ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS 9 



We therefore, have of new infeft, given, granted, and 

 confirmed, and by this our charter, infeft, give, grant, 

 and for us and our successors for ever — confirm to the 

 burgesses and community foresaid our said Burgh of 

 Lauder, in a free burgh for ever, with all and sundry 

 lands, annual rents, and possessions whatsoever belonging 

 thereto, with power to the said burgesses and community 

 to break up and plough their common lands for their 

 greater profit and advantage ; also yearly to elect bailies 

 and other officers necessary for the government of the 

 said burgh, and to have therein a cross with a weekly 

 market on Saturda}^ To have and hold our said Burgh 

 of Lauder, with all and sundry lands, annual rents, and 

 possessions whatsoever belonging thereto, to the said 

 bailies, burgesses, and community thereof, and their 

 successors, of us and our successors in free burgage, fee, 

 and heritage for ever, by all these rights, marches, bounds, 

 and divisions, as they lie in length and breadth, in lands, 

 rents, pastures, moors, marches, with free passage and 

 public roads leading to and from our burgh," etc. 



This charter is a Novodamus. It is granted for the 



reason that the former charters which con- 

 Charter of firmed Lauder in its special rights and 

 Novodamus. piivileges had been destroyed. What do 



we learn from this charter, which was 

 renewed in 1683, regarding the date of the creation of 

 Lauder as a Royal Burgh ? Certain facts stated most 

 explicity are, (a) that the Royal Burgh had charters 

 long before 1502 ; (b) that the original charters had 

 been granted by the king's " late most noble progenitors," 

 and not by representatives of royalty ; (c) that the 

 charters were granted to "the burgesses and community 

 of the said burgh," and not to an over-lord or superior ; 

 (d) " that these charter's were destroyed and burned by 

 the ravages of war and fire and otherwise "; and (e) that 

 the consequences which followed the destruction of the 

 charters and the ravages of ^a,r and fire were ruinous to the 

 c 



