Act, 28 December 1703, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Eight day of March J^aj vii^c and thrie years, Called Extraordinar

A1703/3/12

A1703/3/12¹

Letter

Letter from the Magistrats of Glasgow To The Chancelor anent a mobb at Glasgow the 7 March

Followes another Letter from The Magistrats of Glasgow to the Lord Chancelor.
Right Honorable
May it please your Lordship Wee are very sory wee have the following account if ane disorder hath happened in this place upon Mr Alexander Burges his preaching in Sir John Bells house this day Which is as Followes – The magistrats upon recept of yor Lordships Letter with the whole toune Councill haveing perused the Samen thought it their duty as weell as thir intrest by all Means possible to endeavour the keeping of the peace in the Toune and took all reasonable Methods for effectuating the Same So that Neither on Saturnday nor this morning when wee went to Church hade wee the least Jealouslyie of any thing to the Contrary nor can your Lordship expect So full and particular Accompt of all its Circumstances as may be afterwards given – My Lord what account wee have got of the begining of this Tumult is as followes; The Meetting at Sir John Bells house being Conveened ther were Some people walking be fore the door with drawen swords who when they discovered some boyes they threatened them with intollerable oathes That if they or any else came near They would make their blood Lye upon the ground And Some of the boyes giveing the threatner Some bad answer that did not please him he did pursue them with a drawen Sword a great way up the Salt Marcat Curseing and Swearing which did So alarme people that were in their housses that the Multitude increased; and that ther came Immediatly ane allarme to the Severall Churches in the City wherupon the Churches emptied and wee the Magistrates went doune and used our outmost endeavors to Supress the Tumult; But wee being at the high Church this day the Multitude became Numerous most of whom wee did not know; And wee found the doors brocken open and wee endeavoured all wee could what by advice what by threatenings and by apprehending Such as wee Suspected guilty who were Immediatly rescued from our officers after they were delyvered to them Then wee sent for the whole Regiment and the longer wee continued the multitude Still encreasing wee at Last Concluded the Safest way was to conduct the people who were at the meetting Safely home which was done without any hurt to them; Afterwards wee went and did See, Sir John Bell in his house wher Mr Burges the Minister was; And in the mean time when wee were regraiting the Misfortune that had happened to Sir John and his family who had merited much from his Civill Carriage when a Magistrat in this place It was Answered to us by one of his Sones present That they hade gott what they were Seeking and would rather That that had fallen out then if it had been otherwayes My Lord The provest will give your Lordship a more particular Account as his arryvall which he hopes will be on Teusday nixt Unles he be hindered by a wound which he received in his Leg in Suppressing the Tumult – Wee intreat your Lordship may foreward ane accompt of this to London Least their be other information therof Sent differing from this which as the true accompt for which wee Shall be answerable. Wee are – Right honourable your Lordships most humble most faithfull and most obedient Servants Sic Subscribitur Heugh Montgomry Rot Rodgers Fra: Montgomrie dated Thus Glasgow 7 March i703.