ACT, For a New Election of Magistrats in the Town of Edinburgh.
THE which Day, the Meeting of the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, taking to their Consideration, the great Invasions that have been made of late years, upon the Priviledges of the Royal Burrows, particularly these of Edinburgh, in the Election of their Magistrats by Re-commendations, and Nominations made by the late King, in an Arbitrary and Despotick way, contrary to the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom; so that the present Magistrats and Council of the said Burgh, are not their true Magistrats and Council, by them freely Elected, but plainly such as have been (at least by progress) imposed by the aforesaid Court-methods and practices: And the Meeting of the Estates Considering, That the Constitutions, Liberties and Priviledges of the said Burgh, being so far violated and perverted, the only natural and just way to Restore the same, is to allow and authorize the Incorporation it self, and whole Members thereof, to whom the said Liberties and Priviledges were originally granted, to make a new Choise and Election of Magistrats and ordinary Council; Therefore the said Estates, Do hereby Authorize and Require, Sir James Rocheid and Aeneas Mcleod, present Town Clerks of Edinburgh, to conveen the whole Burgesses, who has born, and does bear Burgage-Duty, and are lyable to Watching and Warding within the City (excluding from this number, all Honorary Burgesses, with the Town-servants, Pensioners, Beed-men and the like,) to meet upon Wednesday next, the tenth Instant, at eight a Clock in the morning, in Saint-Geils-Church, with continuation of days, to the effect, that the said Burgesses, and each of them may give in their subscribed Lists of Twenty five persons, to be the Magistrats and ordinary Council of the said Burgh, according as the plurality of Votes shall determine, and that they give in their Burgess Tickets to the Clerks timously, that they may be Inrolled before the diet of Election. And the Estates Do Nominat and Appoint the persons after-named of their own Number, viz. The Lords Barganie and Belheaven, Sir John Maitland and the Laird of Ricartoun, Mr. James Ogilvie and Mr. James Smollet to be present, and to see the foresaid Election made; and Appoints the foresaids Magistrats and Council, so chosen, to continue until the first Tuesday after Michaelmass next, that then, and on that day, a new Election for the ensuing year, of both Magistrats, Council and Deacons of Crafts, may proceed in all Points, conform to the Sett and Decreet Arbitral, pronounced by King JAMES the Sixth; The Lists of the Magistrats then to be Chosen, being always made of such who are capable to be Elected, with power to the persons above-named, to Issue out, and publish all Orders necessary for this effect. And it is hereby Declared, That the Magistrats and Council to be Chosen by Warrand of this present ACT, as said is, shall be repute, and holden als lawful and sufficient in all respects, as if they had been truly and duly Elected at Michaelmass last, conform to the aforesaid Sett, Customs and Priviledges of the Burgh in all Points. And Ordains the present Magistrats to continue till the said new Election be made: And Appoints these Presents to be immediatly Published at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, by Macers, or Messengers at Arms, in the usual Way. Extracted out of the Records of the Meeting of Estates, by me,