CHARTER GRANTED BY THE MASONS OF SCOTLAND
TO SIR WILLIAM ST CLAIR IN 1628
Beit kend till all men be thir present letters ws the Deacones
Masteris friemen of the Maissones and Hammermen within the kingdome
of Scotland That forsameikill as from aidge to aidge it has been
observet amangis us and our predecessors that the Lairdis of Rosling
has ever been patrons and protectors of us and our priviledgis
Likeas our predecessors has obeyit reverencet and acknowledget them
as patrons and protectors qrof they had letters of protection and
vtheris richtis grantit be his Maties most noble progenitors of
worthy memorie qIkis with sindrie vtheris of the Lairdis of Rosling
his writtis being consumet and brunt in ane flame of fire within the
Castle of Rosling in an ..... The consumation and burning qrof being
clearly knawin to us and our predecessors deacons maisteris and
freemen of the saidis vocations, and our protection of the samyn and
priviledgis thereof (be negligence) and slouthfulness being likely
to pass furth of us where throw not only wald the Lairdis of Rosling
lyne out of their just richt but also our hail craftis wald haifbene
destitute of ane patrone protector and oversear quhilk wald engenner
monyfald imperfectionis and corruptionis baith amangis ourselves and
in our craft and give occasione to mony persones to conceive evill
opinioun of us and our craft and to leave af many and grit
enterpryces ofpolicie whilk wald be vndertaken if our grit
misbehaviour were suffered to goe on without correctioun For remeid
qrof and for keeping of good ordour amangis us in all time coming
and for advancement of our craft and vocation within his Hienes
kingdom of Scotland and furdering of policie yaireintill the maist
pairt of our predecessors for themselves and in name and behalfe of
our bretherene and craftsmen with express advice and consent of
William Schaw Maister of Wark to Hienes umqle darrest father of
worthy memorie all in ane voce agreit consentit and subseryvet that
William Sinclar of Rosling father to Sir William Sinclar now of
Rosling for himself and his airis should purches and obtain at the
hands of his Majestie libertie freedome and jurisdictioun upon us
and our predecessors deacons maisteris and freemen of the saidis
vocation, as patrones and judges to us and the haill professors
thereof within the said kingdom qrof they had power and commission
sua that they and we micht yairafter acknowledge him and his airis
as patrone and judge under our Soverane Lord without any kind of
appellation or declinatour from thair judgement forever, as the said
agreement subscryvet be the said Mr of Wark and our predecessors at
mare length proportis In the whilk office priviledge and
jurisdictioun over us and our said (voca)tioun the said William
Sinclar of Rosling ever continuit to his going to Ireland qr he
presently reamanes sen the quhilk (time) of his departure furth
ofthis realme there are very many corruptiounes and imperfectiounes
risen and ingennerit baith amangis ourselfis and in our saidis
vocatiounes in defect of ane patrone and oversear over us and the
samyn Sua that our saidis vocatiounes are altogether likely to
decay And now for safety thereofwe having full experience of the
efauld good skill and judgement whilk the said Sr William Sinclar
now of Rosling has in our said craft and vocatioun and for
reparation of the ruines and manifold corruptiounes and enormities
done be unskilfull persones thereintill WE all in ane voce have
ratified and approven and be thir presentis ratifies and approves
the foresaid former letter ofjurisdictioun and libertie made and
subr be our brethrene and his Hienes umqle Mr of Wark for the time
to the said Williame Sinclar of Rosling father to the said Sr
William whereby he and his airis are acknowledget as our patrone and
judge under our Soverane Lord over us and the haill professors of
our said vocatioun within this his Hienes kingdom of Scotlande
without any appelation or declinator from their judgements in ony
(time hereafter) forever And further we all in ane voce as said is
of new have made constitute and ordainit and be thir presentis makis
constitutes and ordanes the said Sir William Sinclar now of Rosling
and his airis maill our only patrones protectors and overseers under
our Soverane Lord to us and our successors deacons maisteris and
freemen of our saidis vocatiounes of Masons hammermen within the
haile kingdome of Scotland and of our haille priviledges and
jurisdictiounes belonging thereto wherein he his father and their
predecessors Lairdis of Rosling have been in use of possessioun thir
many aidges bygain with full power to him and them be themselves
thair wardens and deputis to be constitute be them to affix and
appoint places of meeting for keeping of good ordour in the said
craft als oft and sua oft as need shall require all and sundry
persones that may be knawin to be subject to the said vocatioun to
be called absentis to amerciat transgressuris to punish unlawes
casualities and vtheris duties whatsomever pertaining and belonging
or that may fall to be pait be whatsomever persone or persones
subject to the said craft to aske crave receive intromet with and
uplift and the samyn to their own proper use to apply deputtis under
them in the said office with clerkis seruandis assisteris and all
other officers and memberis of court needfull to make create
substitute and ordain for whom they shall be holden to answer all
and sundry plentis actions and causes pertaining to the said craft
and vocation and against whatsomever person or persones professors
thereof to hear discuss decerne and decyde acts duties and sentences
thereupon to pronunce And the samyn to due execution to cause be
put and generallie all and sundrie other priviledges liberties and
immunities whatsomever concerning the said craft to doe use and
exerce and cause to be done and exercet and keipit siklyke and als
freely in all respects as any vyeris thair predecessors has done or
might have done themselves in anytime bygane freely quietly well and
in peace but any revocatioun obstacle impediment or again calling
quhtsomevir.
In witness of the qlke thing to thir presenttis wtin be Alexander
Aikinheid servitor to Andrew Hay wrytter we have subt thir nts with
our handis at ..
The Ludge of Edinburgh. - William Wallace decon John Watt Thomas
Patersone
The Ludge of Glasgow. - John Boyd deakin. Robert Boyd ane of
the mestres. Hew Douok deikon of the Measounes and Vrichtis off Ayre and George Lid(ell) deacan of quarimen and nov quartermaster.
The Ludge of Stirlinge. - John Thompsone James Rind The Ludge of Dunfermlinge. - (Robert Alisone one of the masters of Dunfermling)
The Ludge of Dundee. - Robert Strachoune master Robert Johnstone Mr of (-) David Mesone Mr of (-)
Thomas Fleming wardane in Edinburgh and Hugh Forrest with our hands att the pen led be the notar under subd for us at our command because we cannot wryt. A. Hay notarius asseruit.
Robert Caldwell in Glasgow with my hand at the pen led be the notar under subscrywand for me because I cannot writt myself. J. Henrysone notarius asseruit.
I John Serveite Mr of ye Craftis in Stirling with my hand att ye pen led be the notar under subscryvand for me because I cannot writt J. Henrysone notarius asseruit.
I John Burne ane of the mris. of Dumfermling with my hand att the pen led be the notar under subscrywand for me at my command because I cannot writ myself. J. Henrysone notarius asseruit.
David Robertson ane of ye mesteris Andrew Welsone master and Thomas (W)elsone varden of the sed Ludg of Sant Androis Andrew Wast and David Quhyit maisteris in Dundee with our hands att the pen led be
the notar under subscryvand att our commands because we cannot writt. Thomas Robertson notarius asseruit.
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