Unto his Grace his Majesties High Commissioner, and the honourable Estates of Parliament, the petition of George Mackenzie sub-tacksman of the additional and annexed-excise of the northern shires.

Unto his Grace His Majesties high Commissioner, ane Honourable Estates of Parliament, The PETITION of George Mackenzie Sub-tacksman of the Addi∣tional and Annexed-Excise of the Northern Shires.

Humbly sheweth,

THat where your Petioner having unhappily engaged himself in July 1695, in a Tack of the Additional and Annexed Excise for the several Shires benorth Tay, for which he was bound by his Tack to pay 19423 lib. ster.

After subscribing of his Tack, he immediatly went North to appoint Collectors in the several Towns and Shires, and to regulat the Brewers; But shortly after there happning a great Scarcity in the Northern Countries, Brewing was for the most part given up, so that is was not possible to make up the Tack-duty.

Your Petitioner foreseeing the sad and calamitus Condition, and the apparent Famine in these places, and finding that there was not the least possibility for him to make good his Tack; He made Application first to the principal Tacksmen, and then to the Lords of Thesaury, who after consideration of what he had represented, gave him a Sift of Execu∣tion, as to one half of his Tack-duty.

Thereafter the sad and deplorable Condition of these Countries increasing, the Coun∣try Brewers were so far from continuing to Brew, that there was not Bear to be had to make Meal of to keep in their Lives, so notwithstanding of all the Trouble, Fatigue and Expense your Petitioner was brought to, it was not possible for him to make one half of his Tack-duty, and yet to save himself and his Cautioners so far as he was able, he has payed in what he has collected, and near one thousand pound sterling more of his own proper Stock, which goes very near to ruine him, but he yet lying under the Obligation of his Tack to pay 9000 lib, sterling, which he never received, he is necessitat humbly to Address the Honourable and High Court of Parliament in this matter.

By his Tack it is declared, that if the Accidents of Plague, Famine or War, should fall out, his Tack should fall, and from thence-furth be mull: That there was Famine in these places is but too noture, but that the Truth might the more fully appear, there were De∣clarations signed by several Noblemen and Gentlemen in the respective Shires, which were presented to the Lords of Thesaury, and which are hereto subjoyned, as a farder evidence of the condition of that Countrey.

What was formerly represented to the Lords of Thesaury, was found by them to be true and after the Petitioner had made Application to his Majesty by his Officers of State. His Majesty was graciously pleased to recommend the Lords of Thesaury, to make Inquiry anent the true State and Condition of the Countrey, and to make a Report thereof to his Majesty, which accordingly they did, and found that what your Petitioner had for∣merly represented, was true in every Circumstance.

The Petitioner was so far from pretending benefit by his Tack, that he has payed near one thousand pound sterling more than ever he made of it, and the principal Tacksman do very well know, that albeit his Collection was in the time of the greatest Scarsity and Dearth, yet he has payed 1500 lib. ster. more for the Five Pennies than they can now make effectual in all these Shires for the six pennies, when there is less Scarsity and cheaper Victual.

By all which it may evidently appear to his Grace, and honourable Estates of Parliament, that the great Loss and Damnage the petioner has sustained, arose from the Dearth and Fa∣mine

which immediatly followed his Tack, and which was Casus fortuitus, & vis divina, and could not be foreseen, so that he could not resist divine Providence in this matter. And it w••r a Hardship above whatever His Majesty or his Ministers did, to take the small Stock of the sub-tacksman, who in Zeal to His Majesties Service, has advanced on his own Credit considerably more as he has gotten in, and is content to lose it; And it is humbly hoped, that your Grace and honourable Estates of parliament, in Justice and Mercy will consider his Circumstances, and since none, far less a gracious Prince should reap profite by a poor his Circumstances, and since none, far less a gracious Prince should reap profite by a poor mans Stock who keeps not one Farthing of the Kings, but willingly and faithfully serves him for nothing.

May it therefore please your Grace and honourable Estates of Parliament, to con∣sider the premisses, and seing your petitioner relyed much upon the Quality of his Tack and that his taking Instruments against the principal Tacksman, and proving the Con∣dition of the Countrey by so pregnant Evidences, was sufficient to exoner him; That therefore your Grace and Lordships would be pleased to declare his Tack a Collection, with this Qualty, that albeit his Collection be less than the Sum of 10423 lib. sterling, which he has already payed, yet the petitioner is to repeat no part thereof, but the declar∣ing of his Tack a Collection, is only to this effect, that Inquiry may be made if his Col∣lection (his necessar Charges being deduced; exceeds the Sum already pased; Or o∣therwise, if your Grace and Honourable Estates of parliament think it not convenient to o••p•••• the Tack that you would be pleased to exoner him of the 9000 lib. ster. for which he has got so frequent Sists, and which is the just proportion, conform to the late Re∣port from the Exchequer to His Majesty. And your Petitioner shall ever pray.