Warrant, 21 December 1699, Edinburgh

Edinburgh the Eightein day of July J^aj vi^c Nyntie Nyne years

D1699/7/5

D1699/7/5¹

Act

Act Lord James Le Blanc

Anent a petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill be Livetenent James Le Blanc lately in the Earle of Tillibardins regiment and now Merchant burges of Edinburgh Shewing That wher upon account of the petitioners religion being oblidged to Leave the petitioners native Country the petitioner did very Early and in the petitioners tender years ingadge in his Majesties Service, And Continued therin untill the regiment wherin the petitioner served upon the conclusion of the late happy peace was reduced and brock and haveing a Litle before that time maried a gentlewoman of this countrey, and so comeing to have a family whill in the meantime the petitioner was Laid aside in his imployment By which the petitioner therupon thought upon another way of Living, and endeavored to Choise one which might be most advantadgeous for this kingdome, and wherin the petitioner might be the least enveyed being followed by non others; And for that end haveing some knowledge of Manufactoring glass the petitioner Concurred with Prestongrange in errecting his Glass work now a Manufactory, And after great Charge and trouble the petitioner have gott Foraigners brought hither who are expert in pollishing therof and prepairing it for use, and entered into a Contract with Prestongrange for receiveing from him the Glass made in the said manufactory, Wheras in all time bygone, tho indeed some have pollished Glasses in this kingdome, yet they had allwayes the Glass it self from abroad so that the petitioner was the first that made it intirely native, Wherby ther are and will be Considerable Soumes keept within the kingdom which was formerly exported for Mirors Seeing ther are non better prepaired in our Nighbouring Kingdomes, Nor at so easie rates by very farr And Since the petitioners errecting therof the petitioner hath had very considerable offers made to disingadg the petitioner from the kingdome, and to engadge the petitioner to setle in another, yet being maried to a Gentlwoman of godo relations, and haveing by some Litle intrest in the kingdome, And being now Naturalized haveing obtained himself made burges and Guild-brother in Edinburgh for the better enableing the petitioner to follow his trade upon these reasons, and from the duty the petitioners owes to this kingdome in whose service the petitioner formerly, was, The petitioner is resolved to Live and dye in it, If so the petitioner can follow his Imployment in peace and queit which the petitioner understands is practised by non others to that advantadge of the kingdome that the petitioner does, Notwithstanding wherof and of the great charges and expence that the petitioner have and is dayly expending upon the said Manufactorie Because the Glasses must have Mullers and head peices of timber, And Because Some time persones of honor and quality, desire also rables, drawers and stands agreeable to the Glass for makeing up a Sute, and wherin the petitioner cannot be furnished by the Wrights of the Cannogate wher the petitioner had Sett up his Manufactory for the better conveniency, Albeit the petitioner have offered to the Deacon² and Wrights of the Cannogate the said Imployment, which they acknowledged they Cannot, and so am necessitat to Imploy wrights of Edinburgh for makeing and furnishing the petitioner therwith For that reasone the saids wrights of the Cannogate Not only Stopt the petitioners selling of Tables, Drawers and Stands tho themselves prepair non such, Bot also they seaze upon and Stopt the petitioners Glasses And therby threaten the ruine of the petitioner and Manufacture And Seing the petitioners trade is what they doe not at all practise, and wherin the petitioner was weell satisfied As to the wrights part therof to be Served by them if they were able, and that their Stoping the petitioners Manufactorie, was not only prejudiciall to the petitioner, bot highly prejudiciall to the kingdome; in Generall; Seing these things which the petitioner prepare and make were allwayes before furnished from abroad, and will so still if the petitioner be Stops, And also Seing that if the petitioner bring them from abroad as a merchant they cannot hinder the³ petitioner to sell them, So that it Seems unreasonable to hinder the petitioner when he was furnished therwith by the wrights of Edinburgh and therby keep the money within the kingdome Beside that in the termes of Prestongrange and Sir William Binnings oblidgments and errectione of the said Manufactory are oblidged to furnish Glasses alse good and alse easie as they can be hade from abroad, which requyres necessarly they be allowed to sell them in frames and Mullers, And the Suiting of the Saids Glasses with table drawers and Stands being also Necessary to the designe of keeping money within the kingdome and which nowayes prejudges the wrights of the Cannogate; And Therfore Humbly Craveing the saids Lords would be pleased To Declare it to be their priviledge to fitt and set the Glass Manufactured by them in frames and Mullers, and that it Shall be Leisome to them to Suit the same with tables Drawes and Stands, They being most willing to give the wrights of the Cannogate the first offer of furnishing the same, and working to them in so farr as they are Capable, and to prohibit and discharge all persones whatsomever to stop trouble or Imped them in the Sale and disposall of the product of their said Manufactory, Which prejudges no persone whatsomever, and Saves the exporting of Considerable Soumes of money yearly as the said petition bears. The Lords of his Majesties privy Councill haveing Considered the above petition given in to them be Livetenant James Le Blanc Lately in the Earle of Tullibardins regiment and now Merchant burges of Edinburgh They Doe hereby Declare That it is the petitioners priviledge to fitt and sett the Glass Manufactured by him and the rest of the above Manufactorie in frames and Mullers, and that it shall be Lesome to the petitioner to sute the Same with tables Drawers and Stands by the wrights and Joyners of Edinburgh The petitioner giveing the wrights of the Cannogate the first offer of furnishing the Same and working to him in so farr as they are capable and takeing instruments upon their refusall, And the saids Lords Doe hereby prohibit and discharge all persones whatsomever to stop trouble or Imped the petitioner in the Sale and disposall of the product of the said Manufactory and provyding and selling the particulars above mentioned in maner above exprest.