20 Transactions. 
Provost or Alderman of “Kirkcudbrith” is named “Willm 
Macleland de Bomby.” We here add the outline of the petition, 
which is dated 22d March, 1565, and seems to us almost unique 
of its kind :— 
“ Henrie 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- 
alsmekill as it is humblie meant and shewin 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 Dundranane, 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 Kirkcudbright within all the 
parts and boundis 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 Lettres 
are wrangouslie and sinisterlie purchaset without cognitioun in 
the cause, &e. . . . 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 
