1st October, 1571. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Patrick Ray, Andrew Mercer, Dionysius Conqueror, John Pebles baker. Dean of Guild-Henry Adamson. Treasurer-Thomas Monypenny. 6th October, 1572. By an order of the King, signed by John, Earl of Mar, Regent, directed to the Magistrates, Council, and Deacons of Crafts, the council met on the 13th. The merchants and trades were tumultuous, ran into Lord confusion, protesting against one another. Ruthven made a motion, to refer the election for that year to him, to which they agreed; still protesting each party that this shall be no hurt to their privileges. Accordingly he nominated Bailies-Andrew Mercer, Oliver Pebles, William Flemyng, John Pebles baker. Dean of Guild-John Monypenny. N. B. This is the first craft's treasurer. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Andrew Mercer, William Flemyng, Oli ver Pebles, John Pebles baker. Dean of Guild-John Monypenny. 4th October, 1574. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-John Anderson elder, Henry Adamson, Dionysius Conqueror, George Johnston glover. Dean of Guild-Oliver Pebles of Chapelhill. Treasurer-Thomas Monypenny. These These were sworn openly into their offices this year, and professed the true religion of Jesus Christ, renouncing all idolatry and superstition, and all papistical errors whatsoever, acknowledging and avowing the right excellent, right high, and mighty prince, James VI. by the grace of God, King of Scots, for their only sovereign; promising for this time forth, during the time of their continuing in the offices into which they are now elected, to continue in the profession of the true religion, and to keep faithful and true allegiance to our said sovereign Lord, whose authority and sovereignty they shall assist and defend to the utmost of their life, with their bodies, goods, and gear, against the enemies of God and his Majesty, being either strangers, or his Highness's unnatural and disobedient subjects whatsoever; and hereupon ilk ane are sworn severally by God himself. The Magistrates and whole Council swore the above oath, which continued to be administered annually. 3d October, 1575. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Oliver Pebles, William Flemyng, Robert Anderson, Patrick Inglis saddler. Dean of Guild-Andrew Mercer. Treasurer-Thomas Monypenny. 1st October, 1576. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Patrick Whitelaw, Thomas Monypenny, Dionysius Conqueror, James Anderson baker. Dean of Guild-Andrew Mercer. Treasurer-William Hall baker. Henry Adamson, in name of the merchants, protested against William Hall. George Johnston, in name of the crafts, protested that their privileges granted by the Kings and Queens of Scotland should not be hurt. 15th October, 1577. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Patrick Whitelaw, Thomas Monypenny, 6th October, 1578. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Henry Adamson, William Flemyng, Robert Anderson, John Davidson elder. Dean of Guild-Dionysius Conqueror. Treasurer-William Anderson. 5th October, 1579. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Henry Adamson, William Flemyng, Ro bert Anderson, John Davidson elder. Dean of Guild-Dionysius Conqueror. Treasurer-William Anderson. 7th October, 1580. The election of the Magistrates being continuit to this day, likeas thai sould have been electit the ordinar day after Michaelmas, be our Sovereign's letteris, subscribit with his hand, dispensand with the time as at length containit in our Sovereign's letter and charge, at the palace of Holyruidhouse, the penult day of September, 1580. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Patrick Whitelaw of Newgrange, William Anderson, Alexander Omey, Henry Lees tay lor. Dean Dean of Guild-Robert Anderson. Treasurer-George Johnston skinner. 2d October, 1581. Provost-William Lord Ruthven. Bailies-Oliver Pebles, William Flemyng, Robert Anderson, Henry Lees taylor. Dean of Guild-Henry Adamson. Provost-William Earl of Gowrie. Bailies---Patrick Whitelaw, Oliver Pebles, William Flemyng, Patrick Inglis saddler. Dean of Guild---Dionysius Conqueror. Treasurer--George Johnston. 30th September, 1583. Provost---William Earl of Gowrie. Bailies---James Hepburn, James Drummond, Adam Anderson, William Hall baker. Dean of Guild---Dionysius Conqueror. Treasurer-George Johnston skinner. 30th September, 1584. Provost---William Earl of Gowrie. Bailies---James Hepburn, James Drummond, Adam Anderson, William Hall baker. Dean of Guild---Dionysius Conqueror. Treasurer---George Johnston skinner. Lord Gowrie was executed at Stirling on the 2d of May, after about nine o'clock at night; and by the King's order was elected, 5th June following, John Earl of Montrose. The Bailies continued. * Fourteenth of January, five arches of the bridge of Tay fell by the violence of a high overflowing of the river. The occasion of the Earl of Gowrie's violent death must be sought for a few years back. Captain James Stewart, son of Lord Ochiltree, who, in 1581, accused and brought to the block the Regent, Earl of Morton, for being concerned art and part in the murder of Lord Darnley, procured the guardianship of the young Earl of Arran, who was disordered in his senses, occasioned by ill usage, vexation, and disappointment. This unfortunate nobleman, once beloved by the Reformers, the Captain shut up in a close prison, used him with barbarous cruelty, and took possession of his titles and estates. He was profligate; a scorner of every thing that was serious; aspiring, artful, revengeful, and avaricious. He had the address to insinuate himself into the favour of the young King, whom he flattered and humoured in all his juvenile passions; he wounded his ears with lectures on dissipation and debauchery. He was hospitably entertained at the house of the Earl of March, grand-uncle to the King. Without regarding the laws of hospitality or of gratitude, he carried on a criminal intrigue with the wife of his benefactor, a woman young and beautiful, but, according to the description of a contemporary historian, "intolerable in all the imperfections incident to her sex." Impatient of any restraint upon their mutual desires, they, with equal ardour, wished to avow their union publicly, and to legitimate, by a marriage, the offspring of their unlawful passion. The Countess petitioned to be divorced from her husband, for a reason which no modest woman will ever plead. The judges, overawed by Arran, passed sentence without delay, and this infamous scene was concluded by a marriage so lemnized |