Procedure: committee formed, 19 January 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The nynteenth day of January Jaj vjc nyntie tuo years

A1692/1/461

Procedure: committee formed

Committie Anent the toune of Edinburgh Anent persons seased as souldiers

Anent a petitione given In to the Lords of their Majesties privie Councill Be the Magistrats and toune Councell of Edinburgh Sheuing That wheras severall officers who are Levying Recruits have summarly seized and Imprisoned some Apprentices and also servants who have not consented to take on uith them nor taken their Earnest […] aither as servants or souldiers And in respect that such Irregular practices have been the occasione of severall disordors and tumults The petitioners Have found themselves obleidged to represent this Illegall practice to their Lordships That a suitable Remedie may be provyded And therfore Humblie Craving their Lordships to discharge all officers and others to seize or imprisone any Apprentices or servants who have not uillingly Consented or taken on within this City and suburbs therof And Grant warrand for liberatione of all these that are illegallie Imprisoned as the said petitions Bears The Saids Lords of their Majesties privy Councell Having Considered this petitione given In to them be the Magistrats and toune Counsell of Edinburgh They heirby Recommend to the Master of Burleigh and the Laird of Grant To Repaire to the tolbooth of Edinburgh Cannongate and Leith and alse to the Castle of Edinburgh And to Call for such persones as are Committed to the saids prisones upon pretence of Having taken on with any of the officers presently Levying souldiers To be transported to Flanders for their Majesties service And particularly for John Fergusone Androw Kinnings and Androw Gullans prisoners In the tolbooth of the Cannongate upon the forsaid account And Lykeways to Call for the officers By whose warrand they are Committed And to examine and take tryall if these persones have willingly taken on with the saids officers or receaved their money or if they be forced and Compelled to prisone Against their will uithout having taken on or receaved their money And to report to the Councell the names of such persones as they find they are Compelled and the cases of such as they are not clear in And discharges the Keepers of the forsaids prisones to delyver the persones Imprisoned upon the pretence forsaid to the officers or others by whom they are Committed or to suffer them to goe furth of the forsaids prisones untill the samen be visited by the forsaid Committie and report made to the Lords of privie Councell

At Edinburgh 19 January 1692

A1692/1/461

Procedure: committee formed

Committee concerning the town of Edinburgh over persons seized as soldiers

Concerning a petition given in to the lords of their majesties’ privy council by the magistrates and town council of Edinburgh showing that whereas several officers who are levying recruits have summarily seized and imprisoned some apprentices and also servants who have not consented to take on with them nor taken their earnest […] either as servants or soldiers, and in respect that such irregular practices have been the occasion of several disorders and tumults, the petitioners have found themselves obliged to represent this illegal practice to their lordships that a suitable remedy may be provided, and therefore humbly craving their lordships to discharge all officers and others to seize or imprison any apprentices or servants who have not willingly consented or taken on within this city and suburbs thereof, and grant warrant for liberation of all those that are illegally imprisoned as the said petition bears. The said lords of their majesties’ privy council having considered this petition given in to them by the magistrates and town council of Edinburgh, they hereby recommend to [Robert Balfour] master of Burleigh and [Ludovic Grant] laird of Grant to repair to the tolbooth of Edinburgh, Canongate and Leith and also to the castle of Edinburgh, and to call for such persons as are committed to the said prisons upon pretense of having taken on with any of the officers presently levying soldiers, to be transported to Flanders for their majesties’ service, and particularly for John Ferguson, Andrew Kinnings and Andrew Gullans, prisoners in the tolbooth of the Canongate upon the foresaid account, and likewise to call for the officers by whose warrant they are committed, and to examine and take trial if these persons have willingly taken on with the said officers or received their money or if they be forced and compelled to prison against their will without having taken on or received their money, and to report to the council the names of such persons as they find they are compelled and the cases of such as they are not clear in, and discharges the keepers of the foresaid prisons to deliver the persons imprisoned upon the pretense foresaid to the officers or others by whom they are committed or to suffer them to go forth of the foresaid prisons until the same be visited by the foresaid committee and report made to the lords of privy council.

1. NRS, PC1/47, 582-3.

1. NRS, PC1/47, 582-3.