dunkeldensi, Waltero Comyn comite de Menenteth, Waltero Olifard justiciario Laodonie, Willelmo archidiacono Laodonie, Henrico de Balliol camerario, Willelmo de Lindeseie, Philippo, de Maleuill justiciario Scocie. Apud Castrum Puellarum, xj° die Januarii anno regni domini regis vicesimo octauo.

[Translation]

Alexander, by the grace of God King of Scots, to all good men of his whole land, greeting. Be it known to those present and to come that we have granted, and by this our charter confirmed, to a venerable father William bishop of Glasgow, and his successors bishops of Glasgow, for ever, that their burgesses and men of Glasgu may go in Argyle and in Lennox, and throughout our whole kingdom to buy and sell, and to exercise every sort of merchandise, when they will, as freely and quietly fully and honourably, and without any let whatsoever of our bailies of Dumbarton, or of any others our bailies, as the said burgesses and men of Glasgow of old most freely, quietly, fully, and honourably could do, before we caused any burgh to be founded at Dumbarton. We have also granted, and by this our charter confirmed, to all coming to the fair and market of Glasgow, and thence returning, our firm peace and protection, straitly prohibiting every one from doing harm injury molestation or trouble to those coming to the said fair and market of Glasgow, and thence returning, contrary to this our grant, that they should not freely come to the said fair and to the market of Glasgow, when they will, and thence return, without let of any bailie whatsoever, upon pain of our full fine of ten pounds. Witnesses, David bishop of Saint Andrews, George bishop of Dunkeld, William Cumin earl of Menenteth, William Olifard justiciar of Lothian, William archdeacon of Lothian, Henry of Balliol chamberlain, William of Lindesay, Philip of Maleuill justiciar of Scotland. At Maiden Castle, the 11th day of January, in the year of the reign of our lord the King the twenty eighth.