A.D. 1497. spiceries, besides L.32* in money. Donations were, at the same time, made to his attendants, to a considerable amount,† the whole expence being defrayed by the fines which had been obtained on the renewal of the leases of the salmon fishings of the river Don.§ The king remained here for some time; and it is probable that, during his stay, he had made some arrangements for the establishment of the university at Old Aberdeen, for which he had obtained a Bull from Pope Alexander, on the 6th of February, 1494. About this period there appears to have been a considerable commotion in the town, arising from the rumour of an invasion by the English, which was threatened in consequence of the dispute between King James and Henry VII. of England, regarding the protection and assistance which the former had afforded to the famous Perkin Warbeck, who, calling himself the Duke of York, || had made pretensions to the crown of England. That the citizens might be duly prepared to repel their enemy, all fit to bear arms were ordered to assemble, on the 18th of July, at the Cunninghairhills, every burgess armed, according to his degree: and, for the purposes of defence, a blockhouse was constructed at the sand-ness; and a breast work, with a ditch, was formed thence to the north haven, or the mouth of Don. § At this period, it had been the practice to let the salmon fishings and lands, belonging to the town, on short leases, for three, five, or seven years, in consideration of fines; but on this occasion a lease had been granted, for nineteen years, to a salmon fishing on the river Don. It was called in question by certain burgesses, in a declaratory action before the Lords of Council, and set aside by their decree; the town's common seal being ordered to be taken from it, and destroyed.-[Council Register, vol. vii. p. 859.] The town had contributed, by order of the king, in 1496, L.30 for the support and the clothing of eight men of Warbeck's regiment; and L.100, in lieu of service in the army sent against King Richard.-Council Register, vol. vii. p. 745. 752.] On this occasion "carriages of war, guns, and artillery," were also pro- A.D. 1497. vided; and a detachment of the citizens was daily appointed, to guard these works, for thirty-three successive nights.* But a negociation for peace betwixt the two kingdoms having taken place, these preparations and works of defence were rendered unnecessary. The preliminaries of the marriage of King James IV. with the 1503. Princess Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry VII. of England, being now completed, great preparations were made for the celebration of the nuptials in Scotland. The royal boroughs had been assessed for 1000 merks and 100 crowns, as their proportion of the expence of the ambassadors, who had been sent to the court of England to negociate the treaty of marriage; of which sums one tenth part was apportioned on Aberdeen.† In order to contribute to the splendour and to the festivities at the solemnization of the marriage in Scotland, the provost and a certain number of the most respectable citizens were delegated to repair to Edinburgh, where they were attended by the minstrels of Aberdeen, bearing the city coat of arms, displayed in silver. On this important mission, the minstrels were allowed ten pounds, which were paid by the dean of guild, to defray their charges. On the 21st of February, this year, the queen was delivered 1506. of a son, which gave universal joy to the whole kingdom. Intelligence of this event being brought to the town, there was much rejoicing among the inhabitants: and the magistrates and the respectable citizens manifested their joy by libations of wine at the cross, and by breaking the glasses, as was customary on such occasions. § In the month of May, this year, the queen made her first visit to 1511. the town; and her reception appears to have been attended with a good deal of pompous and expensive pageantry, displayed by the inhabitants. On her Majesty's arrival, a purse of L.200 in money was presented to her by the magistrates, in name of the community; and, while she remained in the town, the streets were daily decorated with arras work and tapestry. However trifling this donation might now * Council Register, vol. vii. p. 741. 814. Council Register, vol. viii. p. 239. 241. 412. + Ibid. vol. vii. p. 1121. § Ibid. vol. viii. p. 667. A.D. 1511. now appear to be, it was not raised without considerable difficulty. The magistrates adopted the expedient usually resorted to in such cases, of granting leases in reversion of certain lands and salmon fishings belonging to the community, for payment of grassums, or fines, which enabled them to provide for the donation to the queen, and the expence of the preparations which had been made at this time for her reception.* King James himself visited the town on repeated occasions, and was presented with the customary propines of wine, wax, spiceries, and sweet-meats. † 1513. 1525. About this time, the unfortunate expedition against England being undertaken by King James, Aberdeen furnished twenty spearmen and six horses to the army, at the expence of L.200, raised by assessment upon the inhabitants. The disastrous result of this enterprise, in the fatal field of Flodden, so well known, was long remembered in Scotland; and Aberdeen participated in the general calamity of that unpropitious day. In this rash and fatal battle King James terminated his reign, having fallen, with many of his nobles and barons. A tumult at this time occurred in the town, which strongly characterised the relaxed state of the government of the kingdom. Alexander Seton of Meldrum, John Leslie of Wardhouse, and William Leslie of Balquhain, three potent barons of the Garioch, impatient of revenge for a supposed injury done to them, or to some of their friends, by the citizens, entered the town on Sunday the first of October, under silence of night, along with their confederates, to the number of four score men, armed with spears, and other warlike instruments. They wreaked their fury on the inhabitants, who flew to arms. A bloody conflict ensued, and the invaders were repulsed, by * Council Register, vol. viii. p. 1182. + In 1505 he was in the town, and received a propine of six pairs of torches, one dozen of prikats, thirty-six syfs of wax, twelve pounds of scorcheats, and as much wine as the master of the cellar inclined. In 1507 and 1509 he received similar presents.-[Council Register, vol. viii. p. 508. 814. 1001.] Council Register, vol. ix. p. 255-equal to about L.85 14s. 4d. sterling money. by the bravery of the citizens, and driven out of the town; but this A.D. 1525. was not accomplished without considerable slaughter on both sides. In the course of this fray, eighty of the inhabitants were either killed or wounded, among whom were several of the magistrates. The assailants having retreated homeward, the town was immediately put in a posture of defence: artillery was prepared, and the citizens, being completely armed, were determined to resist these turbulent and hostile barons, and their confederates, if they should attempt to make another attack. It appears on record, that this invasion was undertaken at the instigation of John Collison, who had formerly held the office of chief magistrate; and that some of the people of the town, probably influenced by him, had taken an active concern with the aggressors.* This affair became the subject of a formal complaint to the king, and the lords of the council; but no redress appears to have been given. Some time afterwards it was terminated by an arbitration of certain bishops and noble lords, who had been mutually chosen as umpires. What their award was, or whether the citizens or the assailants were most culpable in this tumultuous and disastrous commotion, cannot now be known. In the end of this year, King James V. having notified his inten- 1527. tion of visiting the town, at the time of the Justice Eyre, great preparations were made for his reception. He was received by the magistrates with the usual ceremonies, and marks of attention; and, as a mean of propitiation for his favour, a present was made to him of wine, wax, and spiceries. On this occasion it seemed that the citizens had gained his confidence; for he was graciously pleased to grant to the magistrates and community an ample remission of all past crimes and offences, in the form of a deed, under the great seal. Not long after those K * Council Register, vol. xi. p. 627. + The umpires were-Robert, Bishop of Moray; James, Bishop of Ross; James, Earl of Moray; William, Earl of Montrose.-[Archives of the town.] "Jacobus dei gracia Rex Scottorum, omnibus probis hominibus suis ad quos presentes tre peruenerint salutem sciatis quia cum auisamento et consensu ñri thesaurarii et đnorum Compositorum Remissimus Preposito, balliuis comitati burgensibus le scot et lot soluentibus et eorum seruitoribus actualiter remanentibus infra burgum ñrm de Aberdene et inhabitantibus intra terras et limites siue A.D. 1529. those occurrences which have been now related, Seton of Meldrum, the leader of the commotion, was killed by the master of Forbes, in the marchias burgales eiusdem in genere et in specie Latoribus pncium Rancorem animi ñri sectam regiam & omne actione quem et quas erga Ipos concepimus habemus seu quouismodo in futurum habere poterimus pro eorum proditoriis remanencia mora et absencia ab exercitibus ñris de Sulway & Werk ac aliis ñris exercitibus quibuscunque ñras contra proclamationes et mandata desuper direct. Et pro omnibus actione et crimine que eis aut eorum alicui quouismodo imputari poterint Necnon pro omnibus aliis actionibus transgressionibus criminibus et offensis quibuscunq per dictas personas aut earum aliquam aliquibus temporibus retroactis usq, in diem date pncium comissis seu quomodoliz perpetratis proditoria traditione in ñra persona regia Incendio murthuro mulierum raptu comi furto fabricatione finctione et importatione false monete in regnũ nostrum dispositione eiusdem per importatores ac homicidiis per dictas personas aut earum aliquam post primũ diem mensis Januarii, 1526, perpetratis tantumodo exceptis dumodo partibus conquerentibus et dampna passis taliter satisfaciant q' nullam super hoc decetero iustam querimoniam audiamus Et supradictos prepōitum balliuos comitatem burgenses et eorum servitores actualiter infra dictum burgum ñrm de Aberdene remañetes et inhabitantes intra terras et limites eiusdem suprascripf in genere et in specie sub firma pace et protectione ñra iuste suscipieñ firmiter inhibemus ne quis eis aut eorum alicui occasione dic? proditoriarũ remanencie more et absencie aut aliarum actionu transgressionũ criminũ et offensarum quarũcunq, predict malum molestiam Iniuriam seu grauamen aliquod inferre presumat Iniuste super ñram plenariam forisfacturam aut mortem eis aut eorum alicui inferat sub pena amissionis vite et mebrorum. In cuius rei testimoniu has tras ñras remissionis pro toto tempore vite prefal prepōiti balliuorum comitatis burgensium & eorum servitorum ac inhabitanciu terras et limites burgi ñri antedic et cuiuslibet Iporum duraturas sub ñro magno sigillo sibi fieri fecimus patentes Apud Abirdene, septimo die mensis Februarii, anno 1527, et regni ñri decimo quinto."-[Archives of the borough.] In September, 1529, the king was also pleased to grant his royal permission to the magistrates and council, to fortify the town with walls, and other works of defence, by the following licence: "James, be the grace of God, King of Scottis, To all and sundry oure Justices, Chamlains, Sfreffis, Stewartis, Justice Clerkis, Crowneris, and yair Deputis, And all uỹris oure officiaris pñt & to cum, lieges and subditis quham it efferis, qubais knawlege thir our tres sal cum greting, Wit ye us to have gevin and grantit, and be thir oure tres gevis and grantis, to ye provest, ballis, counsale, and comunite of our burgh of Abirdene, and yair successouris, full power, fredome, faculte, and special licence, to big, joiss, brouk, have, and hald wallis, of stane and lyme, or uỹirwayis, as yai sall think maist expedient, with fortalicez, strengthis, foussis, and municionis about ye said burgh and boundis yairof, as yai sall think maist expedient, perpetualie in tyme cũing, but ony impediment, molestationn, or truble to be maid to yame yairon be us or oure successouris be ony maner of wuy in tyme to cum Notwithstanding ony lawis, actis, or statutis maid, or to be maid, in the contraf anent ye quhilkis we dispenss with ye said provest, ballies, counsale, and comite, and yair successouris, for evir, Dischargeing you all and sundry oure Justices, Chamlains, Sfreffis, Stewartis, Ballies, Justice Clerkis, & uỹis, oure officiaris pñt and to cum, and your Deputis, and all uỹis oure lieges and subditis foresaids, of all accusationn, trubling, and intrometting with the saidis provest, ballies, counsale, and comite, yair landis or gudis yairfore, and of your offices in yat part be thir oure |