Procedure, 9 December 1706, Edinburgh

Procedure: committee formed, 28 December 1706, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Nynth day of december Jaj vijc and Six years

A1706/12/21

Procedure

Approbation of the Lord Chancellors report and Reprimand to the Magistrats of Glasgow

The Lord high Chancellor haveing acquainted the Councell that the Committie appoynted Last Sederunt for examineing the Magistrats of Glasgow, and the Deacons of Crafts, concerning the late Tumults in that town, Had called the Magistrats and Such of the Deacons as we in town, And wpon consideration of what was represented, The Committie wer of oppinion that the Magistrats had failled in ther duty in not haveing used these means which wer in ther power for repressing the tumult, And the Committie did also farder take notice that the Baillies and Deacons of Crafts befor them did dissemble their knowledge, and refused to give a direct Information of any particular persone concerned in these disorders, which the Committie conceaved to be highly undutifull, And ane abatteing of the Tumult, And remitted the consideration therof to the Councell, Therfore his Grace her Majesties high Commissioner, and Lords of Privie Councell haveing considered the said report, Appoynted the Magistrats, Deacons of Crafts, and Such others of the Town Councell as wer attending to receive the Censure of the Board as followes, That his Grace and the Saids Lords wer no wayes Satisfied That the Magistrats, Councell and2 Deacons of Trades in Glasgow had done their pairts to Suppress the Tumults which lately happened in that place, and yet continueing, And that the obstinat concealling of the persons guilty, whom they ought to have discovered, And brought to condigne punishment as well as the Deacons of Trades ther neglecting to Call the Freemen of ther respective Corporations together, And to take Securitie for the good behaviour of ther apprentices, Servants and Journey-men, who had been the principall actors in the late disturbances as is usuall in Edinburgh and other Burghs, deserves that they Should be prosecute in ther persons, And for the Indignity and Insults done to her Majestie, And to the parliament; That the Burgh, and the Severall Incorporations in it, Should be depryved of ther respective priviledges and Immunities, But his said Grace, and the saids Lords being yet willing to affoord the saids Magistrats, Councell, Deacons of Crafts and heads of houses and Burgh ane farder opportunity to repair the Injurie done to the Government, And prevent the hazard the Burgh was brought into, Wer pleased at this tyme only to give the Saids persons Compearing in name of the Councell, Burgh and Inhabitants this publict Reprimand and monitorir to returne with all dilligence to ther town, And ther to take care of the quyet and peace of the place, And to Act with all vigor against Such as Shall presumre to disturbe the Same, And to report from tyme to tyme ane account to the privie Councell of ther dilligence; And further particularly To requyre the Merchants, Masters of houses, and Deacons of Crafts within the said Burgh of Glasgow and Gorballs wherof they are Superiors or proprietors, To take Sufficient Securitie from the Merchants, Freemen, and Masters of ther Severall Incorporations for ther own, ther apprentices, Servants and Journey-mens good and peaceable behaviour as is used in Edinburgh, and other Burghs on lyke occasions; Assureing the Saids Magistrats and others presently attending that they Shall be maintained in the exercise of lawfull power; And on the other hand Certifieing them and Requyreing them to intimate to the Severall Merchants, Incorporations and Inhabitatns of Glasgow and Garbells, That if they Shall not Submitt themselves to the exercise of Lawfull authoritie, and live peaceably and orderly as becomes, The saids Magistrats and Burgh, and haill Merchants and Incorporations therin Shall be presented according to law for depryveing them of ther priviledges and imunnities aforsaid, and that not only and upon account of what may happen in tyme comeing, But also for the past misdemanors.

At Edinburgh 9 December 1706

A1706/12/21

Procedure

Approbation of the lord chancellor’s report and reprimand to the magistrates of Glasgow

[James Ogilvie, earl of Seafield] the lord high chancellor having acquainted the council that the committee appointed last sederunt for examining the magistrates of Glasgow and the deacons of crafts concerning the late tumults in that town, had called the magistrates and such of the deacons as we in town. And upon consideration of what was represented, the committee were of opinion that the magistrates had failed in their duty in not having used those means which were in their power for repressing the tumult. And the committee did also further take notice that the bailies and deacons of crafts before them did dissemble their knowledge, and refused to give a direct information of any particular person concerned in these disorders, which the committee conceived to be highly undutiful, and an abetting of the tumult. And [the committee] remitted the consideration thereof to the council. Therefore his grace [James Douglas, duke of Queensberry] her majesty’s high commissioner and lords of privy council, having considered the said report, appointed the magistrates, deacons of crafts, and such others of the town council as were attending, to receive the censure of the board as follows: that his grace and the said lords were nowise satisfied that the magistrates, council, and deacons of trades in Glasgow had done their parts to suppress the tumults which lately happened in that place, and [are] yet continuing, and that the obstinate concealing of the persons guilty, whom they ought to have discovered and brought to condign punishment, as well as the deacons of trades their neglecting to call the freemen of their respective corporations together, and to take security for the good behaviour of their apprentices, servants, and journeymen, who had been the principal actors in the late disturbances, as is usual in Edinburgh and other burghs, deserve that they should be prosecuted in their persons, and for the indignity and insults done to her majesty, and to the parliament. That the burgh, and the several incorporations in it, should be deprived of their respective privileges and immunities, but his said grace, and the said lords being yet willing to afford the said magistrates, council, deacons of crafts, and heads of houses and burgh a further opportunity to repair the injury done to the government, and prevent the hazard the burgh was brought into, were pleased at this time only to give the said persons appearing in name of the council, burgh, and inhabitants this public reprimand and [instruction] to return with all diligence to their town, and there to take care of the quiet and peace of the place, and to act with all vigour against such as shall presume to disturb the same, and to report from time to time an account to the privy council of their diligence; and further particularly to require the merchants, masters of houses, and deacons of crafts within the said burgh of Glasgow and Gorbals, whereof they are superiors or proprietors, to take sufficient security from the merchants, freemen, and masters of their several incorporations for their own, their apprentices’, servants’, and journeymen’s good and peaceable behaviour as is used in Edinburgh, and other burghs on like occasions. Assuring the said magistrates and others presently attending that they shall be maintained in the exercise of lawful power, and on the other hand certifying them and requiring them to intimate to the several merchants, incorporations, and inhabitants of Glasgow and Gorbals that if they shall not submit themselves to the exercise of lawful authority, and live peaceably and orderly as becomes, the said magistrates and burgh, and whole merchants and incorporations therein, shall be presented according to law for depriving them of their privileges and immunities aforesaid, and that not only and upon account of what may happen in time coming, but also for the past misdemeanours.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 492-3.

2. The words ‘Councell and’ are an insertion.

1. NRS, PC1/53, 492-3.