Procedure: petition, 31 December 1696, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the second day of Jullie J^aj vj^c nyntie six years

A1696/7/5

A1696/7/5¹

Act

Liberation John Mcfarlane

Anent the petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill By John Mcfarland merchant in Greenock now prisoner in the tolbooth of Edinburgh Sheuing that the petitioner hes been in prisone since the fourth of May Last att which tyme he uas Committed to the Castle of Dumbrittaine wher he uas Keeped Eight dayes And then brought prisoner to the tolbooth of Edinburgh wher he remaines in a very sad Condition Being at such ane distance from his freinds and his wyfe being Lying sick and none but strangers to Look to her Besyds that he sustaines a very great Loss by being in prisone Having Considerable bargains of uoods upon his hands which he hes in Cutting And Lykeuayes he is resting Considerable soumes of money in the Countrey so that a very Litle Longer Imprisonment will Inevitablie tend to the ruine of him and his poor family having nothing to sustaine him and them but what providence provydes by his selling and buying anything he can Gett a litle profite of And moreover his being in prisone is Lyke to prove the Cause of his wyfes Death whose distemper is exceedingly Increasced since he was Imprisoned And seing the petitioner is knouen by all these that Know him to be uell affected to the Government which he Gave a sufficient evidence of by his revealling and not Concealling that which he thought might be prejudiciall to the Government neither thought he himself safe to Conceall the same And therfore Humblie Craving to the effect underwryten as the said petitione Bears The saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Having Considered the said petitione given in to them by the said John McFarland They heirby Give order and warrand to the Magistrats of Edinburgh and Keeper of their tolbooth To sett the petitioner att Libertie furth therof For which this shall be to all Concerned a sufficient warrand