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. XX. Concerning the Duties and Office of the Provest.

HAving recommended severall Du∣ties, which the Magistrats and Councill in generall are to take notice of, for the good and prosperity of the Town, in th•• foregoing part of this Treatis••

I presume next, to set down the Duties of the severall Magistrats and Office-Bearers, that use to be chosen out of the number of our Councils at every Years Election. This is not that I presume to know these Duties better than o∣thers, but for the satisfaction of new Entrants, who have not had occasion to be acquainted with such Employments.

The first and chiefest Magistrat in all Burghs-Royal is the Provest. Who in England is called Mayor, the Romans called him Consul. quia be∣ne Rei-pub. consulat Its his place to have a chief care of all the Effaires and Concernments of the Common-wealth and therefore he is not onely to discharge this duty in ordinary and e∣mergent Affaires, but he is to forsee and pro∣vide for all things that may conduce to the good thereof; and this care will require serious con∣sideration of all that may advance the wellfare of the publick, or any part thereof, and of a∣ny danger or evill that may fall out to the dam∣nage thereof, to prevent it and guard against it.

Secondly, It is his place to preceed in Councill, and moderat the samen and to take speciall no∣tice of all the referrs thereof that are to be done.

Thirdly, He is to conveen the Councill upon extraordinary dayes, in all doubtsome matters or emergent occasions.

Fourthly, He is to oversee the rest of the Magistrats and Office-Bearers, that they all doe

their Duties and acquit themselves diligently in all things that relate to their charge, for its not enough to give good advice and Counsell, if the samen be not put in execution tymeously and seasonably.

Fifthly, He is to be carefull that all the Charters and evidents, and every Paper that is of importance to the Towns Concernments be punctualy keeped in the Towns-Charter-Chists, or where they ought to be preserved; and not left in any other hands else where, least they may come to be missed, and be in seeking, to the great neglect of these that have the charge of keeping them, which ordinarly is the Pro∣vest chiefly and some of the Bailies.

Sixthly, And above all, he is to have a care he be just, innocent and of singular in∣tegrity in all his behaviour, for an ill ex∣ample in a Magistrat is far greater than a fault in inferiour persons: Therefore the chief∣est Magistrat should have the chiefest care of his publick Charge, and of his own personall behaviour. I need the less insist upon this which concerns him as the chiefest Magistrat, having so fully holden furth the Qualifications he should aim at in the last Chapter.