Memorialls for the government of the royal-burghs in Scotland with some overtures laid before the nobility and gentry of several shyres in this kingdom : as also, a survey of the city of Aberdeen with the epigrams of Arthur Iohnstoun, Doctor of Medicine, upon some of our chief burghs translated into English by I.B. / by Philopoliteious (or,) a lover of the publick well-fare.

CHAP. V. Concerning the Fidelity and Loyall-Duty, which the Citizens of Aber∣deen have alwayes payed to their SO∣VERAIGNES, together with the gra∣cious Rewards conferred thereon, and the signall Evidences of Honour put upon many chief Magistrats thereof.

THis City having been erec∣ted into a Burgh-Royall by King GREGORIE the Great and Privi∣ledged with many Dona∣tions by Him as some Notes and Scrolls bear Record, gathered by the Recorders and Town-Clerks afterwards. The Prin∣cipall Evidents being destroyed in the common Callamities of these sad times formerly hin∣ted at.

This City was had in speciall favour with many of the succeeding KINGS, as by King William, surnamed for his Valour and For∣titude, the Lyon. He built a Palace in Aber∣deen where sometime he remained with his Court, which afterward he dedicated to a new order of Friars (called the Trinity-Friars) for setting up an Abbacie for them, two of that order, which Pope Innocent the third had new∣ly Erected, being recommended by the Pope and sent from Rome. To this Abbacie he gave Gifts, and some Rents intending if he lived to give them greater, this Order was erected 1211. Which Abbacie was burnt when the City was destroyed, where now the Trades-Hospitall stands, being re-edified but of late years by Dr. William Guild.

Likewise it is Recorded that the three Kings Alexanders had here in this City a plea∣sant Pallace, which afterwards was translated to the Friars-Predicators or Dominicans.

Alexander the second did greatly adorn this City, and give it Liberties and Priviledges the like with Pearth 1214: which was the first year of his Reign, immediatly after the death of his Father King William.

Boyes holds forth in his History, pag. 283. ver. 65. That this KING came to Aberdeen with his Sister Isobell, (after he returned from Eng∣land,) and honored it with many Priviledges, as

King Gregory, King Malcome the second, and David brother to King William had done before.

It is said, he called this CITY His own City, the Infef••ments of the said King Alexander the second under his Seal in green Wax is yet extant, as a Record of the Priviledges given by Him to this City, having (by Providence) escaped from the common Calamity.

King Robert Bruce in these most trouble∣some times, wherein he began to Reign or recover his Kingdom out of the hands of Ed∣ward the first King of England, being beaten severall times, and finding all his attempts un∣successfull retired to ABERDEEN, as a place of safety where he found that his Ene∣mies and his former bad success might be o∣vercome: for when he had no hope of his Ef∣fai••s but despaired of all Victory, intending to go out of the Kingdom, till better times might fall out, and get Forraign Forces for his assistance. Incontinently the Citizens of Aberdeen came and exhorted Him to better hopes, and more confidence, and gave Him assistance both in men and money, and fol∣lowed him to the Town of Inverurie where they fought with the Enemie, and obtained his first Victory, whereof they were the speciall Instruments and Helps, the King being so sickly that he was carried in his Bed, as Boyes

••elates, fol. 312. whence there began to be a method setled to recover the Kingdom.

By which service he was moved to bestow upon the City of ABERDEEN, the whole Lands of the Kings-Forrest, called the Stock∣••d-Wood, with the whole parts and pendicles of ••he same, with the Mills, Waters, Fishings, ••mall Customs, Tolls, Courts, Weights, Mea∣••ures, Free Port and Haven; and all other Pri∣viledges and Liberties whatsomever, pertaining or that might pertain justly to a Royall-Burgh within this Realm.

Under the Reign of King David Bruce, John Randell Earle of Murray, being for the ••ime Governour of the Kingdom, amongst ••his chiefest Designes for recovering the King∣dom, he saw it was most expedient to pursue David Cumming Earle of Atholl, whom King Edward of England had appointed Governour for him, and having collected his Forces, came ••traight to Aberdeen, where (notwithstanding ••he Tyrrany of the Enemies they were under,) ••he was informed where David Cumming was, knowing their Loyaltie to King David Bruce ••heir Naturall KING, and so straight way pursued him.

Some years after, the Englishes having con∣••inued their Rapine and Cruelty in Aberdeen, ••y keeping a strong Garison in the Castle, the Citizens taking Counsell how they might free

themselves of that Yoke and Servitude, at last resolved to fall upon the Garison whom they cut off, and thereafter levelled the Castle with the ground. Whence it was, that in honour of that resolute Act, they got their Ensignes-Armoriall, which to this day they bear: witness that late Book of Heraldry, set forth by Sir George Mckenzie of Rose-haugh Knight, His Ma∣jesties Advocat, who hath blazoned the Arms of Aberdeen particularly, thus.

The Arms or Ensigns Armoriall of the Burgh Royall of Aberdeen, beareth Gules, three Towres triple, towered in a double-Tressure counter flow∣red Argent, supported by two Leopards propper, the Motto in an Escroll above, BON-ACCORD, whence there are these Verses.

Arx triplex, arcem testatur ab hoste receptam, Hostis utrinque doces, tu Leoparde genus. Lillia cum Clypeo, voti Rex pignora jussit Esse, color fusi signa cruoris habet. Haec hostes sensere, Bona at Concordia (virtue Qua res usquè viget publica) culta domi.

In English thus.

The threefold Towres, the Castle showes regain'd From Enemies, who it by force mantain'd. The Leopards, which on each hand ye view, The cruell temper of these foes do shew.

The Shield and Lillies, by the Kings-Command As pledges of his great good-will do stand. The Collour, calls the Blood there shed to mind, Which these proud Foes unto their cost did find. And BON-ACCORD, by which doth safely come To Common-Wealths) establisht was at home.

I. B.

And upon the reverse of the Seal of the said Burgh is insculped in a field Azure, a Temple Argent, St. Nicholas standing in the Porch Mytered and Vested propper, with his Dexter-hand lifted up to Heaven praying over three Children in a Boylling Caldron of the first, and holding in the Sinister a Crosier Ore: these were the Old-Arms of the Burgh-Royall of Aberdeen as His Majesties Advocat, in his book above-men∣tioned relates

After the Castle was thus taken and ruined, the English being deeply affected therewith, as also with the loss of their men, did gather their Forces together to avenge this Injury against Aberdeen: The Citizens then following Joannes Fraser, who Commanded these Forces that adhered to the Interest of King David Bruce, did most stoutly fight the English in their own Church-Yard, and although with much Blood, and the loss of many of their men, yet at last obtained the Victory.

Hence four years after, Edward the third hav∣ing

sent a great Navie to recover his loss in thir Northern-parts, his Forces fell upon Aber∣deen after they had spoiled the Religious-Houses and the City, they coming by surprize and greatly incensed for the loss of their men, (which they had sustained both in the Gari∣son and in the forementioned Fight,) did cut off Men, Women and Children, none being spared except such as had by flight saved them∣selves: they burnt the City six dayes together, as hath been touched above, and being there∣after re-built, is ever after called the NEW-TOWN of ABERDEEN.

King David Bruce had ever after a great favour and respect for Aberdeen, and some∣times dwelt in it, and set up a Mint-House here, as some peeces of Money not long since extant with the inscription of Aberdeen did tes∣tifie, and the King did ratifie and approve of all the Donations of Lands, Waters, Fishings and all other Priviledges, which King Robert his Father, or any of his Predecessors had for∣merly given or granted to the said Burgh, be∣cause of their good Service, both to his Fa∣ther and himself against the common Enemie.

Also, all the King James's, 1st. 2d. 3d. 4th 5th. and 6th. did all ratifie and approve all these Priviledges and Donations of what e∣ver any of their Predecessors had done before; and some of them witnessed their favourable

Respects to the Magistrats thereof upon seve∣rall occasions.

As for instance, King JAMES the fourth, u∣pon a complaint made against SIR JOHN RU∣THERFORD of Tarlane after one of the Elections, when he had been chosen Provest (having for many years enjoyed that Office,) The King wrot to the Town Councill, desiring an exact account of the ground of the Complaint made against His Loved Familiar SIR JOHN RUTHER∣FORD, as the Kings Letter, dated November 5. 1487. recorded in the Towns Books doth bear.

Again, King JAMES the fifth was often in Aberdeen, and did singularly shew Favour and Respects to the Familie of the MENZIESES, who for many years did wisely and happily Govern our City.

Also, King JAMES the sixth, did not onely confirme in Parliament, all the Ancient Priviledges and Liberties given to this City by his Royall Predecessors, but likewise, when ••s by the Laws of this Nation the King might have exacted his Burrow-Mailes in Sterling-Money, which would have been nothing else but the utter undoing and extirpation of this Re-publick: He out of his Princely Clemency, and Favour which he did ever bear to this his Ancient-City, did of new again Re-erect and found the samen; and did quite abolish and ab∣••ogat the payment of Sterling-Money, by dis∣solving

the same from the Crown in Parliament, so far as concerns this City allennarlly: the like benefit being denyed to any other Burgh in the Kingdom: as also, disponning and giving of new the Burgh, Common-Lands, Fishings and all other Liberties thereof whatsomever, for pay∣ment of current money allennarly.

And at the same time, honored our then present Provest, THOMAS MENZIES of Durne or Cults, with the Title of Knight-hood in his own Privy-Chamber, in the presence of the best sort of the Nobility of both the King∣doms, whom he acknowledged (before them then present,) worthy of that honour, be rea∣son of his Birth, besides the good service late∣ly done by Him and the City of Aberdeen to the King, by the gentle entertainment of his Honorable Servants, who came at that time to visit Aberdeen by the Kings appointment 1617.

This SIR THOMAS MENZIES of Cults having procured that Famous Pearl which was found in the Brook or Burne of Kellie, as it runs into the River of Ythan, which Pearle, for beauty and bigness, was the best that hath been at any time found in Scotland: our said Provest having found by the Judgement of the best Jewelers in Edinburgh, that it was most Precious and of a very high Value, went up to London and gifted it to the King, this was in the year 1620.

Who in retribution gave him twelve or fourtteen Chalders of Victuall about Dumferm∣ling, and the Custom of Merchant-Goods in Aberdeen during his life.

But it pleased GOD he dyed at Wooller on the Border in England, in his return home. Nevertheless, this did signifie the speciall Fa∣vour the King did bear to our then Provest, though he did not live to enjoy the effects of the Kings Royall and Princely Respects. This Pearle was reported to be one of the Jewells of the Crown of England.

Likewise, when the King called the Com∣missioners of both Kingdoms to treat anent the Union betwixt Scotland and England, ALEX∣ANDER RUTHERFORD Provest of Aber∣deen, being one of the four chosen for the State of the Burrowes, the King did put it upon Him to speak in behalf of the Burrowes, who did acquite himself so satisfyingly to the King, that pulling a rich Diamond Ring from his Finger, he gave it him as a token of his Royall-Respects. I have heard some relate, that when he had delivered his discourse in our Scots-dialect, which was not so intelligible at that time to the English Commissioners, he spoke to the same purpose in Latine, that the Bishops might understand: then gave a like account to the Nobility amongst the English Commissioners in the French-Language, which did affect the

King with very much complacency, who car∣ried a singular Respect to the Subjects of this his Native-Country and Ancient Kingdom, and made every thing acceptable that had- a ten∣dency to the repute thereof.

The Battell of Harlaw did witness the Zeal of Aberdeen against the Enemies of the King, and for the Peace of the Kingdom 1411. where the Provest and many of the best Citizens did assist to gain the Victory of that day with the loss of their lives.

Also that fatall Battell of Pinkie, where there were lost and killed many brave Towns-Men of Aberdeen, that went thither (though at so far a distance) for the Honour of their Sove∣raign and of the Nation.

King CHARLES the first in the year 1633 at his Coronation in this Kingdom, confirmed and ratified all our above written Priviledges and Liberties of new, given and granted by his Royall Father and Progenitors with this addi∣tion, making and constituting the Provest and Bailies, Sheriffs within their Burgh and Free∣dom-Lands, and the Priviledge of having an unground Malt-Market, and honored PAUL MENZIES of Kinmundie then present Provest with the Honour of Knight-hood.

In the year 1649, when the Parliament of Scotland, out of their dutifull Respects, and Loyaltie to their undoubted Soveraign, King

CHARLES the second, had proclaimed Him King of Great Britain, France and Ire∣land, and immediatly did choose Commissio∣ners of all the three Estates of this Kingdom, to invite their King to this his Ancient King∣dom, to receive the Crown which had now of right descended to him from 108 Kings.

The Parliament made choise of ALEXAN∣DER JAFFRAY of Kingswells Commissioner for Aberdeen, to be one of the two Burrowes to go over to Holland to the King, who was a Wise, Pious and Discreet Man all his time. And he (to be faithfull to the City he had his Commission from) intreated the Parliament to consider the most important Article in his Com∣mission, that so he might undertake that weigh∣ty Employment with the greater Alacrity, which was to visit the counts of the extraor∣dinary losses of Aberdeen relating to the Pub∣lick. The Parliament had that respect to him, and was so desirous to grant his so just de∣mand, that forthwith they did Deput some fit Members, who after hearing and considering, made their report, and thereupon the Par∣liament by an Act did acknowledge themselves, (as the Representative of the Nation) to be justly resting to the City of Aberdeen the summ of nine hundreth threescore and nine thousand Merks, and did grant the Cess of the City to be allowed to them for as many Moneths as

drew to eighteen thousand Merks; because this great summ that was due to them had ex∣hausted the summs of Money that was Mortified to Hospitals Schools, the Colledge, and the Com∣mon-Poor of that City; and had ruined almost the Common Thesaurie thereof; but this was all they could spare at that time, till an oppor∣tunity might fall out to make them more full payment, which hitherto hath ever failed, and hath been the cause of the severall heavy bur∣densom Taxations that have of late years been laid on, and of procuring that relief which hath been obtained thir five or six years by∣gone by the Magistrats, who withall have made themselves lyable to the grudge of such as are so selfiish, that before their particular suffer but a little, they could let the Publick come to utter ruine and perish without remedy and unavoidably: but of two evils the least is to be chosen.

But to return, Our abovenamed Commissioner obtained also an Act of Parliament, that no Souldiers should be quartered in Aberdeen for three years thereafter, such was the great re∣spect the Parliament had to him, whereupon he went to the King with the rest of the Com∣missioners of the three Estates.

And after his return, being Commissioner to the Convention of Burrowes at Queensferrie, ob∣tained half a merk down of Aberdeens propor∣tion

of the 100 Pound of Stent-Roll, which was a great advantage to the City.

He being chosen that year Provest of Aber∣deen, went with the rest of the Commissioners the next year 1650 to the Hague in Holland, where it pleased GOD so to prosper their en∣deavours, as to bring the King home with them. Aberdeen being the first City of the King∣dom he came to, there he was received with all the Demonstrations of joy and cheerfullness that the Magistrats and Inhabitants could evi∣dence: as also, the Silver-Keyes of the City were delivered to him by the Provest (who tame sometime before to prepare for the Kings, reception) with an Eloquent and Pertinent Har∣rangue therewith made by Mr. James Sandilands, of Cotton, the Cities Recorder, or Clerk.

In the end of February and beginning of March 1651, the King came to Aberdeen, where he stayed a week at which time, Mr. Robert Farquhar of Munie was Provest, (Alex∣ander Jaffray who had been Provest the for∣mer year, having been taken Prisoner at Dum∣bar-fight which was on the third of Septem∣ber 1650.) the King was pleased to honour our then present Provest with the Honor of Knighthood, together with Patrick Leslie of Eden who had been Provest some years before with the like Honor.

As also, in the Year 1681, GEORGE SKEN••

of Fintray was Honoured with the Title of Knighthood at EDINBURGH, by JAMES Duke of Albany and York, then Commissioner to the Parliament of SCOTLAMD, for the late KING, CHARLES the Second, His ROYALL-BROTHER.