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 hope of 
help that way, we resolved to interpryse and begin the 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 aflirme 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 weill 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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