Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the fiftein day of Juny J^aj vi^c nyntie seven yeirs

D1697/6/8

D1697/6/8¹

Act

Act Druniestowne and Ehot anent a Silk manufactorie

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of his majesties privie Cownsell bie Joseph Druniestowne and William Ehot merchands Shewing That wher the setting up of a manwfactorie for the winding thrawing and dying of Raw Silk brought home in the Cale will be of great advantage for the good of this kingdome This being indeed the fowndatione and grownd work for all other Silk manufactories and which would imploy a great many poor people in the natione and will considerablie diminish her farraigne import And therby make the ballance of trade much more favoureable As also what may prove a means² throw tyme to open a trade directlie from Scottland to Twrkie which is one of the most profiteable and inriching trades knowen And furder the prosecuteing of this project will much Advance the manwfactories of Buttons gallowns Silk Stockings and the lyke And the wndertakers doe purpose to bring downe severall families who make Broad Silks God and Silver thread etc and noe doubt many of the norrage weavers may be incouradged to come and establish in this countrey wher they may Live and work at easie rates By all which ther Lordships may sie the probable advantage of the manwfactorie desyred which also was alreadie granted in the yeir J^aj vi^c eightie two to one George Sandrew and with the Speciall priviledge that he alone might sett up and work in the said manwfactorie of twisting and thrawing all Sorts of ³raw and unwrought Silk by himself and his servants for the space of Seventyne yeirs dischargeing all others to sett up and work therin dureing the said space under the paine of confiscatione As the act of the Lords of privie Cownsell therupon therwith produced bears And Seing that the foirsaid act took no effect And that the designe purposed doeth promise all these advantagiows abovement and deserves the same incouradgement that hath alreadie bein granted by ther Lordships predecessors And therfore humbly craveing to the effect eftermentioned As the said petitione Bears Which being this day red and considered be the saids Lords of privie Cownsell with the act of Cownsell mentioned therin and prodwced therwith They have awthorized and heirby awthorizes the petitioners to sett up and prosecute the above manwfactorie of winding thrawing twisting and Dying all sorts of raw and wnwrought silk and declaires the same to have all the liberties priviledges and immwnities granted by act of parliament to manwfactories