Warrant, 21 December 1699, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Nynteinth day of January J^aj vi^c Nyntie Nyne years

D1699/1/10

D1699/1/10¹

Act

Act The Commissioners of Supply of the Shyre of Roxburgh and Magistrats of Jedburgh for a bridge

Anent the petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privy Councill be the Commissioners of Supply within the Shyre of Roxburgh and Magistrats of the toune of Jedburgh and other heritors of the Shyre of Roxburgh Shewing That wher the brige upon the watter of Teviot below Ancrum haveing fallen into decay and Likely to become ruinous the petitioners made application to the last parliament for some provisione and fond to repair and Sustaine the Same Which being Recommended to the saids Lords Ther was in September Last Some Small dutie granted for a few years upon that account to be uplifted at the bridge Bot after the petitioners hade caused workmen to visite what repairation would be necessar and what the expence of makeing the bridge Sufficient would amount to by their report taken under their hands in presence of the petitioners It being found that the charge would amount to no Less then betwixt Eight or Nyne Thousand merks, Ther would no workmen Or any other persone be found after outmost dilligence used by the petitioners who would undertake to repair the bridge upon the Credit of the act granted by their Lordships The outmost Could have been reckoned to arise from the Said act being only such ane inconsiderable Soume as would be necessar for to keep the bridge in repair if once made sufficient Bot nowayes to affoord the present repairationes Wherby throw the great floods at the break of the Storme in November Last one of the four Arches of this bridge is wholly borne down and another of the arches so Chattered That it most be taken down to the ground before it can be made sufficient as also the Lands Stood upon the South end of the bridge is so shaken and Chattered, That it most be renewed from the founation, as also the piller nixt to it, and seing this is the only bridge upon the river of Teviot, and that ther is no feiry boat upon the whole matter Save one seven mylles above this bridge and that it is nottourly knowen this watter is so great and Rapid that for the most part of the winter time it is not foordable as also this bridge hath allwayes been Considered as so necessary both as lying upon a high road to the borders of England, And Likewayes the Common passadge for all the South part of Scotland travelling that way and so indispensibly necessar to the Shyres about and to the burgh of Jedburgh That any Considerable repairationes which have been mad therupon in the memory of man were allwayes by some pious donations and particularly the last arch that was repair’dd of this bridge was by the pious Liberalitie of one of the Arch bishops of Glasgow, and Seing the petitioners have no prospect or expectation to raise a fond Sufficient for repairing of this bridge Bot by the saids Lords gracious and favorable allowing a generall Contributione throw out the kingdome which being the only Charitable benevollence of weell disposed people for such a pious use It was hoped the saids Lords would favorably grant the Same as ther Lordships some times had done upon the accounts farr Less Considerable then this was knowen to be by many of the saids Lords oun number, And Therfore Humbly Cravein the saids Lords would be pleased in Consideration of the premysses to allow the petitioner a generall Contribution through out the kingdome for the ends forsaids to be Collected at such dayes and in such maner as the petitioners should find Convenient and appoint intimation therof to be made by the Ministers of the severall paroches upon the Lords day before the day of Contribution to be Collected and uplifted and pay in to the factor to be appointed by the petitioner upon his finding sufficient Caution to the petitioners to apply the Same for repairing of the forsaid bridge upon Teviot as the petition bears. The Lords of his Majesties privy Councill Haveing Considered this petition Given in to them by the above Commissioners of Supply within the Shyre of Roxburgh, The magistrats of Jedburgh and others of the said shyre of Roxburgh With a report of the workmen anent Ancrum bridge; and a missive Letter from the Lord Jedburgh to the Laird of Cavers to concurr with the town of Jedburgh in adressing the privy Councill for a Contribution to repair the said bridge mentioned and produced with this petitione They doe hereby Allow to the petitioners a generall Contribution for the ends mentioned in the said petition to be made at all the paroch Churches within this Kingdome, and that upon Such Lords dayes as shall be Condescended on by the petitioners, And appoints the Ministers to make intimation of the said Collectione upon the Lords day Immediatly preceiding that in which the said Collection is to be made And appoints the Contribution when Collected to be delyvered in and uplifted by the factor to be appointed by the petitioners, And that In Respect the said factor has given bond and found Sufficient Caution acted in the books of privy Councill That he shall apply the said Contribution when Collected for repairing the above bridge upon the watter of Teviot below Ancrum, and ordaines this to be printed with the particular intimations to follow hereon.