LXXVII: Act of Parliament commissioning relief of the decay of area above the Greyfriar Wynd (1587)

LXXVII. Act of Parliament granting commission to various persons to take order for relief of the decay of that part of Glasgow above the Greyfriar Wynd. Edinburgh, 29 July 1587.

Anent The Supplicatioun presentit and gevin in to our Souerane Lord and Estaittis of this present parliament, be the fremen and vtheris induellaris of the citie of Glasgw aboue the Gray Freir Wynde thairof, makand mentioun that quhair that pairt of the said citie that afoir the Reformatioun of the Religioun wes intertenyt and vphaldin be the resort of the Bischop, Parsonis, Vicaris, and vtheris of clergie for the tyme, is now becum ruinous, and for the maist pairt altogidder decayit, and the heritouris and possessouris thairof greitly depauperit, wanting the moyane not onlie to vphald the samin, bot of the intertenement of thame selfis, thair wyffis, bairnis, and famelie; howbeit gif the commoun weill of the said citie wer respectit, and ane equality vsit be the magistratis and vtheris, to quhome sic thingis properlie appertenis, the present necessitie mycht easilie be supportit, be ressoun it is of veritie that thair is ane grite confusioun and multitude of mercattis togidder in ane place about the croce of the said cietie, quhilkis being deuidit and sparpalit, and sum of thame appointit to be haldin in sum competent rowmes amangis thame, wald gritelie help thame, and nawys hurt the remanent inhabitantis of the said citie, quhairof as thai ar ane pairt of the bodie and memberis subject to the payment of taxt, stent, watcheing, warding, and all vthair precable charges, evin sa all the commodities of the said citie suld be commoun to thame all; and seing that pairt of the said cietie abone the said Gray Freir Wynde is the onlie ornament and decoratioun thairof, be ressone of the grite and sumptuous buildings of grite antiquitie, varie proper and meit for the ressait of his Hienes and nobilitie at sic tymes as thai sall repair thairto, and thair it wer to be lamentit to sie sic gorgeous policie to decay that vtherwys mycht be sustenit without hurt of his Hienes subjects, and thairfoir desirand his Majestie and lordschippis, be act of parliament, to gif full power and commissioun, express bidding and charge, to Robert Lord Boyd, Walter Priour of Blantyre, the prouest and baillies of the said citie of Glasgw, and sic vtheris as thai thocht guid, to convene and tak ordour for relief of the said present necessitie, as at mair length is contenit in the said supplicatioun. Quhilk being hard, sene, and considerit be our said Souerane Lord and Estaittes in parliament; and thai thairwith being ryiplie aduisit, his Majestie, with aduis and consent of the thrie estaittes of his present parliament, hes gevin and grantit, lyk as thai be the tennour heirof gevis and grantis full power and commissioun to the said Robert Lord Boide, Walter Priour of Blantyre, and to the equall half of the counsall of the said cietie of Glasgw, conuinclie, prouding the prouest and baillies thairof be of that nowmer, to convene and tak ordour as thai sall think maist expedient for releif of the decay and necessitie of that pairt of Glasgw abone the Gray Freir Wynde thairof, ather be appointting of the mercate of salt, quhilk cumis in at the Over Port, or the beir and malt mercat vpon the Wynd Heid of the said cietie, or sic vthair pairt thairabout quhair the saids commissioneris, or the maist pairt of them, sall think maist meit and expedient; And decernis and declairis the ordour to be tane be tham thairanent to stand and have full effect in all tyme thairefter, commanding the inhabitants of the said cietie to submit thameselffis to the ordinance and determinatioun to be maid be the saids commissioneris thairintill, without stope, truble, or impediment, as thai will ansuer to his Hienes vpoun thair obedience; And Ordanis lettres to be direct to the effect foirsaid, gif neid beis, in forme as effeiris, and als to command and chairge the foirsaids commissioneris to accept the said mater in and vpone thame, and to tak odour and determine anent the premissis as thai will ansuer to God and our Souerane Lord thairvpoun.