Concerning the Market Cross. 89 



" The qlk day anent the suplication given in to the said 

 Magistrates Common Connsall and Heritors Be Thomas M'Gowan, 

 Merchant in Irving, makand mentione that qhairas the petitioner 

 intends to cause cast down the walls on the north and southmost 

 sides of the Mercat Cross of Drumfries not only for enlargement 

 of the two shops under the same if (?) they would allow two foot 

 of ground more on either syde yairof for yt effect But also that 

 he may have ane shop above either of the said two laigh shops 

 And is resolved to build the south syde betwixt and Michaelmas 

 next and the north syde betwixt and the first of September yrafter, 

 and to build the walls (?) with other work with a battlement on 

 the top which he shall defend against wind and weather And to 

 cover the roof with lead which will much more tend to the adorn- 

 ment of the place than to the petitioners advantage And shall be 

 done and performed to the satisfaction and to the advyce and con- 

 sent of the sd Magistrates and Counsall And therefoir for his 

 encouragement craving the allowance of two foot of ground on 

 either syde yrof the north and south sides of the said Cross for 

 enlargement of the two laigh shops and for building a high shop 

 above either of them And also the libertie to build a stair to enter 

 up to the two hig-h shops at the w^est end of the fabric And to 

 grant him an Charter thereof upon his own reasonable expense 

 And is content to give such ane additional feu dutie therefore as 

 they should be pleasit to impose T.Q. which being be the said 

 Magistrates Counsall and Heritors considered they unanimously 

 with and under the express provisions and reservations aftermen- 

 tioned allow to the petitioner two foot of ground on either syde 

 of the north and south sides of the Mercat Cross for enlarging the 

 shops yrof reserving always the towns right and priority (?) to 

 the said Cross and providing always that the fabric and decorment 

 on either syde and Battlement on the top yrof be done and per- 

 formed to the satisfaction of the Magistrates and Counsall And 

 that the north and south sydes and Battlement yron be perfected 

 betwixt and the two several tymes above mentioned And that 

 the petitioner uphhold the roof and maintains the battlement 

 against wind and weather in the terms of the petitioner And 

 reserving always power to the said Magistrates and Counsall to 

 impose such a few dutie for the same in augmenting of the towns 

 rentall as they shall think fit And further providing always that 

 their prests. be noe homologatione of the M'Gowans nor of yr 



