Order, 4 April 1693, Edinburgh

Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Edinburgh the Fourth day of Aprill Jaj vjc nyntie thrie years

D1693/4/61

Order

Comittie and order anent beggers

The Lords of their majesties privy Councill haveing Considered a memoriall given in to them be the Magistrats of Edinburgh Representing that the saids magistrats have dilligently endeavored to obey their Majesties proclamatione for entertaineing of the poor But meet with these Following difficulties primo that the adjacent parishes to the oune retaine great numbers of beggars who begg allwayes in the toune and they neither keep them at home nor have they settled any way for intertaineing of them Especially the West Kirk parish And when beggars are sent to them on the maner prescryved by the proclamation they neither grant recepts for them nor hinder them from returning to the toune of Edinburgh. Secundo The proclamation appoints the half of the stent for the poor to be Imposed on the heritors, the other half on the inhabitants who are not heritors which is presumed to be Calculat for Landward parishes wher ordinarly heritors doe receid, Bot in Edinburgh many of the heritors Live in Countrey places and no doubt contribute to the poor their, And the wholl burdein of the poor did ever Lye on the Charitie of the inhabitants, And if it were Otherwayes It would be very2 heavy on the toune heritors Tertio The warrand to Stent or to fyne those who refused or delay to contribute is not so very Clear to warrand the execution Quarto The Magistrats are straitned what to doe as to lame miserable Souldiers; Blew gown beggers, and the wyfes of those as are prest to be Souldiers The saids Lords Doe heirby Recomend to and Authorize the Committie formerly appointed anent the beggars in Edinburgh viz the Earle of Linlithgow Viscount Tarbat Lord Cardross and the Laird of Blackbarrony or any thrie of them to Call for the heritors elders or kirk session of the parish of the West Kirk and such adjacent parishes to the toune of Edinburgh as they shall think fitt, And Call them to account how the proclamation anent beggers is obeyed or if the same be retarded in their severall parishes as to the second and third articles anent the stenting for contributione referrs to the Comittie to fall upon Overtures on this head and report them to the Councill And as to the Fourth article Ordaines the Magistrats to doe therin as by the proclamation of Secret Councill is appointed, And Recomends to this Comittie to call the magistrates to ane account anent Cleanseing of the streets and put them to their dutie in that matter and adds the Lord Advocat to the Committie and Continues the quorum as Formerly.

Edinburgh the Fourth day of Aprill Jaj vjc nyntie thrie years

D1693/4/61

Order

Comittie and order anent beggers

The Lords of their majesties privy Councill haveing Considered a memoriall given in to them be the Magistrats of Edinburgh Representing that the saids magistrats have dilligently endeavored to obey their Majesties proclamatione for entertaineing of the poor But meet with these Following difficulties primo that the adjacent parishes to the oune retaine great numbers of beggars who begg allwayes in the toune and they neither keep them at home nor have they settled any way for intertaineing of them Especially the West Kirk parish And when beggars are sent to them on the maner prescryved by the proclamation they neither grant recepts for them nor hinder them from returning to the toune of Edinburgh. Secundo The proclamation appoints the half of the stent for the poor to be Imposed on the heritors, the other half on the inhabitants who are not heritors which is presumed to be Calculat for Landward parishes wher ordinarly heritors doe receid, Bot in Edinburgh many of the heritors Live in Countrey places and no doubt contribute to the poor their, And the wholl burdein of the poor did ever Lye on the Charitie of the inhabitants, And if it were Otherwayes It would be very2 heavy on the toune heritors Tertio The warrand to Stent or to fyne those who refused or delay to contribute is not so very Clear to warrand the execution Quarto The Magistrats are straitned what to doe as to lame miserable Souldiers; Blew gown beggers, and the wyfes of those as are prest to be Souldiers The saids Lords Doe heirby Recomend to and Authorize the Committie formerly appointed anent the beggars in Edinburgh viz the Earle of Linlithgow Viscount Tarbat Lord Cardross and the Laird of Blackbarrony or any thrie of them to Call for the heritors elders or kirk session of the parish of the West Kirk and such adjacent parishes to the toune of Edinburgh as they shall think fitt, And Call them to account how the proclamation anent beggers is obeyed or if the same be retarded in their severall parishes as to the second and third articles anent the stenting for contributione referrs to the Comittie to fall upon Overtures on this head and report them to the Councill And as to the Fourth article Ordaines the Magistrats to doe therin as by the proclamation of Secret Councill is appointed, And Recomends to this Comittie to call the magistrates to ane account anent Cleanseing of the streets and put them to their dutie in that matter and adds the Lord Advocat to the Committie and Continues the quorum as Formerly.

1. NRS, PC2/24, 206r-206v.

2. One illegible word scored out here.

1. NRS, PC2/24, 206r-206v.

2. One illegible word scored out here.