Procedure: committee formed, 28 December 1706, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the fyfteinth day of August J^aj vij^c and Six years

A1706/8/6

A1706/8/6¹

Act

Act for liberating John Pratt out of the Tollbooth of Edinburgh

Anent the Petition given in to the Lords of her Majesties privie Councell by John Pratt prisoner in the Tollbooth of Edinburgh Shewing that the said petitioner by the folly of youth, did unwisely and most unfortunately, open her Majesties packet, For which he was wnfeignedly and heartily sory, And for which cryme he was imprisoned, And had continued So these twelve moneths bygone, in a most miserable and starveing condition, and had wndoubtedly starved er now, If it had not been for the Charity of Mr Drummond Goodman of the prisone, And notwithstanding of the petitioners frequent applications made to her Majesties Advocat for his releiff Yet his lordship would not medle in it, but referred² him to the said Lords, and therfor Craveing their lordships to take pity of his Youth, and miserable condition, And of ther clemencie and mercie order his being liberat, that he might indeavour to gett bread to himselfe and prevent his Starveing, as the said petition bears, The Lords of her Majesties Privie Councell haveing considered the above petition, And the Samen being read in ther presence, The Saids Lords doe heirby ordaine the Magistrats of Edinburgh and keepers of ther Tollbooth to Sett the petitioner at liberty furth of ther Tollbooth, without payment of any house dues, He alewayes enacting himselfe in the books of privie Councell for his good behavior.