How Annan Built a Bridge. 323 



The council accordingly " impegnorate " and engage the customs 

 and meadows belonging to the burgh, until the Earl of Annan- 

 dale be fully and completely reimbursed and paid. The Earl in 

 this way possessed himself of Partis' contract, and the common 

 good was from this time let from year to year by or with consent 

 of the Earl's chamberlain. 



The minute of the Burgh Court, dated 31st May, 1701, 

 presents a clear view of the circumstances of the case of Partis 

 anent the bridge, and shows the risk attending contracts with 

 Englishmen, who were foreigners before the Union. Commis- 

 sion was given in, according to the minute, for the Earl of 

 Annandale and Hartfell, etc., one of the Lords of His Majesty's 

 most honourable Privy Council, and Steward of the Stewartry 

 of Annandale : — " Forasmuch as it being represented to us by the 

 bailies, council, and community of the burgh of Annan That Mr 

 Matthias Partis and John Woosley, merchants in the said burgh, 

 have uplifted and received these several years past the whole 

 common good and money of the said burgh, which by indenture 

 and contract they were obliged to employ in building a stone 

 bridge over the river of Annan, and the said Mr Matthias Partis 

 and Mr John Woosley, being Englishmen, are like to fail in the 

 performing of their part of the said contract, and may as 

 foreigners easily transport their effects and persons without giving 

 count and reckoning, Therefore these give warrant and com- 

 mission as we by these presents as one of His Majesty's Privy 

 Council of this kingdom, and as Steward of Annandale, com- 

 missionate and appoint William Whyte, our servitor, to join with 

 the present bailies of the said burgh, and state account of charge 

 and discharge betwixt the town and the said Mr Partis -and 

 Woosley, and if any balance be found due to take sufficient 

 security for payment of the same to us towards the perfecting 

 of the said bridge, by us to be applied, and if Partis and Woosley 

 fail these presents authorise the said William Whyte with the 

 bailies to secure by arrestment all effects belonging to them, and 

 detain the same within the burgh until count and payment be 

 made. In witness whereof these presents (written by the said 

 William Whyte) are subscribed at Lochwood this thirtieth day of 

 May, 1 70 1 years, before these witnesses, etc." 



A burgess ticket on skin, bearing date 17th July, 1701, 

 survives, although the minute from which it is extracted is lost. 

 It is in favour of John Whyte, assistant to Tobio Bachup, 

 builder in Alloway, whose advice might be sought in connection 

 with the building of the bridge. Bachup subsequently con- 

 tracted to erect the Midsteeple of Dumfries. As an example 

 of the form in use at the time, a transcript of the ticket 

 follows : — 



" Annan Decimo Septimo die July anno domini Millesimo 

 Septingentes imo and uno. In presentia honorabilium virorum 



