20 TraiDiactioHs. 



Pi'ovost or Aldei'iujin of " Kirkcudbrith " is named " Willm 

 Macleland de Bomljy." We here add the outline of the petition, 

 which is dated 22d Marcli, 1565, and seems to us almost unique 

 of its kind : — 



" Hem'ie and Marie be the grace of God King and Queine of 

 Scottis, to our lovittis William Cunynghame, our Sheriffs in that 

 part conjunctly and severallie, specially constitute, greeting: For- 

 alsniekill as it is humblie meant and sliewin to us be our lovittis 

 the provest, baillies, counsall, and communitie of our Burght of 

 Dumfries : That quhair our Burgh is infeft and erectit of auld in 

 free Burght Royal, with all Privilegis, Freedoms, and siklike 

 Liberties as ony ither burgh within our realme, as the saide com- 

 pleinaris infeftment thairof mair fully purportis, Be virtew of the 

 quhilk thair predecossoris &, thai has been in possesioun of cris- 

 sing, lading, and coquetting of alle Schippis & Boittis resorting 

 and arruing betuix our said Burght &■ the Burne fute of our 

 Abbay of Dundi-anane, but interruptioun in alle tymes byegane 

 past memory of man : Nochtheless, Thomas Makclellane of 

 Bombie alleging him to haie in tack & assedatioun all and haill 

 the Custowmis of our Burght of Kirkcudbriglit within all the 

 parts and Ijoundis thairof betuixt the Wattir of Nyth & the 

 Wattir of Cree, as hes beene usit in tymes bigane, and that 

 William Killaw, maister ; James Simson, owner ; Arrold Daven- 

 curtiss, servand to Peter Purot, merchand in Burdeaux, hes 

 laitlie brocht in ane schip callit ' The Grace of God ' within the 

 freedom of our saide Burght of Kirkcudbright, browken bulk 

 and sauld the saime to the foirsaidis compleinaris, and will nocht 

 pay the custowmis thairof to the said Thomas &. quhilk is nocht 

 of verity, has obteinit our uthir Lettres be deliverance of the 

 Lordis of our Counsale, & therewith gart chairge the saidis com- 

 pleinaris and the saidis maister and ownar to content and pay to 

 him as allegit takkisman foirsaid that foirnamit customes of the 

 guidis customabill being in the said schip, and als chairging alle 

 our liegis & strangeris arryving within the freedom of our said 

 Burght of Kirkcudbright, that nane of thaim sell, dispone, or put 

 away the guidis and merchandise customabill to be brocht be 

 thaim within the said freedom, &c., &c. Quhilkis utheris Letti'es 

 are wrangouslie and sinisterlie purchaset without cognitioun in 

 the cause, &c. . . . And the said schip arrivit within the 

 freedom of our Ladie burght of Drumfries, three myles be west 

 the Wattir of Urr, as sal be clearlie proven, &c. Our will is 



