Page Table of the procedure in Elections, 73 List of Aldermen and Lord Provosts, from 1296 to 1582, and Fourteen Deacons, from 1730 to 1826, of the Representatives in Parliament, from the Union Foundation of Magdalen Chapel, Arms of the fourteen Incorporations, Charter of the Surgeons and Barbers, Tumults on account of Religion, Address of the Magistrates offering to expel the Ministers, Speech by William Drummond of Hawthornden, to King James VI. in name of the Town, Speech by John Hay, Town Clerk Depute, to Ditto, Verses on the Philosophical Disputations at the University, Inscription in the room where King James VI. was born, Charters granted by King James VI, Decreet-Arbitral of King James VI. AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE MUNICIPAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CITY OF EDINBURGH. As there are no public records now extant in Scotland prior to the reign of King Robert I. we cannot ascertain the precise era at which Edinburgh was first erected into a royal burgh. That it was one of the first in Scotland, appears evident from its having been one of the four burghs which composed the chamberlain's Air or Court, which was annually held at Haddington. That it was a royal burgh in King David the First's time, is likewise probable, from his styling it "meo burgo ;" and as to all appearance we are indebted to his reign for all the laws in Regiam Majestatem, entituled, Statute Gilda, and L. L. Burgorum, and are farther informed by Fordun, that under his sage administration public buildings were erected, towns established, and agriculture, manufactures and commerce promoted, it may be fairly conjectured that he was the original founder; and this the rather, as he undoubtedly founded the monastery of Holyrood-house, anno 1128, in its immediate neighbourhood. The loss of its original charters, equally deprives us of any knowledge of its earliest form of government. The Municipal Constitution, as now established, is the accumulated work of ages. The first magistrate of whom we find mention, is William de Dedyk, otherwise William de Fotherig, who, under the designation of Alderman, with eleven other burgesses, signed the Ragman Roll in 1296, and swore allegiance to King Edward I. of England; and the first person mentioned in a list, extracted from old charters, by Walter Macfarlane of that ilk, as having borne the title of Provost, was John de Quhitness, anno 1377. But what seems rather remarkable, is, that the Act of King James III. in 1469, nearly a century after, appointing a new manner of election in burghs, makes no mention of the title of provost. It is, however, more than probable, that the chief magistrate was originally entitled Bailiff, this being the more general designation of the king's officer for the receipt of the revenues in royal burghs, who was likewise constituted a magistrate to administer justice to the people. But however this may have been, the bailiffs, or bailies as they are now called, seem only to be deputies or assistants to the provost, being jointly and severally his deputy, sheriff, coroner, and admiral within the city and liberties of Edinburgh, and as such hold courts wherein are tried causes, both civil and criminal, other than in capital cases. When they were so constituted, or what their original number was, whether four, as now established, or otherwise, no where appears. The next in rank is the dean of guild. This |