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Transactions. 25 



Burgh, wherewith it was threatnit by the falling of the said 

 bridge. Your Mie. for this effecte was graciouslie pleasit to give 

 directioune that the mater sould be recommendit to the charit. 

 able consideratione of your Mies, good subjectis to burgh and 

 land, throughout the whole kingdom. Of whose benevolence 

 towardis this so necessar and common a wark your Maie. reposed 

 with great assurance. Lykeas we embracing this your great 

 overtures as a solid ground whereupon we builded our hopes of a 

 timous and liberal supplie, we made some trial thairof amongis 

 the barronis and gentlemen adjacent to our burgh, who in regard 

 of their vicinity with us have their own conduct interest in the 

 mater; but finding their charity to be cold, and their disposi- 

 tionis most averse from contributionis of this kynde, we left off 

 all prosequteing of that effort, being loth to lay upon you our new 

 and necessarie burdens wherein help nor relieff was to be 

 expected. And so being lefte to our selfiss without alle liope of 

 help that way, we resolved to interpryse and begin tlie wark our 

 selffis, quhairin eftir long stryving and in end overcoming alle 

 difficulties with continual! turmoyle, trouble, and labour both day 

 and night (wherefrom none within the said burgh were exempt 

 neither in their personis nor pursis) we brocht the wark to a 

 gude and happie conclusioune. And in one year we accomplished 

 and performed the samen in a more substantious and statelie 

 maner nor it was befoir. And we may truly alfirme withoute 

 ostentatione idyle or vain show that it was the greateste warke 

 that wes evir dune in Scotland in sa shorte a spaice be ane 

 handfull of poor personis without the help or assistance of utheris, 

 wherein as we have striven againis our oune weaknesse and 

 againe all appearans or likleyhood of ane guid success to have 

 followed. And in that has gone verrie far beyond the expectioune 

 of all personis, quho mesuring the greatnesse of the wark with 

 our inhabilitie did apprehend that we did stryve againe the 

 streame, and that our power was not answerabil to such a greate 

 and chargeable work. In doing whereof we ha?e exhausted the 

 whole common rent and patrimony of that toune, and has not lefte 

 so much as ane pennie thairof free. And by continuall and dayly 

 contributione most freely and willingly advancit amongis ourselffis 

 oure purses are so emptied and thairby disabilled from undertak- 

 ing anie uther chairge either for the weUl of the said toune, or 

 commonweill of the kingdome, that we are forced to yield to 

 necessitie and to sink under the heavie burden which we have so 



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