Procedure, 30 December 1701, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Seventeenth day of Aprile J^aj vii^c and one years

A1701/4/22

A1701/4/22¹

Act

Act John Clerk and Alexander Gordon merchants in Greenock

Anent The Petition given in to the Lords of His Majesties privy Councill By John Clerk merchant in Greenock and Alexander Gordon also merchant ther Shewing That Where in december and January last, There was Imported from Ireland in four Small boats some barley, bear, malt, and a Small quantity of meall, The First of which boats John Allan master, arryved in Bute about the First of January, before the Proclamation, which is upon the Sixth, and the Second and third Morrson and Humble masters arryved about the End of January, and the fourth one Hunter also master, a few days therafter, and all the three before the proclamation was published at Glasgow, So that they the persons Concerned, were neither questioned for the unloading, nor did they Imagine the least hazard, Specially perceaveing that their Lordships upon application have allowed the Importation to Severalls who have Imported and unloaded after them, It being certan that what was Imported in the four boats abovementioned was unloaded in Scotland, before any of the Victuall that their Lordships have dispensed with as Imported after the proclamation Likeas The said Victuall, wherin they are Concerned was fairly put in Lofts and Girnells, and a good pairt of it, Is already Sold and disposed of, But John Alexander of Blackhouse lately Commissionat by their Lordships for Executing of their Proclamation against the Importing of Irish Victuall in these pairts, finding a pairt of their victuall a Small quantity of meall Still unsold, and being unwilling of himself to do any thing that might appear to be a dispensing with their Lordships proclamation, albeit otherwayes Satisfyed, that they were no transgressors hath with these feu days caused arreist their forsaid Victuall yet undisposed off, So that necessary It is for them to have their Lordships discharge of the Said arrestment for his and their Exoneration, And Seing that they are ready to Instruct and verify the premises, partly by bills of Loadning and Letters of Advice, where any were Sent, and partly by Witnesses to the Importing and unloading of the said litle boats and that they are content, to make faith to best of their knowledge upon the verity of the whole premises, And Therfore Humbly Craving to the Effect underwrittin as the said petition bears. The Saids Lords of His Majestys privy Councill, having considered the above petition given in to them by John Clerk and Alexander Gordon merchants in Greenwick, with the Report of a Committy of their own number anent victuall brought from Ireland and Blackhouse his Commission for Seazeing therof, They find that the Victuall Contained in the said petition Falls under the first pairt of the Said Report, wherby the Committy declares it as their opinion, That any Victuall that came in after the proclamation which was² upon the Sixth day of January last, that was before that tyme bona fide bought in Ireland and Imported before the tenth day of February therafter, Should not fall under the Certification in the act, neither against Importers nor buyers therof And Therfore The Saids Lords do heirby loose and discharge the arrestments mentioned in the Said Bill, and allow the said victuall to be disposed off.